1154 – Henry II of England is crowned at Westminster Abbey # R.I.P. 1370 – Pope Urban V http://twitpic.com/3hassn # 1490 – Anne, Duchess of Brittany, is married to Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor by proxy # R.I.P. 1327 – Agnes of France, Duchess of Burgundy, youngest daughter of Louis IX of France # R.I.P….
Monthly Archives: December 2010
Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-12-19
1408 – The King Sigismund of Hungary, creates The Order of the Dragon a monarchical chivalric order # Happy Birthday 1298 – Albert II of Austria # Happy Birthday 1418 – Albert VI of Austria # RT @AntiquiTweet: 627: Battle of Nineveh: during Byzantine-Sassanid War of 602-628. Byzantines won, temporarily extending their border # 1294…
Northern Cyprus History Holiday
Northern Cyprus boasts a long and interesting history, much of which has made it into the colourful and exciting place that it is today, with its rich tapestry of different cultures and influences. Take an island which may date as far back as 9,000 years; sprinkle in different and often interwoven cultures throughout the centuries…
Infinity Blade Review
The best games are the ones that never end. Infinity Blade, the new highest-grossing app on the App Store, doesn’t just have a cool name, it follows through very literally. This never-ending tale takes place on a simple battlefield, a medieval castle with demons guarding every doorway and stairwell, and players taking on the role…
Fable III – Xbox 360 Review
Sometimes it’s nice to keep things simple which is where we are with Fable III. Fable III is quite simply a brilliant third-person action RPG that takes place in the middle ages in the fictional kingdom of Albion. You take control and play as either the daughter or son of the Fable II’s hero as…
Treasure trove of medieval manuscripts published
The Wollaton Medieval Manuscripts… Texts, Owners and Readers is the culmination of a major research project at The University of Nottingham into this nationally important regional collection. The largest surviving family-owned library of medieval manuscripts in Britain can now be enjoyed by everyone thanks to the publication of a new book telling its fascinating story….
Bangor Pontifical doodles show us the middle ages were juvenile, too
On the reams of choral chants in this Welsh medieval treasure I spotted a scribble of a man with a big nose. Satire hasn’t changed – and neither have we. It looks like something Jake and Dinos Chapman might do if they turned their hand to the creative defacement of illuminated manuscripts: the Viz-style gargoyle…
Bretons fight to save language from extinction
At a busy creperie amid the cobbled medieval streets of Quimper in Brittany, northern France, a lunchtime crowd is enjoying hearty galettes packed with combinations of meats, cheeses and eggs. The crepe has become a staple of French cuisine, but another aspect of Brittany’s culture — the region’s unique language — is in danger of…
Heather Hirschfeld named Riggsby Director of Marco Institute for Medieval and Renaissance Studies
Heather Hirschfeld, a University of Tennessee, Knoxville, associate professor of English, has been named the new Riggsby Director of the university’s Marco Institute for Medieval and Renaissance Studies. Hirschfeld is set to begin work Jan. 1, 2011. A specialist in Shakespeare and Renaissance drama and a UT faculty member since 2000, Hirschfeld said she looks…
Winter Harp features strange musical instruments from medieval times
Joaquin Ayala of Winter Harp performs on a menagerie of strange musical instruments from medieval times, and none is more archaic than the monstrous organistrum. Grandfather of the hurdy-gurdy, with the body shape of a guitar, the instrument is played by two musicians, one of whom turns a rosined wheel that rubs or bows the…
The Art of War: Medieval fighting club forces grow in size
While the dust settles after one of Southwestern College’s most controversial political battles, about 20 students are preparing themselves for a battle of a different kind. SWC’s newest student organization, the Belegarth Medieval Fighting Club, has staked the college as its realm, and student warriors have spent the last month and a half carving, or…
The medieval mystery of Nine Men’s Morris investigated at Creswell Crags in Derbyshire
When archaeologists working through the Victorian spoil heaps at Creswell Crags in 2006 uncovered a stone with a familiar carved geometric pattern, it opened yet another aspect of the ever-developing story of the important prehistoric caves. What the experts from Sheffield University had unearthed was in fact a medieval incarnation of the strategy board game…
Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-12-12
1082 – Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Barcelona is assassinated by his twin brother # 1060 – Béla I is crowned king of Hungary # Happy Birthday 1421 – King Henry VI of England http://twitpic.com/3djnst # R.I.P. 1185 – King Afonso I of Portugal http://twitpic.com/3djo6x # Happy Birthday 1285 – King Ferdinand IV of Castile…
Students embark on history crusade
A group of students from The University of Queensland will travel to southern France next July as part of a course in medieval history. They will study themes of crusade, conquest and colonisation in the High Middle Ages, by examining their impact on European society and culture. Course coordinator Dr Kriston Rennie said the aim…
Six things you must do in Canterbury: Bagpuss, Chaucer and boats trips on the River Stour
A zippy new train service has put the tranquil cathedral city in Kent within an hour’s reach of London, making it an easy place to visit for many people. Gareth Huw Davies followed at high speed in the footsteps of the Canterbury pilgrims to the perfect Christmas destination. This is his must-do list… 1…ON THE…