UPDATED 01/09/2023
The British History Podcast
The BHP is a chronological retelling of the history of Britain with a particular focus upon the lives of the people. You won’t find a dry recounting of dates and battles here, but instead you’ll learn about who these people were and how their desires, fears, and flaws shaped the scope of this island at the edge of the world.
CEU Medieval Radio Podcast
CEU Medieval Podcast is a collection of past episodes of the radio’s weekly talk show ‘Past Perfect!’ and recorded public lectures presented at Central European University’s Medieval Studies Department. Music was removed from the podcast version of the shows due to copyright regulations.
Footnote History Podcast
Footnoting History is a bi-weekly podcast series dedicated to overlooked, popularly unknown, and exciting stories plucked from the footnotes of history.
The History of English Podcast
The spoken history of a global language.
History Of Philosophy
Peter Adamson, Professor of Philosophy at the LMU in Munich and at King’s College London, takes listeners through the history of philosophy, “without any gaps.” The series looks at the ideas, lives and historical context of the major philosophers as well as the lesser-known figures of the tradition.
How Two Medieval
The how to where two guys show you how to do it between the two of them.
Irish History Podcast
From the Great Famine to the Maamtrasna Murders, the Norman Invasion to Irish Partisans in the Spanish Civil War – these podcasts tells our history like you’ve never heard it before…
Media-eval Podcast: A Medieval Pop Culture Podcast
A Medieval Pop Culture Podcast Sarah Ifft Decker, a medieval historian, explores how movies, tv, and books depict the medieval world.
Medieval Death Trip Podcast (Exploring the wit and weirdness of Medieval texts)
Medieval Death Trip is podcast that presents interesting passages from medieval primary sources, and by “interesting,” I usually mean things which capture extreme and curious experiences, such as murders and marvels, curses and creatures, prodigies and provocations.
Medieval Warfare Podcast
A history podcast about the Middle Ages and warfare during those times. From knights to Vikings, crusaders to kings, we will explore the medieval world and its military history. Hosted by the editor of Medieval Warfare magazine, this podcast features guests discussing various topics about warfare, including battles, sieges, weapons, military organization, chivalry and more.
Modern Medieval: The Podcast
Two grad students who found a new way to procrastinate while writing their MA History of Art dissertations (now submitted!). Let’s get Modern Medieval! Hosted by Meaghan Allen and Eleonora Narbone!
The Reenactor’s Corner
A bi-weekly podcast on German reenactment, featuring Lasse and Chris as the main hosts, and the occasional guest. Join the duo as they will discuss every aspect of our unique hobby of living history.
The Company of the Staple
Instructional craft videos from the living history group The Company of the Staple.
Hildegard Von Blingin
Bardcore, for the discerning clergyman, noble, or muck-gathering peasant.
Historic Echoes
Student of history and professional historical person needing an outlet to the world – sharing some of my interest and passion for the past, uncovering interesting titbits of knowledge and exploring some of the artefacts (mostly reproduction) and characters in my collection! Aiming to interest, educate, and entertain – requests for topics welcomed!
IG 14tes Jahrhundert
A registered Living History Association with actors from Austria and Germany, whose focus is on the everyday life of ordinary people and artisans from around 1350.
Invicta
History documentary videos on fascinating people and places from the past. We cover all sorts of historical topics such as the war of Alexander the Great in Persia, the politics of Julius Caesar in Ancient Rome, the fashion of kings in Medieval times, and much more. Our goal is to provide education and entertainment for everyone across the world by bringing the black and white past in to living color.
Knyght Errant
Medieval Armor and living history videos.
L’Atelier de la Sentinelle
A medieval leather worker who does un-boxings and demonstrations of his craft.
Living Manuscript
“Good to see you’ve found my channel. If you are interested in medieval armor or fighting then this is a lovely little place for you to visit once in a while. Please give the other videos here a look and if you want to stick around then subscribe! I aim to spread the knowledge I have learned in an easy to understand format that anyone, both new and experienced, can learn from.”
Modern History TV
Jason Kingsley OBE, the Modern Knight, investigates the medieval world. We aim to test out what it was actually like. Books are great but getting out and trying things is even better. Jason owns and trains his own horses, fights in medieval armour and tests people’s theories to destruction.
Popula Urbanum
“History Channel specialising in the exploration of the crafts, people and society of the late medieval period.“
Pursuing the Knightly Arts
“Our mission is the educate the public of historical armoured combat, as well as help others get involved with learning this side of the art, while defeating many of the misconceptions surrounding medieval armour and how they fought.“
Royal Armouries
“Here you will find videos related to our collections and to our museums. Join us as we bring history to life.”
Swipin Thru History
Focusing on telling stories from history in a short, fast, and romantic way they make history more relatable and exciting to a contemporary audience.
Tod’s Workshop
Living history and reenactment videos, videos about Tod’s productions, and exploratory archeology.
Ylva The Red
Sharing videos on historical skills and concepts for medieval and earlier period reenactment.
The Company of the Staple
Instructional craft videos from the living history group The Company of the Staple.
Hildegard Von Blingin
Bardcore, for the discerning clergyman, noble, or muck-gathering peasant.
