1 April 1204 is a significant date in medieval, European history because on that date, at the quiet Abbey of Fontevraud in France, an 82 year old nun took her last breath and died. Her name was Eleanor and she was no ordinary nun. History knows her as Eleanor of Aquitaine. Today, some 819 years later, it feels only right that here on … [Read more...]
What’s For Dessert For A Medieval Queen?
Perhaps the greatest of medieval Queens was Eleanor of Aquitaine. As Queen of France then Queen of England, Eleanor had an extraordinary life. Mother of 10 children, including two kings (Richard and John), Eleanor was respected throughout Europe for her intellect and intuition. She had a good relationship with the Pope and in her younger days … [Read more...]
Christmas In Medieval England
Christmas and New Year were two occasions when medieval people felt they could and should celebrate. In medieval England, people from all walks of life recognised the importance of Christmas and celebrated it in their own way. A simple pottage recipe with the addition of extra herbs and some meat along with some homemade medieval bread was the … [Read more...]
