Everything Medieval!'s Journal

scriva @ 10:51am: Travelling in the Middle Ages: By Sea
One of the earliest sources for sea travels in the Middle Ages is a margin to the Gesta Hammaburgensis Ecclesie Episcopi by Adam of Bremen, specifially to the “Description of the Northern Islands”. This margin can be dated between after 1090 (after the first and the second version of the work) and the beginning of the 13th century. The final destination Akkon indicates the creation in the time of the Crusades. The first existing manuscript, containing this margin, is dated between 1200 and 1225, and has probably been created in Germany. 

The next written source of this kind, a so-called “Seebuch” dates from the 15th century, and from the late 14th century, you can also find the first Portulan Maps with the coastlines of England, Holland, Western France, Spain etc..  For a very long time, this little text is really the only notice.

( Source with picture, tanslation and footnotes ^_^ )

isil_helyanwe @ 7:56pm: Effect of Arthurian legend on sense of English/Welsh national identity?
Hi, this is my first time posting in this comm, and I haven't been a member all that long, so if I'm breaking any rules, please tell me and I'll be glad to delete this. :)

I'm writing a 5000 word essay for school and I want to explore either:

a) the effect which Arthurian mythology had on the sense of national identity, both in the medieval era and beyond or

b) how Arthurian mythology affected concepts of kingship (perhaps mainly focusing on the period of the Wars of the Roses).

Of course, the first is a far broader topic, and by 'Arthurian mythology', I would really be cheifly focusing on Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur more than anything else.

This is kind of a large thing to ask, but I'm really stuck at where to begin, so I was wondering if anyone had any ideas of what I could research, where I could find good information or how to tackle this - frankly rather daunting - question. Or really anything that you think could help.

Thanks so much.

setsuled @ 1:11am: New Member
Name: Setsuled
Age: 30
Location: San Diego, California
Do you study the period in any way? Do you do historical reenactments or role-playing of this period?: I've been reading about the period a lot, especially over the past couple years. I write and illustrate a webcomic--Venia's Travels (NSFW)--that's set in a medieval fantasy world. The comic's rated NC-17, but it's not porn.
What do you like about the Middle Ages?: The general aesthetics, the transition from barbaric or pagan morality to strict repressive Christian morality. Oppressive political powers limited by technology.
If you could live anywhere during anytime in the Middle Ages, where and when would it be and why?: Well, honestly, I wouldn't want to live anywhere in the Middle Ages. I don't think I'd last. But if I had to choose, maybe Canterbury for the cathedral and for the fact that it was a hub of activity relatively close to the coast.

fayethefaery @ 11:43pm: NEW! and A Question about Fabric
I know, I know, I just joined and right away I have a question! But I'm a quizzical girl(: I was wondering whether fabric could be made of any duo of linen, cotton, or wool.. I know that linen and cotton can be combined, and that it's called fustian. But what about linen/wool or cotton/wool? I was mostly curious about linen/wool and, if so, how it would look.. And eventually, where would one go about finding some to buy online? What would the price range for something like this be for a medieval time period?

Thank you to any help(:


(x-posted a few other places)


And here's the 'new member' application/info :D...
Name: Faye
Age: Sixteen
Location: Southern California
Do you study the period in any way? Do you do historical reenactments or role-playing of this period?: I'm constantly studying and striving to learn more and more! I love knowledge and soak in as much as I can. I go to my local Renaissance Faire quite frequently, but I'm hoping and trying to get my mother and I involved in the SCA or something similar very soon(: [any help would be very welcome!]
What do you like about the Middle Ages?: It's a time that I can relate to.. To me, anything post-Industrial Revolution has a sort of evil smog hovering around it. I loathe the modern rush of life and the intense noise of unnatural machinery.. Not to mention the pollution of our great Mother Earth. All I want is to go back to the years when horses were basically guaranteed instead of a luxury for the wealthy, when archery, hunting, and sword-fighting were necessary skills, when women still wore long dresses instead of walking around half-naked.. when men were chivalrous and respectful instead of discourteous and crude, when someone could fight for what they believed in.. a time when I could just take my horse and gear and go, knowing that I wouldn't run into any automobiles or other disgusting modern inventions. I just have a medieval mind-set, I guess ^_^ To make it simple, I love the simple way of life, the lack of modern technology like transportation and telephones, the architecture, the fashions, the justice, the norms of society.. My perfect world would be in the Middle Ages with indoor plumbing ^_^
If you could live anywhere during anytime in the Middle Ages, where and when would it be and why?: Hmm. This one is so difficult! I haven't studied enough about each country to know much about the specifics of each region, so I don't know if I can answer this one as truthfully as I could were this to be known. BUT. I can say that with what I do know, somewhere in Britain would be nice(: I'm just going to be very general with that because I honestly don't think I'd mind which specific PART of Britain. When.. Hmm. I'm going to go with the same comment about not knowing too much about each time ("What does she know, then," you ask! Well, I'm a costumer so I know a lot about THAT ^_^ heheh!). At just a wild guess, it would probably be around 1000-1200. (Any book suggestions/internet websites for learning more about the specifics of each time period would be GREAT! Also, ones about the regions of Britain and other places during the Middle Ages. I would love you forever...^_^)

