The Medieval Herauld #7 – The Medieval Herauld
Filthy, dirty, peasants who revel in their own filth is a myth older than its scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. In a video by the Golden Middle Age posted July 16th 2020 they explain this from a medieval Arabian perspective, because as much as it’s hard to admit, it’s not all about England. In the Middle East they found similar solutions as to what was used in Europe, though the exact materials were not the same owing to having access to different natural resources. What is clear, these parallels speak volumes about how humans tend to be, regardless of wherever they are, human and the average person doesn’t enjoy being gross. Video length 10:50
An article from January 2020 on HEMAStrong.com reminds us of a time when we were able to gather at large events and try odd and interesting activities in groups. What this article, which is a review of an athletic event with its themes rooted in blended HEMA and Medieval-ish aesthetics reminds of us of the activities we can control even in isolation, such as training and fitness. It also gives us a window into what types of training, from heavy rocks to spear throwing to armored hiking, we might explore to develop a level of functional strength and agility which translates into armored or unarmored fighting with things such as sword and spear. Approximate read time 8 minutes.
July 18th, 2020 Christopher Monk published an article on Monk’s Modern Medieval Cuisine which was, in his own words “initially meant to be a short research snippet turned into a twisting drama of 14th-century scribal upheaval. Well, I exaggerate. But nevertheless I do hope you enjoy finding out a little more about the manuscript I work on in my research.” Approximate read time six and a half minutes.
A video aired July 18th, 2020 on Popula Urbanum demonstrates how to cut out a pattern, follow the straight grain, the bias cut, and cutting on complex curves. He also touches on how to hold your fabric and to avoid getting jagged edges when you cut. Video length, 10 minutes.
Medieval Sewing Made Super Easy Episode III – How to Cut Out a Pattern
July 20th 2020 Dr. Callum Watson published an article to Knight of the Two Ls Blog about the death at Musselburgh of Thomas Randolf, earl of Moray & newphew of Robert Bruce. One of the key figures of the Bruce administration and arguably more important than the king himself in securing the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton in 1328, at the time of his death Moray was acting as Guardian on behalf of the young King David II and was feverishly making preparations for an expected invasion of Scotland by the ‘Disinherited’, a group of disgruntled nobles who had lost out from the Bruce resettlement of Scotland post-1314. Approximate read time, fifteen minutes.
‘As off vertuys all maid was he’: The Death of Thomas Randolph, 1332
July 17th 2020 Not Another Costuming Blog published an article (and mild diatribe) about the qualities of fabric which are acceptable for use based on social class. Acknowledging the community misconceptions around inconsistently colored fabrics made from natural colored wool, we are both given some insight into processing fleece outside of the large guild systems and guidance on the suitability of certain fabrics for common impressions. In response to requests for more information, she posted a follow up on the 24th with a deeper dive into the progression of sheep breeds and information on the Shetland sheep, a small window into a possible glimpse at the type of sheep we might have seen dotting medieval landscapes.
Medieval Myth Pet Peeve approximate read time four minutes.
Blah Blah Black Sheep approximate read time five and a half minutes.
When the pandemic began the internet, even outside our little medievalist corners of it, was flooded with articles new and old about the black death, “The Great Mortality” being an apropos topic as we were standing on the cusp of not knowing how bad coronavirus was going to impact society. The glut of plague content has passed, and in its wake gem articles like this one posted July 23rd 2020 by Julia Garcia are able to peek through. Bubonic was not the only malady which plagued our medieval ancestors, and in this article we are treated to a quality summary of the effects, impacts, opinions, and (most interesting) the attempts to treat and cure Tuberculosis in the middle and high medieval eras. About 1,400 words, approximate read time, seven minutes.
Aired July 25th 2020 Ylva the Red shared a conversation she has with a friend and new Reenactor about the perspective of someone who is seeing many of the things we take for granted, for the very first time. It is a candid and comfortable conversation between two friends which is engaging and informative. Run time 23:55
A video aired July 7th 2020 on Modern History TV departs a bit from flashy armor and medieval munchies to do a fairly in depth, but easy to follow, explanation as to how a saddle is fit to a horse. Like clothing, saddles fit best when made for the individual horse and Jason illuminates some of the key points of how to fit a saddle safely, comfortably, and effectively to each horse’s shape. Video length 17:45.
Medieval saddle: How did they measure the shape of a medieval war horses back?
A Facebook album shows a collection of wonderful photographs from a 2020 reenactment of the Battle of Sudoměř on its 600th anniversary. This album highlights the members of Sirotci z.s., a Czech early 14th century reenactment group. This battle was the second major conflict of the Hussite Wars between the Hussites and Catholics and took place March 25th 1420 in Southern Bohemia.
A video by Arne Koets aired July 16th 2020 is a visual demonstration and discussion on how shields were held on horseback while fighting mounted, either at a joust or with a sword. He illustrates his points from horseback and demonstrates his conclusions with sword and lance in hand, and demonstrates using multiple shield designs. He also illustrates nuance of hand placement, and how it effects the horse and handling the reigns. Video duration 9:52
The video on medieval cleanliness in Arabic culture is very interesting. I recently bought Scents and Flavours: A Syrian Cookbook, which is a 13th-century Arabic text containing sections on perfumed soaps, breath fresheners and other toiletries. Fascinating.
I’m glad I was able to pass it along. I have been thinking a lot about fragrance, and how it might be a tool for creating an even more immersive feel to events if we were able to evoke accurate olfactory environments as well as visual ones. I’ll look into that book.
Thank you for introducing me to a couple of blogs which I’ve now followed. More rabbit holes to go down.
There is so much out there! I can read these blogs all day.