Historic Echoes
Student of history and professional historical person needing an outlet to the world – sharing some of my interest and passion for the past, uncovering interesting titbits of knowledge and exploring some of the artefacts (mostly reproduction) and characters in my collection! Aiming to interest, educate, and entertain – requests for topics welcomed!
IG 14tes Jahrhundert
A registered Living History Association with actors from Austria and Germany, whose focus is on the everyday life of ordinary people and artisans from around 1350.
Invicta
History documentary videos on fascinating people and places from the past. We cover all sorts of historical topics such as the war of Alexander the Great in Persia, the politics of Julius Caesar in Ancient Rome, the fashion of kings in Medieval times, and much more. Our goal is to provide education and entertainment for everyone across the world by bringing the black and white past in to living color.
Knyght Errant
Medieval Armor and living history videos.
L’Atelier de la Sentinelle
A medieval leather worker who does un-boxings and demonstrations of his craft.
Living Manuscript
“Good to see you’ve found my channel. If you are interested in medieval armor or fighting then this is a lovely little place for you to visit once in a while. Please give the other videos here a look and if you want to stick around then subscribe! I aim to spread the knowledge I have learned in an easy to understand format that anyone, both new and experienced, can learn from.”
Modern History TV
Jason Kingsley OBE, the Modern Knight, investigates the medieval world. We aim to test out what it was actually like. Books are great but getting out and trying things is even better. Jason owns and trains his own horses, fights in medieval armour and tests people’s theories to destruction.
Popula Urbanum
“History Channel specialising in the exploration of the crafts, people and society of the late medieval period.“
Pursuing the Knightly Arts
“Our mission is the educate the public of historical armoured combat, as well as help others get involved with learning this side of the art, while defeating many of the misconceptions surrounding medieval armour and how they fought.“
Royal Armouries
“Here you will find videos related to our collections and to our museums. Join us as we bring history to life.”
Swipin Thru History
Focusing on telling stories from history in a short, fast, and romantic way they make history more relatable and exciting to a contemporary audience.
Tod’s Workshop
Living history and reenactment videos, videos about Tod’s productions, and exploratory archeology.
Ylva The Red
Sharing videos on historical skills and concepts for medieval and earlier period reenactment.
The Brazen Burgundian
“The goal of this website is to provide a one-stop resource for researching the Valois court of Burgundy. This period in history ranges from 1363 -1477 and spans the Ducal reigns of Philip the Bold, John the Fearless, Philip the Good, and Charles the Bold (Brash).”
Chaucer’s Compangie
“This is a research blog I periodically update as time allows, focusing on Thomas Chaucer and his retinue during the 1415 Agincourt Campaign, serving King Henry V of England.”
Chivalry Today
“Chivalry Today offers a variety of presentations, workshops and activities to introduce chivalry into your education, business and life.“
Clothing the Past
“I primarily research the clothing, textiles, and culture of the late-14th-century and early-15th-century in Northern Italy and England. Modernly I am a professional pattern maker with a Bachelor’s in Apparel Design and a Master’s in Costume History. While my first love is absolutely creating all types of clothing, I also love research in all of its forms!”
A Commonplace Book
“I’ve been involved in medieval recreation since 1975. I contributed to a manual for living history that later grew into the book Daily Life in Chaucer’s England, and have written and illustrated several articles on the medieval tournament. This blog is mostly a platform for my other writing about the Middle Ages, and whatever else moves me: other history, movies, SF, space exploration, contemporary politics and economics. You can find my livejournal feed at Willscommonplac“
La Cotte Simple
“I discovered the joy of reverse-engineering medieval clothing in 1998. In some form or another, this passion has persisted and continues to exist digitally as La cotte simple. I started the site in 2003, putting my experience as a technical writer to work for my creative passion.”
Darth Karen Research
“I’m a librarian, a reenactor, a researcher, and occasionally I sit down and write about it. Mostly, research works best for me when I can share it with friends– that’s where you come in!”
Deventer Burgerscap
“Deventer Burgerscap is a subgroup of the Dutch Living History society ‘Die Landen van Herwaerts Over’. We portray citizens from the Hanseatic city of Deventer in her heydays of the late fourteenth century and have chosen the specific year of 1370 to focus on.“
Exploring the Obscure
“This is a blog dedicated to sharing my research on the following topics: fragrances and cosmetics across Europe and Asia, from Bronze age to late 16th century and the culture of the 5th century CE Northern Wei (the Xianbei) and the early 7th century CE Kingdom of Italy (the Langobards)”
Fightin’ ’round the World
“The purpose of this blog is to document my experiences for the benefit of anyone wishing to lead such a life, as well as to keep friends and family up to date on my activities and whereabouts. I also hope to generate interest in my particular brand of knightly pursuits and to serve as a resource for fellow men at arms.”
Historic Echoes
A student of history and professional historical person bringing the past to life.
Sharing an interest and passion for the past with the public through educational workshops, consultation, and offering characters from the past for museums and heritage, and for film and TV.
History Live! North East
We bring history to life!
House Capuchin
House Capuchin is a group dedicated to the research and re-creation of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, as well as being a place for fun.
