Today in the Middle Ages

Roman tombstone found in Scotland

A red sandstone Roman Tombstone, the first Scottish example ever found, has been unearthed near Inveresk, Scotland proving "that Inveresk was a pivotal Roman site in northern Britain."

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Today in the Middle Ages: December 27, 537

Submitted by Ursula on Wed, 2006/12/27 - 19:15. 601 CE and Earlier | Byzantine | Today in the Middle Ages

The Emperor Justinian dedicated the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople on Devember 27, 537 C.E.

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Today in the Middle Ages: Christmas Legends

Submitted by Ursula on Mon, 2006/12/25 - 13:58. 601 CE and Earlier | European | Religion and Philosophy | Today in the Middle Ages

In addition to the birth of Jesus, Christmas Day is associated with many other period beliefs and tales.

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Today in the Middle Ages: December 24, 1166

Submitted by Ursula on Sun, 2006/12/24 - 16:50. 1101 CE to 1200 CE | English | Today in the Middle Ages

The future King John of England was born on Christmas Eve 1166 C.E. in Oxford, England to Eleanor of Aquitaine and King Henry II. One wonders what his mother thought of her Christmas bundle.

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Today in the Middle Ages: December 21, 1494

Submitted by Ursula on Thu, 2006/12/21 - 17:55. 1401 CE to 1500 CE | Italian | Medicine | Today in the Middle Ages

The city of Naples reported an outbreak of a new disease on December 21, 1494 C.E. Its modern name: syphilis.

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Today in the Middle Ages: December 19, 960

Submitted by Ursula on Tue, 2006/12/19 - 22:48. 901 CE to 1000 CE | Architecture and Construction | Japanese | Today in the Middle Ages

On December 19, 960 C.E., the citizens of Kyoto, Japan began to rebuild the city after it was ravaged by fire.

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Today in the Middle Ages: December 7, 1539

Submitted by Ursula on Thu, 2006/12/07 - 15:02. 1501 CE to 1600 CE | Christianity | German | Today in the Middle Ages

On December 7, 1539, Martin Luther granted Philip, Landgrave of Hesse a confessor's dispensation to marry a second wife, although his first wife was still living and not divorced. Christine of Saxony, described as "unattractive and sickly," apparently favored her husband's plan to marry again.

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Today in the Middle Ages: October 15, 1518

Submitted by Ursula on Sun, 2006/10/15 - 15:43. 1501 CE to 1600 CE | Christianity | German | Today in the Middle Ages

On October 15, 1518, Martin Luther was summoned before a Papal legate in Augsburg, Germany, but refused to recant his 95 Theses.

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Today in the Middle Ages: October 14, 1066

The Battle of Hastings was fought on October 14, 1066 between William the Bastard's Norman forces and the Saxon defenders under King Harold II. It changed forever the culture and language of the British Isles.

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Today in the Middle Ages: October 10, 732

Charles Martel's forces won the Battle of Tours fought on October 10, 732. Gibbon and other traditional historians credit his victory with saving Christian Europe from Muslim domination.

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Today in the Middle Ages: October 9, 1547

Submitted by Ursula on Mon, 2006/10/09 - 14:26. 1501 CE to 1600 CE | Chivalry (historical) | Fine Arts | Spanish | Today in the Middle Ages

Miguel de Cervantes, creator of Don Quixote and spiritual ancestor of thousands of SCAdians, was born on October 9, 1547. His Wikipedia entry says "he lived an unsettled life of hardship and adventure."

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Today in the Middle Ages: October 8, 1361

Submitted by Ursula on Sun, 2006/10/08 - 16:26. 1301 CE to 1400 CE | French | Legal History | Martial Activities | Today in the Middle Ages

Chronicles record that on October 8, 1361, Robert Macaire defended himself on trial by combat against charges of murder. The duel was fought on the Ile de Notre Dame, and Macaire's opponent was the murdered man's dog.

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Today in the Middle Ages: October 7, 1543

Submitted by Ursula on Sat, 2006/10/07 - 16:09. 1501 CE to 1600 CE | English | Fine Arts | German | Today in the Middle Ages

Hans Holbein the Younger, the northern Renaissance portraitist who painted many Tudor notables including Henry VIII and at least two of his wives, died on October 7, 1543.

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Today in the Middle Ages: October 6, 1536

Submitted by Ursula on Fri, 2006/10/06 - 16:14. 1501 CE to 1600 CE | Christianity | English | Today in the Middle Ages

William Tyndale, Bible translator and Protestant scholar, was executed for heresy on October 6, 1536. He was condemned to burn at the stake, but was mercifully strangled first and his body burned after death.

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Today in the Middle Ages: October 5, 610

In the process of deposing and replacing the Byzantine emperor Phocas, Heraclius attacked Constantinople with a fleet on October 5, 610 C.E.

