It's time for our 🎃Halloween🎃 episode! This year we are looking at...

The Devil's Bible

Codex Gigas "Giant book" lives up to it’s name measuring over 3 feet long, 2 feet wide, 9 inches thick, over 300 fully illuminated pages and weighing in at 170 pounds!

Legend has it the book was written in one night, by a single monk condemned to death, who sold his soul to the Devil to complete the work. As a gift to the devil the monk put a two foot illustration of the devil in the book.

The unknown origins and the picture of the devil give the book its more common name, The Devil’s Bible.

Did the devil have a hand in it? Did the monk really sell his soul? And why was the monk condemned to death?

Learn about Jan Hus and the Hussite Wars on episode 56

See the Devil's Bible at the National Library of Sweden 🇸🇪 website: https://www.kb.se/in-english/the-codex-gigas.html

Get all the links and see all the pictures in the show notes on Medieval Archives!

• (00:00) - Welcome to the Medieval Archives Podcast
• (00:16) - Codex Gigas
• (01:20) - Send me your questions or comments
• (01:39) - Executive Producers
• (01:56) - Let's look at the Devil's Bible
• (02:12) - Codex Gigas introduction
• (02:45) - Vellum
• (03:25) - Codex Gigas Illuminations
• (03:39) - Kingdom of Heaven
• (03:49) - The Devil
• (04:10) - The Devil's Bible contents
• (04:12) - Hebrew alphabet & Vulgate Bible
• (04:22) - Josephus Flavius: History of the Jews
• (04:31) - Isidore of Seville's Etymologiae
• (04:38) - Medical Texts
• (04:51) - Cosmas of Prague's Chronica Boemorum
• (05:03) - Minor Sections
• (05:09) - Sinful Confessions
• (05:17) - Prayers
• (05:19) - Image of Heaven and the Devil
• (05:29) - Spells, Magic and Exorcism
• (05:45) - Translated Spell
• (05:58) - Dark Arts?
• (06:02) - One Picture gives it the name
• (06:18) - Who wrote the book?
• (06:22) - Broken Vows
• (06:27) - Rules of St. Benedict
• (06:42) - Immurement
• (07:01) - Roman Immurment
• (07:11) - Vestal Virgin Immurement
• (08:07) - Duke Otto III
• (08:24) - Kuressaare Castle Immurment
• (08:40) - The Blood Countess
• (09:20) - Thornton Abbey
• (09:44) - Herman the Recluse
• (10:41) - Summon the Devil
• (11:02) - Deal with the Devil
• (12:09) - Handwriting Analysis
• (12:17) - It would take 30 years to complete
• (12:38) - Completed by one person
• (12:53) - Completed in a short time period
• (13:22) - Who could it be?
• (13:27) - No writing fatigue or errors
• (14:07) - Why honor the Devil?
• (14:28) - The Devil's image
• (15:19) - Sedlec Monastary
• (15:52) - Hussite Wars
• (16:04) - Kutna Hora (Sedlec) Silver Mine
• (16:23) - Sedlec 2018
• (16:35) - Sedlec Entrance
• (16:49) - Bone Chandelier
• (17:01) - Sedlec Bone Mounds
• (17:04) - Bone Coat of Arms
• (17:15) - Podcasting 2,0 apps
• (17:28) - Sedlec burial site
• (17:42) - Mysterious Blind Monk
• (17:56) - Visit Sedlec if you can
• (18:05) - Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II
• (18:32) - Thirty Years War
• (19:00) - LIbrary Fire and Book of Death
• (19:41) - Flying books and insane librarian
• (20:04) - Voices from the Devil's Bible
• (20:18) - Missing Pages
• (21:15) - End Times
• (21:24) - Satan's Prayer
• (21:30) - Did the Benedictines remove the pages
• (21:51) - Rudolf II and the Occult
• (22:04) - The Mystery remains
• (22:24) - Hermann Inclusus
• (22:54) - Look for yourself
• (23:23) - Share your thoughts on the Devil's Bible
• (23:36) - Send me your comments
• (23:57) - Independent Owned and Operated
• (24:10) - Support the show for FREE!
• (24:19) - Executive Producers Wanted!
• (24:38) - THANK YOU for your support!

 Creators & Guests

• Medieval Archives - Host

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Follow Medieval Archives on X.com | Mastodon | Blue Sky

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Intro music provided by Tim Rayburn. It is available at Magnatune.com

Thank You to everyone who downloads, subscribes, listens, and supports the show. We appreciate you taking the time to listen to each episode. Share it with your friends!

