For over a thousand years, people have been captivated by the tales of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table. And each generation and culture has shaped the story of Arthur to meet their own aesthetic and political needs. This week, Danièle speaks with Kathy Cawsey and Elizabeth Edwards about the changing face of Arthur, the way his legend…

Because they’re so familiar, coins can sometimes seem to be a part of the natural order. But in the Early Middle Ages, just about everything to do with coins was in flux, from where they were sourced, to who was using them. This week, Danièle speaks with Rory Naismith about the complex world of medieval coins. You can support this podcast on Patreo…

Part of both faith and fashion, fish was an important ingredient in the medieval diet. And because of this, medieval fishing was much more sophisticated than just a rod, a line, and a worm. This week, Danièle speaks with Richard Hoffmann about what people were eating, how they caught it, and how fish farming evolved over time. You can support this …

One of the key dates from the Middle Ages is the year 1453. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss how the Ottomans were able to conquer the city of Constantinople and bring an end to the Byzantine Empire. You can support this podcast on Patreon. - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists…

These days, most of us have a good working knowledge of what’s going on with our internal organs. But in the Middle Ages, most people – even doctors – never got to see much of the inside of a human body. So, how did people conceive of our internal world? This week, Danièle speaks with Taylor McCall about what medieval people knew about internal med…

Scotland and England are at war again, with the important border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed under siege. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss how the English were able to inflict a quick and devastating defeat on the Scots. You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists…

Medieval people spent a lot of time thinking about saints. But what they thought about saints wasn’t always what we might expect. Women saints with promiscuous backstories were fan favourites in the Middle Ages, and one of the most popular was St. Mary of Egypt. This week, Danièle speaks with Sonia Velázquez about St. Mary of Egypt, why she caught …

We live in a world full of constant notifications, interruptions, and complications. If only we could get away from it all, the peace and quiet would allow us to concentrate. Or would it? This week, Danièle speaks with Jamie Kreiner about some new old strategies for concentration, courtesy of ancient and medieval monks. You can support this podcast…

It may be an ordinary body part, but medieval people definitely had strong opinions about hair and what it said about you. This week, Emanuele Lugli returns to talk about hair, how it was used as a form of control, how it spilled out onto artists’ canvasses, and what this all has to do with bodily excrement. You can support The Medieval Podcast on …

Through grime, stains, and wax droplets, the filthiest, most well-loved manuscripts tell us the story of how medieval people used - and abused - their books. This week, Danièle speaks with Kate Rudy about what we can learn from the smudges the people of the Middle Ages left behind, how modern technology helps us figure it out, and why we should all…

A rather unassuming spot in Greece has seen dozens of battles throughout history. On this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael Livingston and Kelly DeVries are joined by Myke Cole to talk about the book The Killing Ground: A Biography of Thermopylae, written by Michael and Myke. You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/med…

Foxes were everywhere in the medieval world and the medieval imagination. But where do the ideas we have about foxes come from? This week, Danièle speaks with Paul Wackers about why foxes were loved and hated in the real world, in fables, and in the Christian imagination of the Middle Ages. You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://ww…

He’s one of the most powerful figures in all of Western history, with influence not only over life and death, but over the immortal souls of billions of people over thousands of years. This week, Danièle speaks with Jessica Wärnberg about the role of the pope, his influence on Rome, and what happens when the holiest of men isn’t quite so holy. You …

Like many people today, medieval people used charms, personal talismans, and amulets to help smooth their way through life. But just who used them? How did they use them? And what did the church think about such things? This week, Danièle speaks with Katherine Storm Hindley about charms in the Middle Ages. You can support this podcast on Patreon - …

The Vikings are attacking England, and it's up to Alfred, King of Wessex, to stop them. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss this important battle in Anglo-Saxon England. You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalistsBy Medievalists.net

With a team of dedicated monks and lay brothers to help him, fifteenth-century Venetian Fra Mauro attempted to create the most accurate map of the world. This week, Danièle speaks with Meredith Small about this incredible mappamundi, what it contained, and how this landed Fra Mauro on the moon. You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https:…