Katafalk
“Katafalk is run by me, Cathrin Åhlén. I am a classically trained tailor trying to balance the strict world of tailoring rules with my own creative head. I live in Sweden in the tiny town called Vimmerby, work as a tailor and try to find time for re-enactment.“
The Knight Life
“This website is dedicated to gathering individuals who are pursuing the Knight Life. As people who have chosen to perform Deeds at Arms, we are neither re-enactors, actors, nor performers. We are individuals dedicated to the tenants of knighthood and active participants in knightly deeds at arms. We are Martial Artists from all walks of life who have dedicated ourselves to participating in medieval martial culture in order to expand our lives.“
The Lazy Reenactor Girl
“So my hopes with this blog is to show that you don´t have to work with your costumes 24-7 to get a decent wardrobe of historical clothing! And hopefully it will spur me to make a bit more garb!”
Lonnie Colson’s Medieval Reenactment
“A lifelong Medieval history enthusiast, I enjoy the knightly pursuits of jousting, hunting, and sword fighting.“
Medieval Manuscript Blog
“What do Magna Carta, Beowulf and the world’s oldest Bibles have in common? They are all cared for by the British Library’s Medieval and Earlier Manuscripts Section. This blog publicises our digitisation projects and other activities.”
Medievalist.net
“We aim to be the first place people go to when they want to learn about the Middle Ages. Our aim is to offer readers news, articles, videos and more about the medieval world and how that history is presented today.“
Not Another Costuming Blog
Written by an honest-to-goodness textile professional, she focuses on multiple projects and time periods including 15th and 16th C Spanish clothing, 14th C French clothing, 16th C counted thread embroidery, and the early history of lace.
Panzarsork
Living history, craft and adventures in late 14th century.
People of Color in European History
“This blog addresses situations regarding North American and often United States-specific misconceptions and miseducation about history, race, and racism. European history is already misrepresented in American classrooms. This blog is dedicated to providing a counternarrative to dominant social, cultural, and political narratives about European history in relation to both white identity and white supremacy as an institutionalized form of oppression.”
Rosalie’s Medieval Woman
“I’m passionate about living history, experimental archaeology and women in the Middle Ages, particularly England where my family origins are. I’m a lifetime member of the Friends of the Abbey Museum of Art & Archaeology and a member of the Queensland Living History Federation.“
The Sinister Spinster
“A knitter by trade who plays with historical costuming on the weekends.“
UPDATED 01/09/2023
The merchant roll is a list of vetted, reputable merchants and artisans. I am not sponsored or endorsed by anyone, and none of these are affiliate links. I just know and like most of them, or have had them referred to me by people I trust.
If you’re looking for a business and cannot find it here, or if some of the information is incorrect, submit a suggestion!
Aesir Metalwyrks
“Historically Inspired Armor for the Sports Minded Enthusiast”
Aketon
“We Sew History!” Clothing and arming garments.
Albion Swords
The gold standard in sharp and blunt medieval swords.
Arma Bohemia
A living-history and reenactment shop selling a variety of goods and clothing. Also caters to stage performers and film needs.
Armlann
Primarily handmade shoes, and other medieval and renaissance items.
Armory World
Stock sized medieval armor and clothing.
Armour and Castings
Medieval accessories, castings (belt fitting etc), leather work, and armor.
Armstreet
A variety of goods, though keep an eye out for authenticity, they cater to LARPs (from SCA to fantasy), the renaissance fair crowd, etc.; too.
B.Black & Sons
Wholesale wool fabric by the yard.
Bartlettyarns, Inc
Wool yarn, roving and other fine products.
Blood & Iron
Historical reproduction and inspired jewelry.
Boots by Bohemond
My personal favorite maker of turnshoes and boots. Also sells good pouches and other leather goods.
Cap-à-pie
High quality mail armor and accessories.
Crossman Crafts
A myriad of medieval sundries, accessories, and tools.
Danegeld Historic Jewellery
High quality, hand crafted in the UK, viking, saxon, and medieval jewelry.
Darkwood Armory
Swords and rapiers, arms and armor, jousting equipment, local cut work, and limited heat treating.
Davis Reproductions
Primarily custom, made-to-order arms, armor, and leatherwork. Limited stock items.
Fabric Wholesale Direct
Fabrics of all kind, from novelty to silks. I can vouch for their linen, it’s affordable, good quality, and is a prompt delivery. I can personally vouche for their linen.
Gaukler Medieval Wares
Jewelry and metalwork in ancient and medieval styles, using the methods and materials of the past.
Gemmeus
Handcrafted, designer maker jewelry of Roman, Saxon, Viking, Medieval, Tudor, Jacobean, Georgian, Art Deco, and modern.
Gothic Cast – (Temporarily down due to the war.)
Metal accessories and brass castings designed on historical resources.
Handmade Revolution
Medieval jewelry, buckles, belts, and fittings.
Historic Enterprises
My absolute favorite store for 14th and 15th century male clothing and arming garments.
Icefalcon Armory
Custom and stock plate armor for the steel combat crowd (ACW, HMB, IMCF), also SCA use.
Ironmonger Armory
“Custom SCA helms for all levels of fighters.”
Ironskin
“Everything about riveted chainmail”
Kult of Athena
An emporium of medieval items from armor to camp gear in stock.
Lorifactor
Top notch belts and knight’s girdles; accessories for belts, armor, and clothing; sundries.
Matuls
Historical Clothes and Equipment.