Copyright © 2024 · Dragon Moon Media
All Rights Reserved. No Infringement is Intended.
Medieval Archives & Dragon Moon Media production. 

Have you ever seen an eclipse? I’ve seen numerous lunar eclipses and I’ve seen a few partial solar eclipse, but never a total solar eclipse. On 08 April 2024, Mexico, the United States and Canada will experience a total solar eclipse. It’s the first one in 7 years and the last one for 20 years. The next total solar eclipse in North America will be in 2044.

Europe won’t be in the path of the 2024 eclipse but, if you live in Europe you won’t have to wait long for a total eclipse. There’s one on the way soon.

In modern times we know what is happening. How did medieval people feel about an eclipse. Was it seen as a bad omen or a curse? Or did they understand the science behind it?

In this episode we'll look at the myths, omens and science of eclipses and the medieval era .

• (00:00) - Medieval Archives 90
• (00:12) - Welcome Back
• (00:20) - Medieval Solar Eclipses
• (01:14) - Questions, Comments or Topic Ideas?
• (01:27) - Get a new Podcast App! https://podcasting2.org/
• (02:26) - 2024 Eclipse
• (03:15) - 2026 Eclipse
• (03:34) - 2027 Eclipse
• (05:05) - Medieval Myths and Solar Eclipses
• (05:16) - Giant Frog eating the sun
• (05:20) - Rahu the Demon
• (05:40) - Chinese Myths
• (05:56) - Norse Myth
• (06:19) - Omens & Death
• (06:20) - Mohammad’s Eclipse 632
• (06:38) - Louis of Bavaria 840
• (07:12) - Reconquista 939
• (07:52) - Dub, King of the Scots and Two Eclipses
• (08:48) - King Henry’s eclipse 1133
• (10:16) - Medieval Earthquakes https://medievalarchives.com/75
• (11:38) - The Anarchy https://medievalarchives.com/4
• (11:46) - Eclipse of 1185 and Prince Igor
• (12:15) - The Black Hour 1433
• (12:47) - Astronomy and the Medieval Mind
• (13:07) - Can Stonehenge predict eclipses?
• (13:20) - Stonehenge Eclipse 1999
• (13:29) - Stonehenge Eclipse 2090
• (13:35) - Medieval Chroniclers record eclipses
• (13:46) - 733 Eclipse and the Venerable Bede
• (14:00) - Leo the Deacon discovers the solar corona
• (15:11) - Geoffrey Malaterra, Sicily 1084
• (15:36) - Saladin, Syria 1176
• (15:49) - Eclipse 1185 and a new discovery
• (16:10) - Laurentian Codex and the Solar Prominences
• (17:22) - Roger of Wendover & Solar Eclipse 1230
• (17:55) - Regiomontanus & the Alfonsine tables
• (18:27) - Medieval thought vs 2024 thought
• (19:26) - Go outside and see the eclipse!
• (19:42) - Share your photos; tag Medieval Archives on social media
• (19:54) - independently owned and operated
• (20:05) - Keep history alive! Support the show.
• (20:37) - Share the show with your friends
• (20:46) - Thanks for continued support

 Creators & Guests

• Medieval Archives - Host

<----------->
Follow Medieval Archives on Twitter/X.com | Mastodon | Blue Sky

📜Sign Up for our newsletter
💰Become a Producer; DONATE to the show via PayPal, or use Venmo You can also donate with Stripe

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Intro music provided by Tim Rayburn. It is available at Magnatune.com

Thank You to everyone who downloads, subscribes, listens, and supports the show. We appreciate you taking the time to listen to each episode. Share it with your friends!

Copyright © 2024 · Dragon Moon Media
All Rights Reserved. No Infringement is Intended.
Medieval Tales Podcast is a Medieval Archives & Dragon Moon Media production. 

Medievalist and Art Historian Dr. Amy Jeffs joins the show to discuss her books  Storyland: A New Mythology of Britain and Wild: Tales from Early Medieval Britain

In Amy’s first book, Storyland she examines the origins of Britain from Noah’s flood to the Norman invasion. And there are some good stories to tell, including the incredible story of Albina, who ruled Britain, was seduced by demons and gave birth to a race of giants.

In her second book titled Wild takes you on a journey from desolation to hope. Through seven chapters of insightful reflection she is able to retell stories from medieval texts with vivid descriptions and unique perspectives.