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Today in the Middle Ages: October 4, 1568

Submitted by Ursula on Wed, 2006/10/04 - 15:25. 1501 CE to 1600 CE | English | Portuguese | Spanish | Today in the Middle Ages

Elisabeth de Valois, third of the four wives of Philip II of Spain, died on October 4, 1568. She had originally been betrothed to his son but married the father as part of a peace settlement.

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Today in the Middle Ages: October 3, 1470

Submitted by Ursula on Tue, 2006/10/03 - 18:27. 1401 CE to 1500 CE | English | Legal History | Today in the Middle Ages

The readeption of previously deposed King Henry VI of England occurred on October 3, 1470. The mentally ill king had to be led by the hand during the celebratory parade.

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Today in the Middle Ages: October 2, 1535

On October 2, during his second voyage to North America, Jacques Cartier came to a town which he renamed "Montreal."

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Today in the Middle Ages: October 1, 1478

Submitted by Ursula on Sun, 2006/10/01 - 16:13. 1401 CE to 1500 CE | Italian | Medicine | Today in the Middle Ages

On October 1, 1478, plague returned to the city of Florence.

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Today in the Middle Ages: September 30, 1139

Submitted by Ursula on Sat, 2006/09/30 - 15:58. 1101 CE to 1200 CE | English | French | Legal History | Today in the Middle Ages

Matilda, also called Maud, the daughter of Henry I, landed in England to claim its crown on September 30, 1139. She was the first woman ever to rule the kingdom of England.

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Today in the Middle Ages: September 29, 1513

Submitted by Ursula on Fri, 2006/09/29 - 15:43. 1501 CE to 1600 CE | Nautical | New World | Spanish | Today in the Middle Ages

Vasco Núñez de Balboa became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean on September 29, 1513.

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Today in the Middle Ages: September 27, 1540

Submitted by Ursula on Wed, 2006/09/27 - 14:07. 1501 CE to 1600 CE | Christianity | Spanish | Today in the Middle Ages

The Pope issued a bull establishing Ignatius Loyola's new Society of Jesus (the Jesuit order) on September 24, 1540. The Society was and still is answerable directly to the Pope himself.

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Today in the Middle Ages: September 26, 1087

Submitted by Ursula on Tue, 2006/09/26 - 15:51. 1001 CE to 1100 CE | Archery | English | Today in the Middle Ages

On September 26, 1087, William II of England, known as William Rufus, was crowned king. He succeeded his father, William the Conqueror.

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Today in the Middle Ages: September 3, 1189

Submitted by Ursula on Sun, 2006/09/03 - 15:04. 1101 CE to 1200 CE | English | Today in the Middle Ages

Richard I of England, called the Lion Heart, was crowned king in Westminster on September 3, 1189. The crusading king never learned to speak English and spent all but six months of his reign abroad.

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Today in the Middle Ages: September 1, 1378

Submitted by Ursula on Fri, 2006/09/01 - 16:30. 1301 CE to 1400 CE | Italian | Today in the Middle Ages

The Revolt of the Ciompi, a rebellion of the lower classes on Florence, ended on September 1, 1378 with the restoration of the old order.

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Today in the Middle Ages: August 31, 1057

Submitted by Ursula on Thu, 2006/08/31 - 14:45. 1001 CE to 1100 CE | English | Saxon | Today in the Middle Ages

Leofric, Earl of Mercia and the husband of Lady Godiva, died on August 31, 1057.

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Today in the Middle Ages: August 30, 1125

Submitted by Ursula on Wed, 2006/08/30 - 15:02. 1101 CE to 1200 CE | German | Saxon | Today in the Middle Ages | Holy Roman Empire

Lothair of Supplinburg, Duke of Saxony, was elected King of Germany on August 30, 1125. He would later become Holy Roman Emperor Lothair III.

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Today in the Middle Ages: August 29, 1475

Submitted by Ursula on Tue, 2006/08/29 - 15:50. 1401 CE to 1500 CE | English | French | Today in the Middle Ages

Edward IV of England invaded France on August 29, 1475, a few years after eliminating Lancastrian resistance at the Battle of Tewkesbury.

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Today in the Middle Ages: August 28, 1549

Submitted by Ursula on Mon, 2006/08/28 - 15:07. 1501 CE to 1600 CE | French | Rapier Combat | Today in the Middle Ages

On August 28, 1549, the Baron d'Aguerre and the Lord of Fendilles fought a duel with bastard swords after quarreling in the King's chamber.

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Today in the Middle Ages: August 27, 1172

Submitted by Ursula on Sun, 2006/08/27 - 19:59. 1101 CE to 1200 CE | English | Today in the Middle Ages

Marguerite, wife of Henry Plantagenet "the Young King", was crowned Queen of England on August 27, 1172, two years after her husband was crowned during his father Henry II's lifetime.