Henry V: The Scourge of God
Henry V’s victory at Agincourt in 1415 dealt a major blow to his French enemies. However, the war in France was very far from won. In this article, we’ll look at how Henry V sought… Read More »Henry V: The Scourge of God
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Medieval
The Twelve Days of Medieval Christmas
Our medieval forebears celebrated the Christmas period with a full twelve days of festivities. Some of the festivities would be very familiar to us today but other traditions have long since died out. Indeed, some… Read More »The Twelve Days of Medieval Christmas
The Battle of Agincourt
In 1415, Henry V had begun his campaign to claim the French throne by taking Harfleur. However, his army suffered significant losses, not because of the fighting but from a virulent epidemic of dysentery. Instead… Read More »The Battle of Agincourt
Medieval London
During the Middle Ages London was, as it is today, the vibrant, cosmopolitan capital of England. It dwarfed all other English urban centres. In 1377, the year Richard II became king, it had an estimated… Read More »Medieval London
Halloween in the Middle Ages
These days we are all too familiar with Halloween in its modern form. A night of trick or treating, dressing up as ghosts and ghouls, carving jack-o-lanterns from pumpkins. Hanging up cardboard silhouettes of witches’… Read More »Halloween in the Middle Ages
The Making of Henry V
In the early autumn of 1386, Henry Bolingbroke had cause for celebration. His beloved wife Mary had just given birth to his first son at Monmouth Castle in Wales. For this reason, the boy would… Read More »The Making of Henry V
Imposter or Pretender?
In 1491, a well-dressed young man appeared at the port of Cork in Ireland claiming to be Richard of Shrewsbury, son of Edward IV and rightful king of England. Over the next few years, he… Read More »Imposter or Pretender?
The Medici – Part 2 – Machiavellian Intrigue
By the mid-C15th Florence had become the centre of an artistic, architectural, philosophical, and scientific golden age we now call the Renaissance. And all this had happened under the stewardship of one man, Cosimo de’… Read More »The Medici – Part 2 – Machiavellian Intrigue
The Medici and the Italian Renaissance – Part 1
As the C15th dawned, the Renaissance was on the brink of transforming Europe forever. It was a revolution in art, culture, and learning. The old Medieval world was slowly disappearing. In its place, a new,… Read More »The Medici and the Italian Renaissance – Part 1
Parliament and the Birth of Democracy
Modern British democracy was born in the medieval parliament. However, in their nascent form, early parliaments were very far from democratic. Indeed, originally, they weren’t even called ‘Parliament’. Instead, they began life as the… Read More »Parliament and the Birth of Democracy