One of the standout elements of both books are the illustrations which Amy created. Listen to the episode to find out how she created them and how the creation process helped her through the lock-down, quarantine we all dealt with.

You can find Amy Jeffs online at: Twitter/X & Instagram

You can buy Storyland: A New Mythology of Britain and Wild: Tales from Early Medieval Britain on Amazon.

• (00:08) - Welcome to another episode
• (01:35) - Amy Jeffs Interview
• (01:56) - Amy's start into medieval history
• (05:55) - The origins of Storyland
• (13:33) - Favorite origin Story?
• (14:50) - Albina, demons and the brith of giants
• (17:57) - Let's get Wild
• (25:54) - Creating the illustrations.
• (29:34) - Bonus content in the audio books
• (33:09) - New Book? Stay Tuned!
• (34:42) - Amy's contact information and social media accounts
• (35:09) - Thank you Amy for a great talk!
• (35:33) - Support the podcast! Share with your friends and donate now.
• (36:18) - Thanks for listening

Creators & Guests

• Medieval Archives - Host
• Dr Amy Jeffs - Guest

<----------->
Follow Medieval Archives on Twitter/X | Mastodon | Blue Sky

📜Sign Up for our newsletter
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Intro music provided by Tim Rayburn. It is available at Magnatune.com

Professor and author Nicolas Morton joins the podcast to discuss his book, The Crusader States and their Neighbours.

The Crusader States were founded during the First Crusade. The Crusaders conquered the land and claimed it as their own. There were four Crusader States established during the First Crusade; The County of Edessa, The County of Tripoli, the Principal of Antioch and the Kingdom of Jerusalem. For almost 200 years the Crusaders States grew and thrived…or did they?

That’s why we have Nic Morton on the show today. His new book The Crusader States and their Neighbours, well it’s not really new. It was first published in 2020 but it’s now getting a new printing and in paperback. His book looks at the history of the Crusader States, their creation, how they were ruled over and how outside forces led to their eventually demise.

You can find Nic Morton online at: Twitter/X | YouTube | Academia.edu
You can buy The Crusader States and their Neighbours on Amazon or from Oxford University Press and grab a copy of The Mongol Storm on Amazon as well.

• (00:11) - Welcome to the Medieval Archives Podcast!
• (02:08) - Welcome Nic Morton
• (02:43) - Beginning of the First Crusade
• (05:26) - Formation of the Crusadser States
• (10:41) - No Resistance to the Crusader States?
• (11:49) - Eastern Christian population
• (15:17) - Early Crusader States
• (17:44) - Byzantine Empire cliams the land
• (22:35) - Downfall of the Crusader States
• (25:05) - Enter Nur al-Din
• (27:20) - The Rise of Saladin
• (29:47) - Battle of Hattin and the demise of the Crusader States
• (34:03) - Mamluk Empire
• (35:38) - Mamluk training grounds, the Crusader States
• (36:17) - Mamluk vs Mongol
• (38:04) - Society in the Crusader States
• (43:33) - Reestablish the Crusader States?
• (46:23) - Get Nic's books!
• (47:49) - Thank you Nic for being on the show
• (48:09) - We're on Mastodon and Blue Sky
• (48:34) - Support the Show
• (48:48) - Thank you for listening!

Creators & Guests

• Medieval Archives - Host
• Nicholas Morton - Guest

<----------->
Follow Medieval Archives on Twitter/X | Mastodon | Blue Sky

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Intro music provided by Tim Rayburn. It is available at Magnatune.com

We are embarking on a new podcasting adventure! Medieval Tales Podcast will be released every Tuesday and Thursday and feature medieval themed classic novels.

The first book in the series is:

The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson

The Black Arrow: A Tale of Two Roses is the 1888 historical adventure novel.

Set in fifteenth century England during the Wars of the Roses, the story revolves around Richard (Dick) Shelton as he becomes knighted, rescues his beloved Joanna Sedley, and finds justice for the slaughter of his father, Harry Shelton.

An outlaw named Ellis Duckworth equipped with a black arrow as his trademark weapon convinces Dick that his own personal guardian, Sir Daniel Brackley, has been disloyal. As a result, Dick helps a fellowship of outlaws called The Black Arrow to defeat Brackley and win back his lady.

*** Future episodes of Medieval Tales Podcast won't appear in this feed. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss any exciting episodes! https://medievalarchives.com/medieval-tales-podcast ***

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Welcome to the Medieval Tales podcast, well, to the trailer at least.

