New blog post on the “Martial Culture in Medieval Towns” academic blog out of Geneva, by yours truly. Short, but intense. Please read it, and if you like it, spread it around. “What happens when a bishop threatens a town with the inquisition in 14th Century Silesia? Violence, that’s what happens.”
A siege in the pre-industrial eras was never fun for the participants. Sieges were often the most bloody, exhausting, and brutal engagements experienced by warriors and civilians of the pre-industrial world, and they haven’t gotten any more fun in modern times. But for a reader, safe in their own home or some comfortable library, the …
The sallet is a type of helmet which began to appear in Central Europe in the late 14th Century, considered to be in the ‘Gothic’ style associated with Latin Christendom from the high to late medieval period. The Sallet seems to have originated in German speaking areas initially. By the second quarter of the 15th …
In the 13th Century, the Franciscan Johannes Galensis (aka John of Wales) finished his Tractatus de Penitentia, in which he mentioned a particular pest by the name of Titivillus. This miscreant is a demon or devil who is specifically associated with the persecution of a particular class of people – those who make their living …
The following essay is a little gory, so if you are squeamish, skip it. Hit Points vs complex wounds Anyone who has played DnD or a similar role playing game at high levels, knows that hit points can become a little bit ridiculous. When you have so many that you can kind of laugh off …
The idea of tough, ass-kicking women is one of the most popular tropes in popular entertainment today. For several generations now, TV shows, films, comics, and more recently computer games heavily emphasize the idea of the lady warrior. Few people probably assume that this trope was also popular in the medieval world. Perhaps the first …
Here we have a brief discussion with medieval history professor, HEMA pioneer and professional swordsmith, Dr. Fabrice Cognot, PhD Jean: Can you briefly introduce yourself, your education, experience with antique swords, with HEMA, and experience making swords? Dr Fabrice Cognot, bladesmith. Did my PhD on medieval weapons (Xth-XVth century mostly) and more specifically how to …
The Cinquedea is a mysterious type of blade weapon which appeared in Italy during the second half of the 15th Century, and was largely gone by the second half of the 16th Century. During this period however, especially in the late 15th Century and early 16th, it was very popular, and thousands of examples were …
A coat made of thick felt, which can be worn as under-armor or as stand-alone armor. This is essentially a very primitive type of gambeson, it offers fairly good protection but the armor itself is vulnerable to destruction.
Outdoor or travelling clothes for winter including a coat or heavy jacket provides fairly significant protection.
