Medieval Archives

Executive Producer:⭐Helle Hagenau

Executive Producer:⭐Helle HagenauA day trip to Canterbury is a a popular choice for tourists visiting England and London and for good reason, it's a great city!During our European vacation in the Summer of 2024 we had a free day and decided to take a modern day pilgrimage to Canterbury and Canterbury Cathedral. We decided not to walk the Pilgrim's Way though, instead traveling by train to Canterbury. There were learning lessons for the kids (even on summer break), pubs for the adults and lots of medieval history! It was a jammed packed day but we still found time to relax and take in all the sights and sounds.We take a walk around Canterbury visiting the medieval sights and other sights. The entire family had a great time in Canterbury. It was one of the highlights of our trip.From the medieval city walls and gatehouse, to Buttermarket Square and the glorious cathedral that draws thousands of visitors ever year, Canterbury is a great day trip and if you have more time you should plan to spend 2-3 days explori

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Have you ever seen an eclipse? I’ve seen numerous lunar eclipses and I’ve seen a few partial solar eclipse, but never a total solar eclipse. On 08 April 2024, Mexico, the United States and Canada will experience a total solar eclipse. It’s the first one in 7 years and the last one for 20 years. The next total solar eclipse in North America will be in 2044.Europe won’t be in the path of the 2024 eclipse but, if you live in Europe you won’t have to wait long for a total eclipse. There’s one on the way soon.In modern times we know what is happening. How did medieval people feel about an eclipse. Was it seen as a bad omen or a curse? Or did they understand the science behind it?In this episode we'll look at the myths, omens and science of eclipses and the medieval era .(00:00) - Medieval Archives 90 (00:12) - Welcome Back (00:20) - Medieval Solar Eclipses (01:14) - Questions, Comments or Topic Ideas? (01:27) - Get a new Podcast App! https://podcasting2.org/ (02:26) - 2024 Eclipse (03:15) - 2026 Eclipse (03:34) -

Medievalist and Art Historian Dr. Amy Jeffs joins the show to discuss her books  Storyland: A New Mythology of Britain and Wild: Tales from Early Medieval Britain In Amy’s first book, Storyland she examines the origins of Britain from Noah’s flood to the Norman invasion. And there are some good stories to tell, including the incredible story of Albina, who ruled Britain, was seduced by demons and gave birth to a race of giants.In her second book titled Wild takes you on a journey from desolation to hope. Through seven chapters of insightful reflection she is able to retell stories from medieval texts with vivid descriptions and unique perspectives.One of the standout elements of both books are the illustrations which Amy created. Listen to the episode to find out how she created them and how the creation process helped her through the lock-down, quarantine we all dealt with.You can find Amy Jeffs online at: Twitter/X & InstagramYou can buy Storyland: A New Mythology of Britain and Wild: Tales from Early M

Professor and author Nicolas Morton joins the podcast to discuss his book, The Crusader States and their Neighbours. The Crusader States were founded during the First Crusade. The Crusaders conquered the land and claimed it as their own. There were four Crusader States established during the First Crusade; The County of Edessa, The County of Tripoli, the Principal of Antioch and the Kingdom of Jerusalem. For almost 200 years the Crusaders States grew and thrived…or did they?That’s why we have Nic Morton on the show today. His new book The Crusader States and their Neighbours, well it’s not really new. It was first published in 2020 but it’s now getting a new printing and in paperback. His book looks at the history of the Crusader States, their creation, how they were ruled over and how outside forces led to their eventually demise. You can find Nic Morton online at: Twitter/X | YouTube | Academia.eduYou can buy The Crusader States and their Neighbours on Amazon or from Oxford University Press and grab a copy

We are embarking on a new podcasting adventure! Medieval Tales Podcast will be released every Tuesday and Thursday and feature medieval themed classic novels. The first book in the series is: The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson The Black Arrow: A Tale of Two Roses is the 1888 historical adventure novel. Set in fifteenth century England during the Wars of the Roses, the story revolves around Richard (Dick) Shelton as he becomes knighted, rescues his beloved Joanna Sedley, and finds justice for the slaughter of his father, Harry Shelton. An outlaw named Ellis Duckworth equipped with a black arrow as his trademark weapon convinces Dick that his own personal guardian, Sir Daniel Brackley, has been disloyal. As a result, Dick helps a fellowship of outlaws called The Black Arrow to defeat Brackley and win back his lady. *** Future episodes of Medieval Tales Podcast won't appear in this feed. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss any exciting episodes! https://medievalarchives.com/medieval-tales-podcast

Welcome to the Medieval Tales podcast, well, to the trailer at least. Do you love reading classic novels set in the Middle Ages. Stories of brave Knights and epic battles, royal intrigue and life in a castle?  Is it getting harder to find  time to sit down and read a good book? With all the cooking and cleaning and commuting. Maybe you have the time and aren’t sure what to read next. Whatever the situation, Medieval Tales Podcast has you covered. We’ve curated some of the best Medieval themed classic novels for your listening pleasure. Now you can follow along as The White Company, a band of fearless archers fight in the Hundred Years War. Or listen to the exploits of Richard the Lionhearted as he battles Saladin in the 3rd Crusade. Medieval Tales Podcast will be arriving in your podcast player on 11 Jan 2024. Subscribe and follow now so you don’t miss an episode.  Head over to MedievalTalesPodcast.com to follow all the medieval adventures. ★ Support this podcast ★