Do you love reading classic novels set in the Middle Ages. Stories of brave Knights and epic battles, royal intrigue and life in a castle? 

Is it getting harder to find  time to sit down and read a good book? With all the cooking and cleaning and commuting. Maybe you have the time and aren’t sure what to read next. Whatever the situation, Medieval Tales Podcast has you covered.

We’ve curated some of the best Medieval themed classic novels for your listening pleasure. Now you can follow along as The White Company, a band of fearless archers fight in the Hundred Years War. Or listen to the exploits of Richard the Lionhearted as he battles Saladin in the 3rd Crusade.

Medieval Tales Podcast will be arriving in your podcast player on 11 Jan 2024. Subscribe and follow now so you don’t miss an episode. 

Head over to MedievalTalesPodcast.com to follow all the medieval adventures.

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Professor and author Nicolas Morton joins the podcast to discuss his book, The Mongol Storm.

The Mongol Empire rose to power in the early 1200s, founded by Genghis Khan. At it’s peak the Empire stretched from the Pacific Ocean to the Black Sea, encompassing Korea, Mongolia, China, Russia and portions of Eastern Europe and the Near East.

Nic’s new book The Mongol Storm covers the Mongol Empire and their influence in the near east. We discuss the rise of the Mongol Empire, what their society looked like, their religion and of course, their great military might.

Creators & Guests

• Medieval Archives - Host
• Nicholas Morton - Guest

<----------->
Follow Medieval Archives on Twitter/X.com | Mastodon | Blue Sky

📜Sign Up for our newsletter

Boost the show with a Podcasting 2.0 certified app: Castamatic | Podverse | Curiocaster | Fountain | Breez | Sphinx

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RSS Podcast Feed

It’s Halloween again, the air turns colder, the nights grow darker and spirits roam in the shadows. On this year’s Halloween episode we are traveling to the Emerald Isle. In 1324 Kilkenny, Ireland witnessed it’s first witchcraft trial and the first execution carried out by burning at the stake.

Alice Kyteler was a popular, beautiful inn keeper who's husbands had a bad habit of dying mysterious deaths. Her fourth and final husband, certain Alice was poisoning him, told his children and the church.

The zealous Bishop of Ossory, Bishop Ledrede, took up the case. He was a firm believer the devil walked among the people and made it his duty to banish evil. Ledrede beleived Alice Kyteler was not only a witch, but the leader of a coven of witches based in the Kilkenny area.

Alice Kyteler had powerful allies from her four marriages and her successful business. When Bishop Ledrede tried to have her arrested the tables were turned and Ledrede was thrown in jail.

When Ledrede was released from prison he resumed his case against Kyteler and her followers. The charges brought against Kyteler were murder, heresy, seeking advice from demons, sacrificing animals, making potions and having sexual relations with a demon.

Serious charges to be sure.

Could Ledrede prove them in court? Would Alice Kyteler be burned at the stake as a witch?

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Mudlarks

A mudlark is defined as someone who digs or searches in in river or harbor mud for items of value. The term was widely used in 18th and 19th century London. Mudlarks would search the shores of the River Thames during low tide to find valuable items and sell them for a profit. Being a mudlark back then was usually a job for those in extreme poverty. Today things are different.

Mudlarks in the 21st century aren't finding and selling items to survive, they are helping document and preserve the history of London. On this episode of the Medieval Archives Podcast we are joined by two modern day Mudlarks, Jason Sandy and Nick Stevens. They have over twenty years experience searching the foreshore of the River Thames.

Thames Mudlarking

Jason and Nick share their experiences mudlarking and the amazing artifacts they've found throughout the years. They also share their vision for the Thames Museum, a place to showcase all the great items found in the mud of the river Thames. For more information about the Thames Museum visit ThamesMuseum.org you can also donate to the museum and help the vision become a reality.

Over the years they've found artifacts from all time periods; a Mesolithic ’Thames Pick’ flint adze, a Roman Hair Pin, Roman coins, medieval pilgrim badges, medieval gadling, Victorian coins and maybe most shockingly, the skull of a 12 year old girl dated back to 1730.

About the Book

This beautifully illustrated book tells the captivating story of London and its inhabitants through the extraordinary assortment of artefacts discovered by mudlarks along the banks of the River Thames.

The foreshore of the River Thames is an enchanting and mystical place where time seems to have stopped. As the murky tidalwaters of the river slowly recede, the exposed riverbed becomes the longest archaeological site in Britain. Jason Sandy, Nick Stevens and other mudlarks can often be found combing the shoreline at low tide searching for historical treasures concealed by the mud: from megalodon teeth to Roman coins, Georgian shoe buckles and shrapnel from the Blitz. You never know what you might find in the Thames!

