In 1051, a monk of Canterbury Cathedral made a bizarre observation in what would eventually form part of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. In his chronicling of the year’s events, he described the establishment of a new fortification in Herefordshire by French members of the king’s party. More sophisticated than the typical Saxon burh, the word provided […]
Wolf at the Door by Sarah Hawkswood
The body of Durand Wuduweard, the unpopular keeper of the King’s Forest of Feckenham, is discovered beside his hearth, his corpse rendered barely identifiable by sharp teeth. Hushed whispers of a man-wolf spread swiftly and Sheriff William de Beauchamp’s men, Bradecote and Catchpoll, have to find out who killed Durand and why, amidst superstitious villagers, […]
Lions of the Grail by Tim Hodkinson
1315 AD. Ireland and England are ravaged by bitter war. Rotting in an English prison, condemned as a heretic, Irish Knight Templar Richard Savage is given one chance of reprieve. But there is a catch. He must return to Ireland as a traitor, working as a spy there for the King of England. Savage returns […]
The Waste Land by Tim Hodkinson
1316 AD. Ireland and England’s bitter war rages on. Richard Savage thought he had left the war in Ireland behind, but arch-enemy Edward Bruce won’t let him just walk away. Savage stole something from him, and there are no depths to which he will not descend to get it back. To force Savage’s return, Bruce […]
874 and All That: a short history of a small country
Michael Ridpath, the crime novelist, has a deep interest in the history of Iceland. As a change from his usual books, he turned for his newest publication to a combination of his craft and his enthusiasm: a crime writer’s guide to Iceland. He’s given Historia a brief guide to medieval Iceland, the period of sagas […]
Books of Hours and their role in women’s lives
Medieval Books of Hours were far more than devotional aids; as beautiful, cherished objects they were a way for their creators and owners to experiment with miniature art and ideas, often carrying hidden messages. And, being made for private use, they had a special significance for women, the bestselling author Elizabeth Buchan explains. Two miniature […]
At the heart of English history: the Warenne Earls of Surrey
The Warennes, Earls of Surrey from the Norman Conquest until 1347, may not be as familiar to us as some other great medieval families. But, as historian Sharon Bennett Connolly tells Historia, for three centuries they were at the heart of English power and had an important role in the politics of their day. As […]
Defenders of the Norman Crown by Sharon Bennett Connolly
In the reign of Edward I, when asked Quo Warranto – by what warrant he held his lands – John de Warenne, the sixth Earl of Surrey, is said to have drawn a rusty sword, claiming: “My ancestors came with William the Bastard, and conquered their lands with the sword, and I will defend them […]