losille2000 @ 12:57pm: Hi everyone!
Name: Tracy
Age: 23
Location: Atlanta, GA
Do you study the period in any way? Do you do historical reenactments or role-playing of this period?: I study it out of general curiosity. I am also a writer and prefer to write in the Middle Ages or Renaissance, so as much studying as possible about what I'm writing is always great. I attend as many renaissance faires/theatrical productions/SCA events/etc. when I have the means to do so.
What do you like about the Middle Ages?: I find I'm really drawn to the notion of chivalry, courtly love, tournaments and jousting. I also enjoy the literature and manuscripts.
If you could live anywhere during anytime in the Middle Ages, where and when would it be and why?: It's fun to visit at SCA events or Renaissance faires, but couldn't give up modern conveniences that easily.

tielesse @ 5:09pm: Bastardy and Inheritance in the Middle Ages?
Hello everyone. :) I'm working on a novel and I've been trying to research bastardy as it relates to inheritance laws and family relationships in the 12th through 14th centuries, especially in France. I'm having no luck, as everything I'm finding through Google seems to be a hodge-podge of trivia totally disconnected from time and place. Does anybody here know anything about this subject, or know sources that might be helpful? I'd be more specific about the circumstances in my story but I'm still brainstorming and so I'm not sure precisely what I need.

Thank you in advance. :)

ethelfleda @ 8:36pm: London's Mediaeval Medicine
BBC 7 has a programme on London's Mediaeval Medicine available for the next few days, mainly talking about what they've found from the Spitalfields excavations. I suspect that there won't be many surprises in there for people on this comm, but an interesting listen nonetheless.

elirrina @ 8:59pm: specialized letters
Hi everyone,

I'm a medievalist grad student and for my thesis I need to be able to type up some Middle English (quoting original sources and all that). I've got a Mac, and I've tried the extended keyboards, and other language palettes, but I can't seem to get the thorn, eth or yogh to show up in Word - they show up just fine in text edit and other applications. My roommate has a PC, and we've tried typing up those letters in a document then opening them on a Mac, but they just don't show up.

Any ideas?

silvergirl430 @ 5:33pm: Casting The Wales Trilogy
I'm breaking this one up into individual books, though some of the casting may stay the same for recurring characters.

Here Be Dragons

young Llewelyn -
young Rhys -
young Ednyved -
Marared -
young Joanna -
Clemence -
John -
Adele -
young Richard Fitzroy -
Eleanor of Aquitaine - Vanessa Redgrave
Richard Fitzroy - Nikolai Kinski
Henry II -
Richard I -
Joanna - Emily Blunt
Llewelyn - Ioan Gruffudd
Ednyved - Matthew Rhys
Rhys - Hugh Dancy
Catrin -
Tangwystyl -
young Gruffydd -
young Gwladys -
Crystyn -
Isabelle d'Angoulême -Clémence Poésy
William de Braose - Bernard Hill
Maude de Braose -
Will de Braose -
young Elen -
young Dafydd -
Gruffydd - Marton Csokas
Gwladys - Hayley Atwell
Elen - Justine Waddell
Dafydd - Michael Sheen
Senena -
John the Scot -
Isabella de Braose - Saoirse Ronan

