The Swedish King Who Led the War Against Thor and Odin
Anund Jacob, known as Anund Jakob or James, reigned as King of Sweden from around…
The Ruthless Journey of Japan’s First Shōgun
Minamoto no Yoritomo’s declaration as the first shōgun in 1192 marked one of the most…
From Pagan Warlord to Christian King: Guthrum the Dane
Guthrum, the Danish Viking leader, stands as one of the most formidable and consequential figures…
The Rise and Sudden Fall of the Last Norman Ruler of Sicily
Empress Constance of Sicily’s rise and mysterious death form one of early medieval Europe’s most…
Odo of Bayeux: The Ambitious Warrior Bishop
Odo of Bayeux, born around 1035, was a unique and larger-than-life character of the 11th…
Sweyn II Estridsson: The Warrior King who Fathered 5 Kings
The medieval history of Denmark is marked by a series of formidable monarchs. Among these,…
The Pope Who Sparked Europe’s Scientific Revolution
Pope Sylvester II, born Gerbert of Aurillac, stands out as a figure whose scientific curiosity…
The Rise of the Mahdi
In 1121 CE, far to the western edge of the Islamic world, a new flame…
The Tsar Who Made Byzantium Tremble
Tsar Simeon the Great, ruler of Bulgaria from 893 to 927, was a figure of…
The Pope Attacked in Rome
The closing years of the eighth century were a time of turbulence, transformation, and realignment…
Geoffrey of Monmouth and his Grand, Entertaining Chronicle
In the Candlelit Scriptorium Geoffrey of Monmouth, a clever cleric with an eye for legend…
The Naked Rebellion of Lady Godiva
Lady Godiva’s legendary naked protest is one of English history’s most enduring tales, an account…
Gerald of Wales: Britain’s First Travel Writer
Few figures from the medieval period have so vividly described their world, or themselves, as…
When Rome Sent A Fearful Monk to Save Britain
St. Augustine’s mission to Britain in 597 CE marks a pivotal moment in the history…
Basil I Founds the Macedonian Dynasty On Murder
The year 867 CE marked a turning point in the history of the Byzantine Empire….
