Visigoths in Toulouse
The Visigoths in Toulouse forged one of the first barbarian kingdom inside the Roman Empire, ruling from 420 – 507. In 2020 an exhibition in Toulouse celebrates the 1600-anniversary of their foundation….
The Visigoths in Gaul
Of all the barbarians entering the Roman Empire in Late Antiquity, the Visigoths were among the first to forge a successor-kingdom. Scholars disagree as to the early nature of this fledgeling polity, but the result is clear: the centre of the first barbarian kingdom in the 5th century came to be located at Toulouse…
The Gothic Pietroasa Treasure from the Fifth Century
The famous gold hoard from Pietroasa in Romania was found in 1838. Although only 12 of the 22 original pieces still exist, it remains one of the most impressive witnesses to the Goths in the migration period. 2020 some of the fabled pieces may be seen in Toulouse…
Theoderic II, Euric, and Vectius – as seen by Sidonius Appolinaris
Theoderic II and Euric were kings of the Visigoths in Toulouse in the second half of the 5thcentury. From the letters of Sidonius Appolinaris we possess precious biographical glimpses of these Goths and their counterpoise, Vectius…
Europe and the Dawn of the Middle Ages
Europe is constituted by an impressive number of separate states and inhabited by numerous people separated by any number of distinct languages, traditions and histories. This is the gift of the Middle Ages. We still live in the cusp of these strange times…
Etnogenesis and Indegeneity
In the latter half of the 20th-century historians of Late Antiquity have been ferociously engaged in debates concerning the “identity of the Goths”. Were they a people? In what sense? And what does Ethnogenesis and Indigeneity mean?
Barbarian Hordes and Pitiful People
Sometimes politicians comment upon the fugitive crisis in Europe 2015 by referring to the ‘Barbarian Hordes’ and the events in the 4th and 5th centuries. Does this make sense?
News
Boiled Sturgeon
03/09/2020The sturgeon was a royal fish. According to ancient law, any sturgeon found on the beaches or caught in the Atlantic or the Baltic, belonged to the king. Read more
An Ancient Atlantic Sturgeon and a Sea-Monster
02/09/2020Recently, archaeologists from Lund University succeeded in identifying a massive specimen of an Atlantic sturgeon in the womb of a capsized royal ship off the Baltic coast Read more
Nuns and their lives in the 14th century
04/08/2020This summer, visitors to Zürich National Museum can study the remarkable story of the careers of medieval nuns. Extended to mid-august, an exhibition is worth looking into, if you are in the vicinity. Read more
Ascension of Christ
27/05/2020Luke tells us that Christ ascended into Heaven after Easter. From the 4th century, a feast came to be celebrated, and artists began to depict the Ascension Read more
Deserted Churches in Denmark 1050 -1536
14/03/2020Denmark boasts of more than 1550 medieval churches in continuous use since the 11th and 12th centuries. Less known is that a number of other churches were deserted already in the Middle Ages. Read more
Thomas Becket’s Shirt Returns to Canterbury Cathedral
05/03/2020The Tunic raditionally thought to have been worn by Saint Thomas Becket at the time of his brutal murder in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170 is to return to the UK in July as part of this year’s commemorations Read more
Summer School – The Medieval Book and Quantitative Codicology
04/03/2020How do you characterise medieval manuscripts in such a way that quantitative and statistical analyses become possible? Read more
Involved in Medieval Heritage Promotion?
04/03/2020Engaged in Medieval Heritage Promotion? Working at a medieval living history center? Involved in experimental archaeology? New EU programme invites practitioners in the heritage industry to upgrade professionalism. Read more
New Books
Regnal Communities or Nations in the High Middle Ages
19/02/2020Medieval historians hesitate to talk about medieval nation-states. Instead, they prefer to talk about kingdoms and their corresponding royal communities or assemblies. New book reviews the questions regarding terminology. Read more
The Ghent Altarpiece – Research and Conservation
08/02/2020Conservation carried out of the Gent Altarpiece since 2012 have revealed major overpainting covering the the original work of Jan and Hubert van Eyck. New book tells the story Read more
Law in Late Medieval England
29/12/2019How did common people engage with law in Late Medieval England? New book explores the legal culture of its time and how it touched upon the lives of common men and women. Read more
Medieval Rules and Rituals
29/12/2019How was power exibited? And what role did rules, regulations and rituals play. Gert Althoff is known as one of the medieval historians, who has explored these questions in detail. New book provides translations into English of his more recent contributions. Read more
New Research
The Black Death in Ireland
29/12/2019Already contemporaries noted how the Black Death hit the Anglo-Norman settlers in Ireland much harder than the Gaelic People. New research offers an explanation Read more
Undersea Volcanism may Explain Medieval Years of Darkness after AD 536
27/12/2019After AD 536 a mysterious dimming of the sun brought on global cooling, famines, and civil upheavals. Believed to have been caused by climate changes caused by volcanic forcing, new research indicate some of this was undersea volcanism Read more
Gardens in Early Medieval Iberia ca. 750–1000
12/10/2019In 1974 the historian Andrew Watson published an influential article in which he coined the phrase: The Arab Agricultural Revolution. How has this thesis fared? What do we know today about gardening in Early Medieval Iberia?
Read more
The Ilopango Volcano in El Salavador was responsible for the events in AD 539-40.
18/09/2019The climatic disruption in the 6thcentury was forced by a series of massive volcanic eruptions. Recently the Ilopango volcano was identified as responsible for the events AD 539-40. NEW RESEARCH: Radiocarbon and geologic evidence reveal Ilopango volcano as source of the colossal ‘mystery’ eruption of 539/40 CE Robert A.Dull, John… Read more
New Exhibitions
The Early History of Copenhagen at a New Museum
11/02/2020Last week, a new attraction opened, The Museum of Copenhagen, covering the history from the ice-age hunters and gatherers and into the near future. Central is the brand new story of the earliest period in the life of the town ca. 1000 Read more
Facing Van Eyck – The Miracle of the Detail
08/02/2020Come September, Brussels houses an exhibition focusing on the visually detailed techniques of Jan van Eyck and his work of art. The exhibition is paired with a prized digital resource. Read more
The Art of Jan Van Eyck – the Optical Illusions of Light and Darkness
04/02/2020Jan van Eyck is perhaps the most prominent of all the Flemish Masters. This year, we are invited to Ghent to explore his optical revolution Read more
Gold and Glory in Basel
06/11/2019In 1019 the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry II, took part in the consecration of the Minster in Basel. A major exhibition marks the anniversary Read more