Falls The Shadow

Simon de Montfort - Lambert Wilson
Nell, Countess of Leicester - Naomi Watts
William Marshal -
Joanna, Lady of Wales -Emily Blunt
Llewelyn ab Iorwerth -Ioan Gruffudd
Gruffydd - Marton Csokas
Senana -
young Llewelyn ap Gruffydd -
Ednyved -Matthew Rhys
Henry III -
Richard, Earl of Cornwall -
Elen de Quincy - Justine Waddell
Rob de Quincy -
Davydd ap Llewelyn - Michael Sheen
Isabella de Braose - Saoirse Ronan
Gwladys Mortimer - Hayley Atwell
Llewelyn ap Gruffydd - Richard Armitige
young Harry -
young Bran -
young Guy -
young Amaury -
young Richard de Montfort -
young Edward -
Humphrey de Bohun -
young Ellen -
Harry -
Bran - Jamie Bamber
Edward -
Guy - James Callis
Amaury -
Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester -

The Reckoning

Hugh -
Nell, Countess of Leicester - Miranda Richardson
Ellen de Montfort -
Bran - Jamie Bamber O:-)
Guy - James Callis
Juliana - Anna Friel
Serafina -
Henry of Almain -
Amaury -
Edward -
Edmund -
Eleanora of Castile - Lena Headey
Blanche of Artois -
Llewelyn - Richard Armitige
Davydd -
Caitlin -
Elizabeth -
Llelo -
Owain ap Davydd -
Thomas (pirate) -

Speaking of James Callis, just look at this! www.imdb.com/media/rm3341390848/nm0130536 I think he just made it onto my 'The Sunne In Splendour' list, too...lol

silvergirl430 @ 4:51pm: Casting 'The Sunne In Splendour'
Exactly what the title says! As we seem to have a lot of Sharon Kay Penman fans, I thought I'd open up my pet project to everyone here. :-)

This is just the role list I've created, going as far into the book as Tewkesbury, so I'll add onto the list later! Any blanks are ones I'm still thinking about, and I have a few actors/actresses as possibles for multiple roles

young Richard -
young George -
Joan -
Edmund - Tom Felton
Edward - Rupert Penry-Jones
Cecily, Duchess of York -
Duke of York - Pierce Brosnan
Warwick - Sean Bean, Kevin McKidd
Johnny Neville - Sean bean, Kevin McKidd
Marguerite d'Anjou - Isabelle Adjani, Sophie Marceau
Henry VI -
Henry Beaufort -
Edmund Beaufort - Henry Cavill
Salisbury -
Rob Apsall -
Nan Beauchamp -
young Anne Neville -
young Isabel Neville -
Will Hastings - Daniel Craig, Mark Strong
young Francis Lovell -
young Rob Percy -
Margaret of York, Duchess of Burgundy - Mary Nighy, Rose Byrne
Elizabeth Woodville - Nicole Kidman?
Richard III - James McAvoy, Charlie Cox, Daniel Radcliffe, Henry Cavill, Jim Sturgess
George, Duke of Clarence - Tom Felton, Max Pirkis, Robert Pattinson
Anne Neville - Emily Blunt, Sophia Myles, Saoirse Ronan
Isabel Neville - Rosamund Pike, Natalie Dormer
Francis Lovell - Charlie Cox
Rob Percy - William Moseley
young Édouard of Lancaster -
Édouard of Lancaster -
Jack Howard -
Clifford -
Henry Percy (elder) -
Henry Percy (younger) -
George Neville, Archbishop of York -
Thomas Neville -
Tom Wrangwysh - Benedict Cumberbatch
Duke of Suffolk -
Wenlock - Tom Hardy
Duke of Exeter -
Anne, Duchess of Exeter -
Eliza, Duchess of Suffolk -
Earl of Oxford -
Véronique de Crécy - Virginie Ledoyen, Émilie Dequenne, Ludivine Sagnier, Fanny Valère
Jane Shore - Romola Garai
Kate - Juno Temple
Buckingham - Rupert Friend, Hugh Dancy
Charles of Burgundy -

Have fun!

silvergirl430 @ 5:31pm: Name: Anna

Age: 26

Location: South Kensington, London, England

Do you study the period in any way? Do you do historical reenactments or role-playing of this period?: I work in the Medieval and Renaissance department of a museum as a researcher, and while my re-enacting is mostly Renaissance as opposed to medieval, I do the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival every year, as well as JOUST before it closed

