Words Before Blades: Fechtersprüche and Fechtreime in 16th Century German Fechtschulen

In the urban centres of 16th century southern Germany, fencing was conceived not merely as a physical skill but as a public performance of honour, discipline, and civic identity. Public fencing contests, known as Fechtschulen, were regulated events staged before spectators and governed by social expectations that extended well beyond technical proficiency. Within this performative […]

Book Review: The Formidable Women Who Shaped Medieval Europe: Power and Patronage at the Burgundian Court

The Formidable Women Who Shaped Medieval Europe is a lively and fascinating look at the many women who helped build and hold together the powerful Burgundian world. Susan Abernethy takes stories that are often buried in footnotes and brings them to life, showing just how much these queens, duchesses and noblewomen mattered. From the very […]

Book Review: Downfall of the Templars: Guilty of Diabolic Magic?

Downfall of the Templars is a gripping and thoroughly researched examination of one of the most dramatic betrayals in medieval history. Tony McMahon combines vivid storytelling with meticulous scholarship to provide a compelling account of how the Knights Templar – once revered heroes of Christendom – were suddenly recast as heretics, sorcerers, and traitors. The […]