Professor and author Nicolas Morton joins the podcast to discuss his book, The Mongol Storm.The Mongol Empire rose to power in the early 1200s, founded by Genghis Khan. At it’s peak the Empire stretched from the Pacific Ocean to the Black Sea, encompassing Korea, Mongolia, China, Russia and portions of Eastern Europe and the Near East.Nic’s new book The Mongol Storm covers the Mongol Empire and their influence in the near east. We discuss the rise of the Mongol Empire, what their society looked like, their religion and of course, their great military might.Creators & Guests Medieval Archives - Host Nicholas Morton - Guest <----------->Follow Medieval Archives on Twitter/X.com | Mastodon | Blue Sky

It’s Halloween again, the air turns colder, the nights grow darker and spirits roam in the shadows. On this year’s Halloween episode we are traveling to the Emerald Isle. In 1324 Kilkenny, Ireland witnessed it’s first witchcraft trial and the first execution carried out by burning at the stake. Alice Kyteler was a popular, beautiful inn keeper who's husbands had a bad habit of dying mysterious deaths. Her fourth and final husband, certain Alice was poisoning him, told his children and the church. The zealous Bishop of Ossory, Bishop Ledrede, took up the case. He was a firm believer the devil walked among the people and made it his duty to banish evil. Ledrede beleived Alice Kyteler was not only a witch, but the leader of a coven of witches based in the Kilkenny area. Alice Kyteler had powerful allies from her four marriages and her successful business. When Bishop Ledrede tried to have her arrested the tables were turned and Ledrede was thrown in jail. When Ledrede was released from prison he resumed his case

Mudlarks A mudlark is defined as someone who digs or searches in in river or harbor mud for items of value. The term was widely used in 18th and 19th century London. Mudlarks would search the shores of the River Thames during low tide to find valuable items and sell them for a profit. Being a mudlark back then was usually a job for those in extreme poverty. Today things are different. Mudlarks in the 21st century aren't finding and selling items to survive, they are helping document and preserve the history of London. On this episode of the Medieval Archives Podcast we are joined by two modern day Mudlarks, Jason Sandy and Nick Stevens. They have over twenty years experience searching the foreshore of the River Thames. Thames Mudlarking Jason and Nick share their experiences mudlarking and the amazing artifacts they've found throughout the years. They also share their vision for the Thames Museum, a place to showcase all the great items found in the mud of the river Thames. For more information about the Tham

When people think of the Middle Ages one of the first images that pops into their head is a knight in shining armor. Knights are synonymous with the Middle Ages. Slaying dragons, saving damsels in distress, but beyond the fairy tales are the real life knights. Men who sacrificed and endlessly trained to earn the title of Knight. On this episode of the Medieval Archives podcast I’m joined by historian and author Christopher Gravett to discuss The Medieval Knight. Chris is a former curator at the Royal Armouries, Tower of London, and an expert in the field of medieval arms, armor and warfare. He also worked with numerous TV series and movies as a historical advisor including The Conquerors, Braveheart and Ivanhoe. Chris even advised Terry Jones, best known as part of Monty Python, for his books. Chris has some fascinating ‘behind-the-scenes’ stories. Chris’s new book The Medieval Knight covers the evolution of the knight over 300 years, from the early Norman Knights of William the Conqueror to the gradual decli

The witching season is upon us once again. Past Halloweens we’ve covered a Medieval Serial Killer, Medieval Zombies and more. All the Halloween episodes are available on the Halloween Podcast page. This Halloween we are looking at haunted castles from the Middle Ages. Castles We’ll visit a handful of castles around England and one in Ireland. Most of the castles today are in Northern England and one isn’t a castle. We’ll start out at Whitby Abbey and make our way north to Alnwick Castle and the infamous Alnwick Vampire! The Alnwick Vampire spread death and pestilence wherever it roamed. It was even recorded by medieval chronicler William of Newburgh. Then we’ll look at a castle dubbed ‘The Most Haunted Castle” in England, Chillingham Castle. Filled with the ghosts of hundreds of Scottish prisoners, an evil torturer and an innocent boy caught in the middle of political betrayal. The last two stops on our trip are on the Emerald Isle at Malahide Castle talking about perhaps, the first evil clown and ending up i

The Viking Age​ VIKINGS! The scourge of the early middle ages. Vikings raided England, Ireland and Europe with a ferocity never seen before. On this episode we’re going to look at a few Vikings that you may not have heard of, or know much about. One of them should be taught in every school in America and Europe. They are portrayed as blood thirsty killers who pillage and plunder, but they were also adventuring explorers who discovered new lands and some even set aside their Viking ways to adapt in new societies. Viking Expansion​ Further Reading​ If you are interested in learning more about The Viking Age and Viking warriors below is a list of books I used while researching this episode. Brownworth, Lars. The Sea Wolves: A History of the Vikings, 2014. Castleden, Rodney. Vikings: Raiders, Traders and Masters of the Sea, 2015. Clements, J. M. Vikings. Lost Worlds. New York: Metro Books, 2012. Kunz, Keneva, ed. The Vinland Sagas: The Icelandic Sagas about the First Documented Voyages across the North Atlant

John II: King of France 1350-1364 King John II of France, called The Good. John ruled during a tumultuous time, the Plague was in full force killing large parts of France’s population, the Hundred Years’ War was raging and France was in financial trouble. With all that going on how did John get dubbed, The Good? We’ll take a look at his rise to the throne, his exploits in battle and on the home front to see if he was truly a good king. John II: Prisoner of War King John II and his son Philip The Bold were captured by the English during the Battle of Poitiers. King John spent the next four years in England trying to negotiate a release and raise the ransom money. His eldest son, Charles worked on the home front trying to raise money and support for his father’s return. In 1360 England and France signed the Treaty of Brétigny ensuring the release of King John Further Reading If you are interested in learning more about Medieval Mercenaries below is a list of books I used while researching this episode. Tuchm