What do you like about the Middle Ages?: I love almost everything about it. It's amazing to see how Europe made its way to the Renaissance, but it's a fascinating period in its own right. The culture, the arts, the history, the philosophy...oh, and definitely the clothes :-D

If you could live anywhere during anytime in the Middle Ages, where and when would it be and why?: I would say anytime after 1100, and let's just say I'd have the means to travel wherever I want. It's all just too interesting!

jandervk @ 12:07pm: +Brothers In Arms+ Radio
+Brothers In Arms+ Radio



Achtung! Brothers DJ JanderVK and DJ Erik will be invading the air waves, permanently! Bi-Weekly on Wednesday mournings @ 4am CST (starting January 21st 2009). If you're in the city of Chicago you can tune in on 88.5FM, everyone else can tune in on WHPK.org

If you're not in the states, and want to find out what time we are on in your part of the world: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/

www.myspace.com/whpk885fm

www.myspace.com/neomediaeval

DJ JanderVK spins music that is Medieval/Folk/Renaissance/Pagan communit(ies) oriented!

shiggetythat @ 2:43am: So, I have this community called heart_history and it has a some art from the Middle Ages :D
It could always use more though.

Anyway,
Name: Kelsey

Age: 17

Location: South Florida

Do you study the period in any way? Do you do historical reenactments or role-playing of this period?: Right now I am currently re-reading and analyzing Beowulf. I want to learn Old English and study the culture of all the medieval tribes, the Angles, the Saxons, the Celts, the Franks, etc. This period in history fascinated me.(As you can probably tell, I don't know a whole lot about the Middle Ages, but one day hope to.)

Right now I am absolutely obsessed with Beowulf. I started reading it because my AP English Literature teacher kept talking about it, but it unfortunately was not part of the curriculum, so I went out and bought the 3,000+ line version of the poem (as opposed to the condensed version they give out in schools), and I fell in love with it.

What do you like about the Middle Ages?: I love the culture and history in general. I am dying to purchase Medieval Folklore: An Encyclopedia of Myths, Legends, Tales, Beliefs, and Customs by Carla Lindahl and John Lindow. If anyone has any recommendations on good books regarding the Middle Ages, please let me know!

If you could live anywhere during anytime in the Middle Ages, where and when would it be and why?: I honestly have no idea. I'd like to have been a nomad and travel :)

tedeisenstein @ 10:10pm: As requested:
Name: tedeisenstein
Age: not quite older than dirt. Yet.
Location: Missouri
Do you study the period in any way? Bits and pieces, mainly involving books and manuscripts.
Do you do historical reenactments or role-playing of this period? Loosly.
What do you like about the Middle Ages? You know, I have no idea. It's history?
If you could live anywhere during anytime in the Middle Ages, where and when would it be and why? I wouldn't. Modern plumbing and medicine are too nice to ever give up.

blackbuttoneyes @ 9:48am: Call for papers!
(cross-posted a bit)

( CFP! )

jandervk @ 7:42pm: *RITUAL BEFORE THE HUNT* RESCHEDULED
Due to unforseen weather conditions, sadly one of the DJ's can't make it. So we will be rescheduling for NEXT Sunday. Sorry for any inconviences.



Hearken all darkened souls! The night of December 7th at midnight (Sunday in to Monday) will be the return for one night of Ritual Before the Hunt with DJ’s JanderVK and :Марья:. It will be a special evening, so come join us tear the nether veil…

You can tune your radio dial to 88.5 FM (Chicago) or listen online at http://www.whpk.org/

www.myspace.com/whpk885fm

www.myspace.com/neomediaeval

Find out what time we’re on in your area of the world
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/

ps. And feel free to pass the word around!

wavemotiongunz @ 4:16pm: newbie
Hi all! I'm new here so I figured I'd go ahead and introduce myself. My name is Hanna, I'm 20, and I live in the US. I am particuarly intersted in Vlad Tepes, Arthurain Legend (my favorite), and Celtic mythology. I love early medieval clothing/style/costuming (my user pic is actually of me in costume, haha). Anyway...hi!

msmcknittington @ 11:08pm: 13th Century Catholic Church in England
I'm going to be up front here and admit that my love of the middle ages is almost entirely clothing based. Mostly women's clothing after 1400, which means the things I know about that are not about clothes are related somehow to women's lives. And that is sketchy knowledge, at best.