Medievaldesign
“A large selection of 1st -18th century clothing, furniture and many other historical products.”
Nordens Historiska Fynd
Recreations of finds from Scandinavian and Northern Europe from the Viking Age, Middle Ages, and Renaissance.
Purpleheart Armoury
HEMA equipment, training weapons, and more.
Quiverstock
Primarily archery supplies, with arming clothes and other accessories to offer.
Raymond’s Quiet Press
“Historical recreations from jewelry to helms.”
Renaissance Fabrics
Wool, silk, linen, cotton, trims, lace, buttons, and patterns.
Revival Clothing
Authentic medieval clothing and accessories for portrayals of Viking personas thought early Renaissance.
Sartor
Fine fabrics, including natural silk, long staple linen, and historically patterned textiles such as damasks and brocades made to documentary sources. Silk and linen haberdashery and quality corsets supplied too.
SPES Medieval Market
“A large choice of articles related to medieval reenactment.“
Therion Arms
“Historical swords, weapons, armor, and world antiques.”
Thorthor’s Hammer
Jewelry and cast accessories.
Tod’s Cutler
“‘The English Cutler’ provides a wide range of handmade medieval reproduction goods of excellent quality at exceptional prices.”
Tod’s Workshop
“Accurate and detailed historical reproduction crossbows, sword scabbards, swords, daggers and other medieval weapons, and artefacts”
Viking Leathercrafts
“Medieval and renaissance shoes and reproductions.”
Wasson Artistry
Jeff Wasson is an artist who specializes in making historical reproductions of medieval armor.
Windrose Armoury
Armor and accessories for medieval re-enactment and SCA.
Wulflund
Armor, jewelry, leather work, weapons & others. Armor is geared towards Bohurt.
Ylva The Red
A small team of medieval-enthusiasts, based in the northern Melbourne suburbs, focused on the creation of historical and historically-inspired clothing and supplies.
UPDATED 01/09/2023
The Armour Archive Forums
The go-to location for discussion on armor, its construction, design, and production.
Modern Chivalry Forum
An online community for knights and chivalry for re-creation, entertainment, history, self growth, charity, and education.
My Armory
Quality conversation on a variety of topics relating not just to medieval arms and armor, but ancient history, the renaissance period, and early modern.
Gallica Online Manuscripts
A searchable digital database of items in the Bibliothèque nationale de France. It is in French, but has an English version of the site which is about 90%, so bare with it.
Hathi Trust Digital Library
HathiTrust Digital Library is a digital preservation repository and highly functional access platform. HathiTrust provides long-term preservation and access services to digitized content from a variety of sources, including Google, the Internet Archive, Microsoft, and in-house member institution initiatives.
BookFinder.com
Find used books, rare books, textbooks, new and out-of-print books. Compare book prices, including shipping, from over 100,000 booksellers worldwide.
Medieval Dance Online
Medieval Dance Online is a MA Public History final project exploring dance practice during the Middle Ages.
OPenn Digital Resources
OPenn contains complete sets of high-resolution archival images of cultural heritage material from the collections of its contributing institutions, along with machine-readable descriptive and technical metadata.
British Library Digitized Manuscripts
A searchable database of all the digitized manuscripts in the British Library, to include a wife variety of medieval manuscripts.
Castles of Britain
Dedicated specifically to the study and promotion of castles and manor houses in England.
Castles on the Web
“An extensive database of all things Castle related including a directory of castles from around the world, a photo gallery with thousands of castle photos, castle greeting cards, a castle forum where you can meet other castle enthusiasts, a castle glossary and more!”
The Labyrinth
The Labyrinth provides free, organized access to resources in medieval studies. The Labyrinth’s easy-to-use links provide connections to databases, services, texts, and images around the world.
The Medieval Index
The Medieval Index is a collection of useful websites for research into Medieval Europe.
The Morgan Library & Museum Online Manuscripts
Hundreds of high resolution medieval and renaissance manuscripts easily searched by time and place.
The Wallace Collection
An internationally outstanding collection which contains unsurpassed masterpieces of paintings, sculpture, furniture, arms and armour and porcelain. For our purposes, the digital imagery of their medieval arms and armor is unparalleled.
Larsdatter
A searchable and well laid out compilation of images, descriptions, and artifacts of medieval material culture items from clothes to tools to weapons.
“CantApp”, the Canterbury Tales Narrated
The Canterbury Tales, narrated in Middle English, with visual representation of the original manuscript pages and in line translations. Works on mobile, too.
An Analysis of 1300 Effigies Dated Between 1300 and 1450
Douglas W. Strong “Talbot” analysis of effigies and brasses by location, date, and type of armor component laid out in convenient and easy to understand graphs.
Armor in Art
a searchable database of medieval art featuring armour. Items in the database range in date from 1100 to 1450 and are located throughout Europe. Content is varied – frescos, altars, stained glass, reliefs, etc – anything that is not an effigy/brass or manuscript is included.
Digital Bodleian
“In an effort to make portions of our collections open to a wide variety of users from around the world for learning, teaching and research, the Bodleian Libraries have been digitizing library content for nearly twenty years. The result is over 650,000 freely available digital objects and almost another 1 million images awaiting release.” This includes countless medieval manuscripts.
