medieval characters
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“….Back during this time [1381] King Richard III was on the throne….” Quote taken from https://tinyurl.com/3558yumz. It would seem that the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381, during which the famous rebel leader Wat Tyler was murdered, has become somewhat fashionable. Articles about it are frequently dropping into my in-box and there is even to be a…
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By Maria Leotta It was 2017 when I first heard of a film about the life of Philippa Langley. I immediately called her to congratulate her but I knew nothing specific about the film. I followed every update, I read every article and I waited in trepidation for the trailer. When the cast was revealed,…
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When a medieval craftsman was denied his wages, he turned to stone to exact his revenge in a way that would echo through centuries. Atop Freiburg Minster resides a notorious gargoyle that serves a dual purpose: not only does it effectively channel rainwater, but it also embodies a spirit of defiance. According to historical accounts,…
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Mabel was the daughter of the notoriously cruel, William I Talvas and the heiress of her father’s estates, inheriting on his death in 1060. She also inherited the remainder of the Bellême honour in 1070 at the death of her uncle Yves, Bishop of Séez and Lord of Bellême. When her father was exiled she…
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An international group of scientists, including Prof. Turi King of Leicester University, has investigated the dental plaque (calculus) of King Richard III and concluded that it was basically the same as both other contemporary remains examined (including those from different social levels), and also modern populations! This is their conclusion: The dental calculus of King…
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10+ misunderstood historical figures, including Richard III….
Well, if there’s a list of historical figures on-line, you can be virtually certain that Richard III will crop up somewhere….usually as the bad guy. Well, thanks to Henry VII, Thomas More, John Morton, Shakespeare and just about any dumb historian since then. If ever there was a flock of sheep, historians of Richard III…
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Since most people were unable to read, mediaeval drinking houses/pubs used colourful pictorial signs, leading on from the ‘ale-stake,’ a vertical or horizontal pole hung outside such establishments to show that fresh ale was available. This was a continuation of a Roman practice of using ivy or vine leaves to indicate a place that sold…
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If, like me, you like to browse around websites about life in the past, you might be interested in this link, https://tinyurl.com/2tk5meck, which takes you to a website called Old & Interesting. You’ll soon realise that not everything in the site dates back to the medieval period, but it’s very interesting all the same. I…
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by Maria Grazia Lucrezia Leotta I walked alone in the silence of my inner thoughts and touched the ancient castle’s walls. I heard the sound of my own footsteps echoing in the shadow of the Prince’s Tower. Laughs, voices, joy and grief, a child’s wooden sword, hooves on pebbles, rosemary and lily, grass and rose.…
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Joanne Larner: Please would you provide a short introduction for those who don’t know you. Andrew Jamieson: My name is Andrew Jamieson and for over 40 years I have been a fully trained and qualified painter of heraldry, calligrapher and traditional manuscript illuminator. In 2023 His Majesty the King asked me to design and paint…
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