Medieval Warfare Blog

From Fun and Games to Deadly Serious: The Diary of a German Knight

This entry was posted on June 1, 2017 by Peter Konieczny.

In the year 1458 a German knight named Jorg von Ehingen would travel to the ends of Europe, and experience both the delights of a royal court, and the exhilaration of a fighting a duel to the death. Read more

The mouse that ransomed her sister

This entry was posted on May 25, 2017 by Peter Konieczny.

Although this story isn’t quite about medieval warfare, it’s just too good not to write about it. Read more

The many versions of King Arthur - Episode 6 of the Medieval Warfare Podcast

This entry was posted on May 18, 2017 by Peter Konieczny.

Just in time for the latest movie about the legendary medieval ruler, we speak with Christopher Berard about King Arthur. From the earliest stories of how he would return from the dead to the role he played in medieval politics, the story of Arthur is one that continues to fascinate us. Read more

Book Review: The Illustrated Guide to Viking Martial Arts, by Antony Cummins

This entry was posted on May 18, 2017 by Peter Konieczny.

Thomas Riley of the Medieval Review Youtube Channel reviews The Illustrated Guide to Viking Martial Arts Read more

How the Hospitallers used slaves

This entry was posted on May 18, 2017 by Peter Konieczny.

It might be surprising to think that even the Knights Hospitaller had slaves - why did they have them? Read more

(I've Got Medieval In) Kalamazoo

This entry was posted on May 11, 2017 by Peter Konieczny.

Each year I go on a pilgrimage of sorts - to Kalamazoo. To be precise, today I am at Western Michigan University where I am... Read more

What’s New in the Crusades? - Episode 5 of the Medieval Warfare Podcast

This entry was posted on May 8, 2017 by Peter Konieczny.

Niall Christie and Michael Fulton reveal some of the new and interesting ways historians and archaeologists are studying the crusades and the medieval Middle East. Read more

How Well Do You Know Matthew Paris' Artwork?

This entry was posted on May 4, 2017 by Peter Konieczny.

This 13th-century chronicler is also well-known for the illustrations he included in his works. Here are nine images by Matthew - do you know what he is drawing? Read more

The Medieval Undead - Episode 4 of the Medieval Warfare Podcast

This entry was posted on April 27, 2017 by Peter Konieczny.

Did the Middle Ages have its own version of The Walking Dead? We talk with Scott G. Bruce, professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder and author of The Penguin Book of the Undead, about some strange medieval tales, including a horde of dead soldiers roaming the countryside around Normandy. Read more

Giving a speech before a battle - How William Marshal spoke at the Battle of Lincoln

This entry was posted on April 27, 2017 by Peter Konieczny.

If you have read a few accounts of battles in the Middle Ages, you will notice that chroniclers and writers were fond of recording the speeches given by military commanders. This was the case with the anonymous author of The History of William Marshal, who reported the rousing speech given by his protagonist before the Battle of Lincoln on May 20, 1217. Read more