Effigies and Brasses
A collection of images and links of medieval monumental tombs. Most of the monuments listed here are either effigies or brasses. The remainder are incised slabs, half-reliefs, and other miscellaneous representations. The current collection is focused on European monuments, from the 12th to 15th centuries. The majority lie in the 14th century.
Manuscript Miniatures
An image collection of miniatures depicting armoured figures from the medieval period. Miniatures are sourced from manuscripts created before 1450 in countries across Europe.
Middle English Compendium Online
The Middle English Compendium is a publication of the University of Michigan Library, the latest embodiment of the University’s long-standing involvement in the study of Middle English. The Compendium has been designed to offer easy access to and some interconnectivity between three major Middle English electronic resources: an electronic version of the Middle English Dictionary (MED); a Bibliography of Middle English primary texts, limited to those cited by the MED and based on the MED bibliographies; and a searchable full-text Corpus of Middle English prose and verse.
Online Medieval Source Bibliography
An annotated Bibliography of printed and online primary sources for the Middle Ages. The texts are archived with a tremendous level of detail to include descriptions, page counts, genres, authorship, audience level, and scholarly apparatus.
Portable Antiquities Scheme
Run by the British Museum and Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales to encourage the recording of archaeological objects found by members of the public in England and Wales. Finds recorded with the Scheme help advance knowledge of the history and archaeology of England and Wales.
UPDATED 01/09/2023
Armour of the English Knight 1400 – 1450
by Tobias Capwell
“For the first time, many unknown or rarely published visual and documentary sources have been brought together to reveal the beautiful and intimidating accoutrements of the war-like English. Huge sums were paid by the chivalric elite for human exo-skeletons of hardened steel glittering with engraved and gilded decoration, the form, function and style of which was as characteristic of the English as were their feared longbowmen.“
Arms and Armor of the Medieval Knight: An Illustrated History of Weaponry in the Middle Ages
by David Edge and John Miles Paddock
“More than two hundred illustrations trace the development of medieval arms from their crude beginnings to the beautiful ceremonial armor of the Renaissance.”
Arms and Armour of Late Medieval Europe
by Robert C. Woosnam-Savage
“In this introductory guide, replete with fabulous photography and marvellous anecdotes, internationally-renowned edged weapons expert Robert Woosnam-Savage describes the brutal reality of personal protection and attack in the so-called ‘age of chivalry’.”
Arms and Armour of the Medieval Joust
by Tobias Capwell
“Here, Tobias Capwell explains the glitz and glamour of a sport that attracted enormous popular audiences throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Though he deals almost exclusively with weapons and warriors, Capwell tells a story not of war and destruction, but of pageantry and valor. This is the story of the armor of peace.“
How to Read European Armor
by Donald J. LaRocca
“This engaging book offers an introduction to and overview of armor in Europe from the Middle Ages through the 17th century, focusing in particular on the 16th century when plate armor reached its peak of stylistic beauty and functional perfection.”
The Real Fighting Stuff: Arms and Armour at Glasgow Museums
by Tobias Capwell
“Tobias Capwell looks at the different types of armour in Glasgow museums, the stories behind some of the weapons, and explores some of the myths surrounding the way we used to fight.“
Medieval Hunting as Training for War
Insights for the Modern Swordsman
By Richard Swinney & Scott Crawford
The medieval inventories of the Tower armouries 1320–1410
by Roland Thomas Richardson
Wild to domestic and back again: the dynamics of fallow deer management in medieval England (c. 11th-16th century AD)
Published in STAR: Science & Technology of Archaeological Research, Vol. 2:1 (2016)
Hosted by Taylor and Francis Online
Work and Adolescence in the Middle Ages
by Melissa Snell, ThoughtCo.
1381: The Peel Affinity: An English Knight’s Household in the Fourteenth Century
by La Belle Compagnie
“The text draws extensive details from historical accounts, records, chronicles, and literature, as well as modern historical and archaeological research. All this potentially dull and dusty detail is brought to vibrant life with a narrative that follows an English knight and family, his servants, officials and tenants, associates and soldiers through a year in their lives.”
A Cheese-monger’s History of the British Isles
by Ned Palmer
“Every cheese tells a story. Whether it’s a fresh young goat’s cheese or a big, beefy eighteen-month-old Cheddar, each variety holds the history of the people who first made it, from the builders of Stonehenge to medieval monks, from the Stilton-makers of the eighteenth-century to the factory cheesemakers of the Second World War.”
Agincourt: Henry V and the Battle That Made England
by Juliet Barker
“Drawing on a wide range of sources, Juliet Barker paints a gripping narrative of the October 1415 clash between the outnumbered English archers and the heavily armored French knights.”
The Art of Medieval Hunting: The Hound and the Hawk
by John Cummins
“In vivid and engrossing detail, here are all the appropriate methods for hunting deer, boar, wolves, foxes, bears, otters, birds, hares…even unicorns! A dazzling diversity of sources … illustrate how hunting and hawking appear throughout medieval art and literature as metaphors and motifs for everything from romance to combat.”