Which of course meant that for my NaNo novel this year I had to write a historical novel set in 13th century Wales, with lots of stuff about nunneries and monasteries. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Now I'm looking at editing it after Christmas, and I'm sort of staring bug-eyed at all the historical errors and additional research.

So, what I'm looking for is 1) an idiot's guide to medieval Wales, with lots of information covering from about 1230 to 1285 (a biography of Llywellyn the Last, maybe?), and 2) an idiot's guide to Christianity in 13th-century England, though not necessarily focusing on abbeys, as that's finally getting sorted in my head. But it would be nice if it could discuss a little about differences in worship between Wales and England, if any. Heck, I'd be happy if I could just find out what form Mass took during the 1280s in England. Anybody have any leads on a missal?

I say "idiot's guide" because I'd like it if the text isn't too heavy. The more accessibly written it is, the better.

oxoniana @ 11:31am: Ilias Latina?

Has anyone worked on this text? I'm interested in what it makes of dream and vision.

Can anyone recommend a good ENGLISH edition or translation or both? So far most editions seem to be Italian.

I gather George A Kennedy has produced a translation, but Dies Immortales, the Bodleian doesn't have it, and nor does any Library in the UK I've searched so far.

Any suggestions gratefully received

tasteslikeacid @ 8:20pm: Hi,

I'm new here, so if I make a mistake I apologize. I'm 21, from Toronto, and currently doing an undergrad in Fine Arts and Art History. My focus is on Medieval artwork.

I hope this question hasn't been asked before- I checked through the previous entries and didn't see it so here goes.

I'm working on a paper focusing on artwork/artifacts depicting the First Crusade and the Siege of Jerusalem. However, I'm having a lot of trouble finding stuff on that in my school's library as most of the books/journals they have are on Renaissance and later.

I am wondering if any of you know of any readings/books/journals focusing on the First Crusade (or the Crusades in general!) that you've found particularly informative- or of any books on Medieval Art that cover this topic decently. I have some books I've bought on my own but there isn't a lot of focus on the artwork of the crusades, if any at all. I'd like to collect as much information as possible.

Thanks a lot for your time! I really appreciate it. :)

monsalvatworld @ 3:52pm:

 ADDISON Ch.  The history of the Knights Templars, Temple Church, and the Temple
 http://www.medievalist.globalfolio.net/eng/a/addison-history-of-templars-temple/_content.php

 FROISSART JOHN.  Chronicles of England, France, Spain and the adjoining countries from the latter part of the reign of Edward II to the coronation of Henry IV in 12 volumes.

Vol.1
http://www.medievalist.globalfolio.net/eng/f/froissart-chronicle-v1/index.php

monsalvatworld @ 4:08pm: Jerusalem, the city of Herod and Saladin
BESANT W. PALMER E. Jerusalem, the city of Herod and Saladin. London 1871

Content:
The Knighting of Saladin
God Wishes!
In and Around the Holy Land
Cities of Splendor
Paving the Way
From the Loins of Fighters
Sultan of Egypt
At Grips with the Envious
Entry into Syria
The Old Man of the Mountains
The Man Himself
A Night with the Sultan
The Sultan's Many Duties
Saladin the Munificent
Preparations for the Holy War
The Battle of Hattin
On to Jerusalem
Fortune No Longer Kindly
Fighting at Acre
Saladin and Richard
Destruction of Ascalon
Coming to Terms
Death of Saladin

http://www.medievalist.globalfolio.net/eng/b/bezant-palmer-jerusalem-of-herod-and-saladin/_content.php

en_viktor @ 8:07pm: Ladder tower of the Andrey Bogolubsky's Palace in bogolubovo, Russia
The Ladder (Lestnichnaya) Tower of the Andrey Bogolubsky's Palace.
XII century.
A dark fragment is a fragment of the former palace.
At this tower's ladder the duke Andrey bogolubsky according a legend was killed in the night from 28 till 29 june 1174.
Over the tower at XVII c. the bell-tower was constructed (some reconstruction of XVIII c.)
Virgin Nativity Church was constructed at XVIII c. on the place of XII century's church.
The hipped roof is the building of XVII c.
Now all this buildings are on the territory of Bogolubovsky Monastery (Bogolubovo near Vladimir, Russia).



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- photos by mnezhutka