Michael Livingston and Kelly DeVries answer listener questions about medieval military history. What do we mean when we talk about lines at a battle? Could those first into a battle survive? Are there campaigns that do not lead to battles or sieges? What was their favourite scene of medieval warfare from a film? You can support this podcast on Patr…

In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly take another look at this important battle from the Hundred Years' War. How do a visit to the battlefield and the writings of an Italian chronicler change their views on how Edward the Black Prince gained his victory? You can help support this podcast on Patreon - go to www.patreon.com/medievalists…

They’re the things that go bump in the night, the creatures that storm your mead hall and eat your friends, the beings that wander restlessly from their graves. This week, Danièle speaks with Charity Urbanski about monsters in the medieval world. You can support the podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists…

Some of the most important and influential figures of the Middle Ages were the big city bishops who ministered to rich and poor alike. But how did they tend to such a large and diverse flock? This week, Danièle speaks with Lesley Smith about William of Auvergne, the thirteenth-century upstart bishop of Paris who shaped a royal saint, changed the un…

In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly look at how the imperial army of Frederick Barbarossa and a Milanese force suddenly encountered each other in northern Italy. How would this battle change the Holy Roman Empire's plans for Italian conquest? You can support this podcast on Patreon. Go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists…

In a time and place with a serious lack of pockets and built-in shelving, how and where did people carry and store their everyday stuff? This week, Danièle takes a look at carrying, packing, and moving in the Middle Ages. You can support the podcast at https://www.patreon.com/medievalistsBy Medievalists.net

She’s one of the most well-known figures in history: married to two kings, mother to three, and a powerful duchess in her own right. This week, Danièle speaks with Karen Sullivan about the legendary Eleanor of Aquitaine, her famous - and infamous - relationships, and what makes her such a fascinating subject for historians and fiction writers alike…

It is a clash between Viking kings, as Harald Hardrada of Norway faces off against Sweyn II of Denmark. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss this naval battle and how it was told by the Icelandic writer Snorri Sturluson. You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists…

Often, the stories we tell about colonization focus on the takeovers themselves, and the circumstances that led up to them. But what happens to the people when the dust settles? How do they manage the clash of two cultures and often two law codes? And how do the stories they tell about themselves and each other help them navigate society? This week…

The most famous battle in Scottish history took place at Bannockburn in 1314. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael Livingston and Kelly DeVries examine how Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, was able to defeat the English led by King Edward II. You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists…

This week, Danièle explores the big medieval news stories of 2023 in conversation with Peter Koniezcny, editor of Medievalists.net. You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalistsBy Medievalists.net

In the Middle Ages, December meant a celebration of jolly old St. Nicholas along with a host of other sainted figures and important moments in the Christian story. This week, Danièle presents a quick guide to medieval holiday saints and feasts. You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists…

In the past few years, trans and genderqueer issues have come to the forefront both in society and in the way scholars are approaching medieval studies. But what do these terms mean? And how do we apply them responsibly to the past? This week, Danièle speaks with Alicia Spencer-Hall and Blake Gutt about trans and genderqueer scholarship in medieval…

In their eighth Q&A, Michael Livingston and Kelly DeVries answer your questions, including who were the almost famous leaders of the Middle Ages, the importance of languages for medievalists, and their favourite battle sites. You can support this podcast on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/medievalists…

This week, Danièle continues the annual tradition of sharing some of her favourite books of the year, along with the top picks of Peter Konieczny, editor and co-founder of Medievalists.net. Danièle's list: Temptation Transformed: The Story of How the Forbidden Fruit Became an Apple, by Azzan Yadin-Israel Balthazar: A Black African King in Medieval …

In honour of the new discoveries around the Princes in the Tower, Danièle delves into some other mysterious deaths and disappearances in English royal history. You can support The Medieval Podcast and Medievalists.net on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalistsBy Medievalists.net

Philip Augustus, King of France, faced off against an alliance that included the Holy Roman Emperor, the King of England, and the leading nobles of the Low Countries. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss this important battle and how it changes Western Europe. You can support this podcast and Medievalists.net on Patreon - https…

Humans have always been fascinated by the birds and beasts of planet Earth, collecting and compiling information on their habits, habitats, and where they got their names. This week, Danièle speaks with Hana Videen about her contribution to the field: a brand new Old English bestiary. The Deorhord: An Old English Bestiary, by Hana Videen is publish…