The Book of the Medieval Knight
by Stephen Turnbull
“This book begins with the early history of the Hundred Years War and ends with the ending of the Wars of the Roses. What’s beneficial of this book is that fact that Turnbull covers so many battles that are usually kept out of or overlooked in the history books. He show’s how some tactics were derived by accident in small skirmishes with later on became the tried and true method of battle for the English armies as the War progressed. Not only does he present small skirmishes all the way up to the major battles but this book lists all the major players on the English, France, Burgundian, and minor figures involved in this nearly 200 year history. Written in a very comfortable to read style, but packed with information. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the 100 Years War through the Wars of the Roses. I reference this book more than any in my library.” – as recommended by Todd Eriksen
Daily Life in Chaucer’s England
by Jeffrey L. Singman and William McLean
The first book on medieval England to arise out of the living history movement, it recreates the daily life of ordinary people, not just the aristocracy, by combining a hands-on approach with the best of current research.”
I love this book, and re-read it every few years.
Dress Accessories, c. 1150- c. 1450 (Medieval Finds from Excavations in London)
by Geoff Egan and Frances Pritchard
“Over two thousand such items dating from the period 1150-1450 are described and discussed here, all found in recent archaeological excavations in London… These finds constitute the most extensive and varied group of such accessories yet recovered in Britain,”
Froissart Chronicals (Online)
hosted by The Digital Humanities Institute of The University of Sheffield
An online translation. “Jean Froissart’s Chroniques cover the period from around 1326 to around 1400 and are the single most important contemporary prose narrative about the first part of the Hundred Years’ War.”
Life on a Mediaeval Barony
A Picture of a Typical Feudal Community in the Thirteenth Century
by William Stearns Davis
“This book describes the life of the Feudal Ages in terms of the concrete. … No custom is described which does not seem fairly characteristic of the general period.”
The Livery Collar in Late Medieval England and Wales
Politics, Idenity and Affinity
by Matthew Ward
From the fifteenth century the collar was regarded as a powerful symbol of royal power, the artefact associating the recipient with the king;”
The Master of Game
by Edward, Second Duke of York; 1413
In this online resource “The text, of which a modern rendering is here given, is taken from the best of the existing nineteen MSS. of the “Master of Game,”
Medieval English Literature
(Oxford Anthology of English Literature)
Edited by J.B. Trapp, Douglas Gray, Julia Boffey
“It provides an authoritative and representative selection from the vast riches of Anglo-Saxon and Middle English literature of the period between AD 700 and AD 1500. The texts are presented either in full or in ample selections, helpfully and fully glossed and annotated according to the most recent scholarship.”
The Medieval Household:
Daily Living c.1150-c.1450 (Medieval Finds from Excavations in London)
by Geoff Egan
“This book brings together for the first time the astonishing diversity of excavated furnishings and artefacts from medieval London homes.“
The Medieval Soldier:
15th Century Campaign Life Recreated in Colour Photographs
by Gary Embleton and John Howe
“In a dazzling series of some 270 specially posed photographs, the authors recreate the fighting men of the High Middle Ages set in their 15th century environment.“
Medieval Warfare
A History
Edited by Maurice Keen
“[T]he richly illustrated Medieval Warfare illuminates this era, examining over seven hundred years of European conflict, from the time of Charlemagne to the end of the middle ages (1500).“
The New Cambridge Medieval History VI & VII
by Michael Jones and Christopher Allmand respectively
“The publication of The New Cambridge Medieval History is a major landmark in the field of historical publishing. Written by leading international scholars and incorporating the very latest research, the History will become the essential reference tool for anyone interested in the medieval world.”
VI & VII cover the time periods focused on here, previous volumes have progressively earlier time periods.
Soldier’s Lives Throughout History
The Middle Ages
by Clifford J. Rogers
“Rogers illuminates the history of medieval soldiers in wartime and in peacetime, describing the lives of those who attacked, and those who defended, the fortified castles, towns, and lands of Europe and beyond in the Middle Age.“
The Time Traveler’s Guide to Medieval England
A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century
by Ian Mortimer
“All facets of everyday life in this fascinating period are revealed, from the horrors of the plague and war to the ridiculous excesses of roasted larks and medieval haute couture.”
English Martial Arts
by Terry Brown
“This book investigates the weapons, history and development of the English fighting system and some of the beliefs and social pressures that helped mould it. The second half examines various English fighting techniques drawn from historical texts and manuscripts including bare-fist fighting, broadsword, quarterstaff, bill, sword and buckler and sword and dagger.”
English Swordsmanship: The True Fight of George Silver
By Stephen Hand
“Stephen Hand has delivered what may well be his Magnum Opus, a detailed study in text and photographs of his best form, the swordsmanship of the 16th century English swordmaster, George Silver. In nearly 800 photographs, Mr. Hand explores the depth of Silver’s technique, presenting for the student a clear and concise path to fighting with the single-handed sword.”
Le Jeu de la Hache
Anonymous c. 1400
“(“The Play of the Axe”, MS Français 1996), is a French fencing manual written in ca. 1400 by an anonymous Milanese fencing master in service to Philip II “the Bold”, duke of Burgundy… The earliest extant treatise on the use of the poleaxe, the manuscript is possesses detailed descriptions of a variety of techniques.”
