King Stephen of England and Matilda
The king, Stephen of England, was not nominated as heir to the throne of England. His cousin, Matilda, who was Henry I’s daughter, was instead. Matilda (or Maud as she is sometimes known) had...
Uhtred of Bebbanburg – A Fictional Character?
Uhtred of Bebbanburg is a son of the Saxon Ealdorman Uhtred, Lord of Bebbanburg, and was born in Northumbria. He lived during the era of Alfred the Great in the late 9th century, when Britain...
What is Feudalism in the Middle Ages
Feudalism in the middle ages was a strict hierarchical system, based on land being exchanged for military service, and allegiance to the king under oath. Medieval Feudalism began first in France around the 9th century....
The History of Halloween and Samhain
The History of Halloween goes back as far as the 8th century for Christians. Pope Gregory III chose the 1st November as a day to honour all the saints (hallows) and martyrs, who did not have a...
King Henry I
King Henry I of England was the youngest son of William the Conqueror. He was also the only Norman king who could read and write. This education came from his upbringing in the church,...
Medieval Shields
Medieval Shields were essential for the protection of soldiers during medieval warfare. They came in all sorts of shapes and sizes, tailored to their specific use on the battlefield. They provided not only protection, but...
Rochester Castle in Kent
Rochester Castle is a Norman fortress with centuries of stories to be told, most famous of all being the great siege by King John in 1215. Rochester castle has one of the tallest keeps in all...
Dunster Castle – Somerset
Dunster Castle, a grand medieval stronghold and now a fine fortified house, has been home to the Luttrell family for 600 years. Commanding a superior defensive position above Dunster medieval village, the stronghold was...
King William Rufus – the Unpopular Norman King of England
King William Rufus was the third, and possibly favourite son of the Norman conqueror William I. After an unusual set of circumstances, William inherited the throne of England at the age of 30, despite...
William the Conqueror – Duke of Normandy
William the Conqueror, the Norman invader, defeated the last Anglo-Saxon King of England, Harold II Godwinson, in the famous Battle of Hastings, in 1066. He was sometimes known as William the Bastard and previous to his...
Harold Godwinson – The Last Anglo-Saxon King
Harold Godwinson, a wealthy, powerful man who inherited money and titles from his father, Godwin Earl of Wessex, upon his death in 1053. Harold Godwinson dedicated his life to serving King Edward the Confessor...
Edward the Confessor – The Saint King
Edward the Confessor, son of Ethelred the Unready and Emma of Normandy, had grown up in exile in Normandy after the Viking invasion of 1013. Although born an Anglo-Saxon, he spent much of his...
Alfred the Great – King of Saxon England
Alfred the Great is the only English king to be given the glorified nickname “the Great”, and indeed he deserved it. In 871, Alfred the Great ruled over the kingdom of Wessex, which was...
Arundel Castle in Sussex
Arundel Castle has been a family home to the Dukes of Norfolk and their ancestors for nearly 1000 years, and is one of the longest inhabited country houses in all of England. Arundel Castle...
Medieval Life and Times – Daily Life
Medieval Life and Times – What was Medieval daily life like? It is well documented that Medieval life and times for most people of that era was hard. Back-breaking work during the days, cold and uncomfortable...
The Trebuchet
The Trebuchet was the most fearsome medieval weapon in the middle ages. Capable of smashing castle fortifications and slinging rotten carcases over castle walls. It was so formidable that on some occasions castles under...