This week, Danièle and Peter Konieczny share profound - and profoundly odd - medieval proverbs from one of their favourite books of the Middle Ages: The Well-Laden Ship. The Well-Laden Ship, by Egbert of Liège, was translated by Robert Gary Babcock as part of the Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library. You can get details about the book at https://www.hup…

One of the epic clashes between England and France during the Hundred Years' War, Michael and Kelly discuss the Battle of Agincourt. It's perfect timing too, as Michael. Livingston has just released his new book: Agincourt: Battle of the Scarred King, from Osprey Publishing - https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/agincourt-9781472855206/ You can also…

For a thousand years – and especially the last two hundred or so – people have had a love affair with Vikings. But what do we know about the Norse voyages to the Americas? Why are Vikings so fascinating at this historical distance? And how do they fit into modern people’s ideas of identity? This week, Danièle speaks with Martyn Whittock about Vikin…

In what could be considered the first battle of the Middle Ages, the Roman Emperor Valens goes to war against the Goths in southeastern Europe. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly talk about the battle and why the Romans suffered such a massive defeat. You can support this podcast and Medievalists.net on Patreon - go to https://www.pa…

This week, guest host Peter Konieczny interviews Danièle about her new book Chivalry and Courtesy: Medieval Manners for a Modern World. You can support this podcast and Medievalists.net on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalistsBy Medievalists.net

This week, in celebration of her first two books becoming available on Patreon, Danièle discusses five ways to become a better medievalist, five minutes at a time. You can now buy two of Danièle's books on our Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists/shopBy Medievalists.net

Michael and Kelly are joined by Nicholas Morton, author of The Mongol Storm, to discuss how Chinggis Khan and the Mongols were able to use their military power to conquer large parts of the world in the 13th century. You can support this podcast and Medievalists.net on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists…

In light of the TikTok trend asking, "How often do you think about the Roman Empire?" Danièle discusses how to gently correct misguided assumptions about history in the people we love. You can support this podcast and Medievalists.net on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalistsBy Medievalists.net

It is the seventh Q&A episode of Bow & Blade, with Michael and Kelly answering listener questions. Here they talk about the women defending castles, the Italian banks supporting Edward III, mustering troops from specific regions, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), and where were the windmills in the Middle Ages. You can help support this podca…

For the better part of a millennium, people have been applying the tenets of chivalry to their personal lives in order to give themselves moral and ethical targets to tilt at. But what does it look like to apply medieval ideals to the twenty-first century? And what does it mean to walk the walk of knighthood in a high-tech society? This week, Daniè…

Castile goes to war against Portugal, hoping to take over this kingdom. The English and the French even take sides in this conflict, which culminates at Aljubarrota. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss the battle, where we have a lot of good sources and brilliant military tactics. If you like this podcast and Medievalists.net,…

One of the favourite activities of medieval scholars was to write massive encyclopedias, distilling every last detail of the known world into book form to share with an insatiably curious public. This week, Danièle speaks with Travis Zadeh about a thirteenth-century bestseller written by a scholar named Qazwini, who brought together natural philoso…

The Hundred Years' War goes to Gascony, as the English and French do battle at Castillon. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly talk about why the English commander John Talbot made such a tragic mistake in attacking the French camp. If you like this podcast and want to support Medievalists.net, please do so at Patreon: https://www.patr…

We know that trees were a fundamental part of early medieval society, technology, and culture, but how did pagan communities preserve and adapt their thinking about trees in the face of increasing Christian missionary activity? This week, Danièle speaks with Michael D.J. Bintley about the evolving role of trees in early medieval England. You can su…

This week, Danièle speaks with Kenneth Duggan about capital crime in medieval England, how the community was involved in the justice system, and some of the unexpected events that might happen at a gallows. You can support this podcast and Medievalists.net on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists…

Myths and conspiracies aside, the real medieval Templars were indeed a formidable fighting force, as well as being financially savvy diplomats at many of the major courts of the time. This week, Danièle speaks with Steve Tibble about the Templars' role in Britain and Ireland, their activities on and off the battlefield, and some of the major politi…