Master Of Defence: The Works of George Silver
by Paul Wagner, 2003
“George Silver’s Paradoxes of Defence (1599) and Brief Instructions upon my Paradoxes of Defence (ca. 1605) are probably the most important works ever written on the Western martial tradition, straddling the medieval and Renaissance worlds and summing up the collective experience of centuries of European warcraft. With in-depth analyses by the author and others, this is an indispensable reference.”
Medieval Wrestling
by Jessica Finley
“In this first of its kind book, Jessica Finley of the renowned medieval martial arts association, the Selohaar Fechtschule, guides the reader on a journey that begins with the historical background of Ott’s wrestling and culminates in step-by-step instruction for practicing the techniques of this ancient fighting art. Both the lover of history and the wrestler on the mat will find this work an invaluable resource.”
The Schoole of the Noble and Worthy Science of Defence
by Joseph Swetnam, 1617
“An English fencing manual written by Joseph Swetnam and printed in 1617. This book contains both instructions for the use of weapons, and an in-depth discussion of both proper and improper behavior of those who would wield said weapons, particularly in the context of settling quarrels. The weapons focused on in this book are rapier and dagger, sword and dagger, backsword, single rapier, short sword, and staff.”
Veni Vadi Vici
by Guy Windsor, 2013
“A transcription, translation and commentary of Philippo Vadi’s De Arte Gladiatoria Dimicandi manuscript, by Guy Windsor.”
Archaeological Footwear: Development of Shoe Patterns and Styles from Prehistory til the 1600’s
by Marquita Volken
“The knowledge of how to make a shoe pattern was certainly the ancient shoemaker’s most closely guarded secret, passed from master to apprentice but never written down. Now, after 20 years of research, the principles for making ancient shoe patterns have been rediscovered.”
Dress Accessories, c. 1150- c. 1450 (Medieval Finds from Excavations in London)
by Geoff Egan and Frances Pritchard
“Brooches, rings, buckles, pendants, buttons, purses and other accessories were part of everyday dress in the middle ages. Over two thousand such items dating from the period 1150-1450 are described and discussed here, all found in recent archaeological excavations in London … These finds constitute the most extensive and varied group of such accessories yet recovered in Britain, and their close dating and the scientific analysis carried out on them have been highly revealing.”
A Dyer’s Garden: From Plant to Pot, Growing Dyes for Natural Fibers
by Rita Buchanan
“Touching on the history and nature of dye plants, this comprehensive guide walks readers through a garden season from design to planting to harvesting for the dyepot, discussing 18 dye plants in detail.”
Fashion in the Age of the Black Prince: A Study of the Years 1340-1365
by Stella Mary Newton
“Stella Mary Newton broke new ground with this detailed study, which discusses fourteenth-century costume in detail. She draws on surviving accounts from the Royal courts, the evidence of chronicles and poetry (often from unpublished manuscripts), and representations in painting, sculpture and manuscript illumination. Her exploration … offers new insights into the social history of the times, and she has much to say that is relevant to the study of illuminated manuscripts of the fourteenth century. “
Medieval Garments Reconstructed: Norse Clothing Patterns
by Lilli Fransen, Shelly Nordtorp-Madson,
Anna Norgard, and Else Ostergard
“This volume begins with a short introduction by Else Ostergard to the amazing finds of garments from the Norse settlement of Herjolfnes in Greenland. It then features chapters on technique – production of the thread, dyeing, weaving techniques, cutting and sewing – by Anna Norgard. Also included are measurements and drawings of garments, hoods, and stockings, with sewing instructions, by Lilli Fransen. A practical guide to making your own Norse garment!”
Medieval Tailor’s Assistant. 2nd Edition: Common Garments 1100-1480
by Sarah Tursfield
“The Medieval Tailor s Assistant is the standard work for both amateurs and professionals wishing to re-create the clothing of Medieval England for historical interpretation or drama. This new edition extends its range with details of fitting different figures and many more patterns for main garments and accessories from 1100 to 1480. It includes simple instructions for plain garments, as well as more complex patterns and adaptations for experienced sewers.“
Purses in Pieces: Archaeological Finds of Late Medieval and 16th Century Leather Purses, Pouches, Bags and Cases in the Netherlands
By Olaf Goubitz
“The use of purses, pouches, bags, sheaths and other containers saw its heyday in the Middle Ages. The purse became a fashion item and was an essential part of a persons outfit. This book provides a typology for all types of purse-like artefacts, in some cases inventing new terminology to describe them. The book is illustrated with finds from the Netherlands, woodcuts and other contemporary depictions, and with Goubitzs gloriously detailed reconstruction drawings.”
Shoes and Pattens (Medieval Finds from Excavations in London)
by Francis Grew, Margrethe de Neergaard, and Susan Mitford
“…nearly 2,000 shoes, many complete and in near-perfect condition, have been discovered preserved on the north bank of the Thames, and are now housed in the Museum of London. This collection, all from well-dated archaeological contexts, fills this vast gap in knowledge, making it possible to chart precisely the progress of shoe fashion between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries.“
Stepping Through Time: Archaeological Footwear from Prehistoric Times until 1800
by Olaf Goubitz, C. Van Driel-Murray, and W. Groenman van Waateringe
“Drawing on 25 years’ experience as a conservator of leather, Goubitz presents a typological catalogue of footwear dating from 800-1800 AD. The study is based on Goubitz’ analysis of an important assemblage of shoes recovered from excavations at Dordrecht in the Netherlands but the volume’s aim is to offer guidance for the identification of shoes found on sites across north-western Europe.“
The Techniques of Tablet Weaving
by Peter Collingwood
“…complete with dozens of detailed photographs, pattern examples, and step-by-step instructions for each of the techniques presented. In addition to instructional information, Techniques of Tablet Weaving contains pages of historical context for a variety of weaving techniques with clear and helpful tips on reproducing them precisely, as well as modern variations on the classics.”
