Edward I of England and his queen, Eleanor of Castile, were deeply devoted to one another. Their marriage, like most marriages at the time, was pure rooted in pragmatic politics. Henry III, Edward’s father, was having a dispute with Eleanor’s half brother Alphonso over claims to the duchy of Gascony. A deal was struck that […]
Tag: Medieval
Enrico Dandolo’s Revenge or The Fourth Crusade
Written on May 5, 2017 by ER at 4:03 PM | 0
Byzantium, ER, Italy, Rest of the World, Southern Europe
Byzantium, ER, Italy, Rest of the World, Southern Europe
Enrico Dandolo had an ax to grind. At first, it seemed like he had a pretty good life. He was born in the early 12th century to an influential Venetian noble family. His father was Vitale Dandolo, who was a famous jurist and diplomat. His uncle, another Enrico Dandolo, was the patriarch of Grado, the […]
The White Ship Disaster
On November 25, 1120 the newly refitted vessel the White Ship captained by Thomas FitzStephen White Ship sank in the English Channel near the Normandy coast off Barfleur. Only one of those aboard survived. William Adelin, the only legitimate son and heir of King Henry I of England, his half-sister Matilda, and his half-brother Richard […]
Animal Trials
Written on February 11, 2017 by Adela at 3:00 PM | 0
Adela, England, France, Germany, Northern Europe, Southern Europe
Adela, England, France, Germany, Northern Europe, Southern Europe
Yes, I know that sounds crazy but this actually happened and it occurred enough to find several instances of animals being put on trial. These Animal Trials are recorded as having taken place in Europe from the thirteenth century until the eighteenth. They ranged from horses kicking their owners all the way to insects damaging […]
The St. Scholastica Day Riot
Beginning as a “bar brawl” the riot began on February 10, 1355 as a dispute between two students and the taverner. Lasting two days and resulting in several deaths among local citizens and students. The riot began at the Swindlestock Tavern in Oxford. This is now the site of the Santander Bank on Carfax, on […]