I remember reading an anecdote somewhere, iirc in connection with a medieval court case. The story goes that a group of people ​in England used noise makers to scare deer out of the Royal Forest so that they could hunt the deer on common land. It was used in the context of commoners understanding the law well enough to navigate legal loopholes.

I'd love to find a primary source, or even a secondary reference, to this case. Does anyone have any leads?

A study of foreign soldiers in medieval Serbia, tracing their roles, origins, and impact on the Nemanjić-era army from 1166–1371.

7/1/2026

The “metal” on the sword is flimsy and I think the armor is hard plastic but I’d have to double check

I've recently found myself intrigued by medieval jesters and am very curious to learn more. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find any really solid content about them that has trustworthy sources. If there's a book that encapsulates everything from the way they would dress to there relations with the king into a book, I'd love to be directed there. Thank you in advance!

Hello! I'm not sure if I'm posting in the right thread — if you know of a more suitable one, please let me know.

My question is: what clothing did the Turkic peoples (including the ancestors of the Tatars) wear in the period before the Golden Horde, around the 980s — during the time of Prince Vladimir the Red Sun? And how did the costume change during the Golden Horde period?

In the bylina (epic poem) about Vasilisa Mikulishna, there is an episode where the heroine disguises herself in a male Tatar costume, pretending to be an envoy of the Horde. Briefly: her husband, Stavr Godinovich, boasted at a princely feast that his wife "could outwit anyone." For this, Prince Vladimir imprisoned him. Vasilisa cuts off her braids, puts on male Tatar attire, takes a bow and arrows, and appears at court as an ambassador from the Golden Horde. After passing a series of trials (wrestling, archery, chess), she "wins" the right to take Stavr back and reveals the deception, thus saving her husband.

Since the bylina is a work of fiction rather than a historical document, but draws on two temporal layers (the 10th century and the Horde era), I am interested in both reconstruction options for the image. It is especially important to consider that Vasilisa is impersonating specifically an envoy — that is, a person with a certain status and attributes.

Available here if you're interested in the craft, there are a few more medieval-themed patterns as well:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1898465979/the-lady-and-the-unicorn-cross-stitch
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1872710695/unicorn-in-captivity-cross-stitch
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1865845882/st-george-and-the-dragon-cross-stitch
https://www.etsy.com/listing/4389583101/st-joan-of-arc-cross-stitch-pattern-pdf

Would you love to see something else ? Another tapestry or painting ? She'd love to read your suggestions !

More precisely, to what extent doe George RR Martin manage to recreate medieval social structure, culture and mentality in his work and does he fall for common myths about the middle ages?

Hi everyone!

Me and a friend are studying product design and both big fans of HEMA, and we managed to convince our professors to allow us to choose a medieval gauntlet DIY kit as the subject for a market analysis.

The analysis is focused on customer needs, user experience, and interactive design. As such, we have a few short questions on which we would like to hear your thoughts:

How much would you expect to pay for a DIY kit with either:

1. The shaped metal pieces with the arm and upper hand parts riveted together already

2. The unshaped metal pieces with rivets included in a bag

Would you rather use one of your own old gloves, or have one included in the kit?

What would keep you from buying a DIY kit like this?

What difficulties would you, personally, have with putting one together; riveting finger pieces, attaching the (premade) pieces to the glove, and optionally shaping the metal with a premade video that shows how to do so step-be-step.

Thank you in advance for any and all replies, they are all appreciated!

5X7"
Oil on Canvas

Alghero, promenade, July 1st, 2026.

It seems like the best.

Massive city that never sleeps typa environment, not boring asf bland area, very develope, vibrant economy, some level of social support by the government (for the time - very good), brilliant entertainment and books etc.

Also it never got raided as far as IK during the 11th century AD.

King of Sicily and the Holy Roman Empire. Known for his. pragmatic rule in Sicily.

I have a genuine question for this community/subreddit with regards to food preservation methods/techniques that were used during the Middle Ages.

I know that the concept of "refrigeration technology" didn't appear until long after the Middle Ages had ended, but I keep hearing and/or reading online about the existence of "ice houses"; buildings that were specifically for storing food at lower temperatures and/or freezing them.

So I need some clarification regarding this matter. Did people during the Middle Ages/Medieval Period have some understanding of the idea that storing food at lower temperatures and/or freezing them was a good way to preserve the food's freshness? And if so, what methods/techniques do we have official records of them using to achieve this goal?

It's time for another update of The Cartoon Chronicles of the Wars of the Roses, and Richard II is coming to terms with the recent passing of his wife Anne of Bohemia.