Textiles and Clothing : Medieval Finds from Excavations in London, c.1150-c.1450
by Elisabeth Crowfood, Frances Pritchard, and Kay Staniland
“This highly readable account will be of wide general interest; dress historians and archaeologists will also find a wealth of new insights into the fashions, clothing and textile industries of medieval England and Europe.“
Woven into the Earth: Textile finds in Norse Greenland
by Else Ostergard
“Woven into the Earth recounts the dramatic story of Norlund’s excavation in the context of other Norse textile finds in Greenland. It then describes what the finds tell us about the materials and methods used in making the clothes. The weaving and sewing techniques detailed here are surprisingly sophisticated, and one can only admire the talent of the women who employed them, especially considering the harsh conditions they worked under.“
UPDATED 01/09/2023
How to Make Tassels
In this picture and print tutorial Rosalie demonstrates making tassels suitable for purses and cushions, etc. in medieval material culture.
Lucet Braid: Making A Four Sided Square Lace
In this picture and print tutorial Rosalie demonstrates the four sided square lace using a lucet, suitable for drawstrings and lacing. Unlike round fingerloop lacing, this square lacing is slip free.
How To Make Medieval Cloth Buttons To Match Your Clothes Or Hood
In this picture and print tutorial Rosalie demonstrates making fabric buttons.
Tablet Weaving the Edge of a Hood
In this picture and print tutorial Katafalk outlines how to apply a tablet woven edge. The example is a hood, however, this tutorial can be translated to the edge of any garment you wanted to tablet weave onto.
Drafting a Grande Assiette-Style Upper Sleeve From Measurements
This resource from La Cotte Simple gives guidance on how to draft and pattern the gradne assiette style sleeve, which is not as straight forward as one could hope. The link is to the article, which also requires following a link to download the full .doc document.
Recreating a 14th Century Pourpoint
A detailed research paper and photo guide by Sarai Tindall of Clothing the Past on patterning and constructing a 14th century pourpoint.
Patterning and Making Padded 14th-Century Armour
A detailed research paper and photo guide by Sarai Tindall of Clothing the Past on pattering and constructing various pieces of padded armor including helmet liner/aventail liner, pourpoint, lendenier, and cuisses.
Drafting and Sewing an Early 14th-Century-Style Martial Surcotte
A detailed research paper and detailed guide by La Cotte Simple on patterning and constructing an early medieval surcote as worn over armor.
14th and 15th Century Medieval London Buttoned Hood
A picture tutorial by Rosalie’s Medieval Woman on the pattering and construction of the London style buttoned hood.
Liripip Hood
A picture tutorial by Katafalk on the pattering and construction of a buttoned hood with liripip.
15th Century German Fringe Hat
A picture tutorial by the Sinister Spinster both describing and showing the patterning of a late medieval fringed hat popular in Germany (also known as the “squid” hat.)
Frilled Veil
A picture tutorial by Katafalk on handmaking a late medieval frilled veil.
Ladies Medieval Hose
A picture tutorial by Rosalie’s Medieval Woman on the pattering and construction of knee high footed hose as worn by women.
St. Brigitta Cap Tutorials (6)
The Dreamstress: A St. Birgitta’s Cap
Clothing the Past: How to Make a St. Birggita Coif/Cap
The Sinister Spinster: Cap of St. Birgitta Tutorial
Maniacal Medievalist: St. Birgitta’s Huva (Cap)
Katafalk: St. Birgitta’s Cap
Katafalk: Embroidered St. Birgittas Cap
Katafalk: Wearing and Pinning a Veil
Knyght Errant: Tent Rope Self-Tensioning Knot (No More Dog Bone Tensioners!)
Knyght Errant: Hafting a Spear Head
Popula Urbanum: How To Hang Your Buckler
How To Sew Eyelets
In this picture and print tutorial Rosalie demonstrates how to make a hole in fabric and then keep it there with a hand sewn eyelet.
Setting a Godet into Slit Fabric
In this picture and print tutorial from La Cotte Simple demonstrates how to apply a godet, which is similar to a gore, but does not run the entire length of what it is being added to.
Buttonhole Tutorials (2)
How To Sew A Buttonhole
In this picture and print tutorial Rosalie gives some advice on how to sew an authentic medieval button hole.
How to Sew a Medieval Buttonhole
This pair of picture and print tutorial articles from La Cotte Simple show how to sew a medieval button hole, but give both left hand and right hand instructions.
Since all the videos I link to here in these tutorials are on YouTube, I’ve assembled them into playlists. The top right of each video embedded in the site here you will see a little stack of three lines with an arrow in the bottom corner. Clicking it gets you to a list of all videos in the playlist, regardless of whatever order YouTube decided to put them in.
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