Over the years, mudlarks have found a vast array of historically significant artefacts, deepening our understanding of London’s past. This fascinating new book is packed with 160 incredible photographs of the intriguing objects discovered by over 50 mudlarks. Each artefact offers a clue to the past and provides a glimpse into London’s rich history and its people.

Thames Mudlarking: Searching for London's Lost Treasure is available online at:

Bloomsbury Publishing Website

Amazon (affiliate link)

Barnes & Noble

Target.com

Jason Sandy

is an American architect and developer who moved to London in 2007. A member of the Society of Thames Mudlarks, he has written many articles about mudlarking, as well as lecturing, appearing on national television and having an active presence on Instagram at @jasonmudlark.

 

Nick Stevens

is a professional photographer, a member of the Society of Thames Mudlarks, and can be found on Instagram at @rockthemudlark. He appeared in all three seasons of the History Channel’s Mud Men and co-founded the Thames Museum, which will tell the story of London through mudlarking finds.

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When people think of the Middle Ages one of the first images that pops into their head is a knight in shining armor. Knights are synonymous with the Middle Ages. Slaying dragons, saving damsels in distress, but beyond the fairy tales are the real life knights. Men who sacrificed and endlessly trained to earn the title of Knight.

On this episode of the Medieval Archives podcast I’m joined by historian and author Christopher Gravett to discuss The Medieval Knight. Chris is a former curator at the Royal Armouries, Tower of London, and an expert in the field of medieval arms, armor and warfare.

He also worked with numerous TV series and movies as a historical advisor including The Conquerors, Braveheart and Ivanhoe. Chris even advised Terry Jones, best known as part of Monty Python, for his books. Chris has some fascinating ‘behind-the-scenes’ stories.

Chris’s new book The Medieval Knight covers the evolution of the knight over 300 years, from the early Norman Knights of William the Conqueror to the gradual decline in the 15th century.

We discuss a variety of topics including how knights trained, how armor evolved over the years and tournaments. Did you know a king and a prince were killed while jousting in a tournament! Listen in to find out.

You can read my review of The Medieval Knight here. It is a fantastic book! Grab a copy today and enjoy the well researched history and the amazing pictures that help visualize the weapons and armor.

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The witching season is upon us once again. Past Halloweens we’ve covered a Medieval Serial Killer, Medieval Zombies and more. All the Halloween episodes are available on the Halloween Podcast page.

This Halloween we are looking at haunted castles from the Middle Ages. Castles

We’ll visit a handful of castles around England and one in Ireland. Most of the castles today are in Northern England and one isn’t a castle. We’ll start out at Whitby Abbey and make our way north to Alnwick Castle and the infamous Alnwick Vampire! The Alnwick Vampire spread death and pestilence wherever it roamed. It was even recorded by medieval chronicler William of Newburgh.

Then we’ll look at a castle dubbed ‘The Most Haunted Castle” in England, Chillingham Castle. Filled with the ghosts of hundreds of Scottish prisoners, an evil torturer and an innocent boy caught in the middle of political betrayal.

The last two stops on our trip are on the Emerald Isle at Malahide Castle talking about perhaps, the first evil clown and ending up in London at the massive Tower of London!

The Tower of London is home to some of the most famous ghosts in England including the Princes in the Tower and Queen Anne Boleyn. The night before her execution, Queen Anne wrote her death poem, which you can read below. I found a beautiful rendition of the poem set to music in the episode.

Queen Anne Boleyn Death Poem:

Oh Death, rock me asleep, Bring me to quiet rest, Let pass my weary guiltless ghost Out of my careful breast. Toll on, thou passing bell; Ring out my doleful knell; Let thy sound my death tell. Death doth draw nigh; There is no remedy.

My pains who can express? Alas, they are so strong; My dolour will not suffer strength My life for to prolong. Toll on, thou passing bell; Ring out my doleful knell; Let thy sound my death tell. Death doth draw nigh; There is no remedy.

Alone in prison strong I wait my destiny. Woe worth this cruel hap that I Should taste this misery! Toll on, thou passing bell; Ring out my doleful knell; Let thy sound my death tell. Death doth draw nigh; There is no remedy.

Farewell, my pleasures past, Welcome, my present pain! I feel my torments so increase That life cannot remain. Cease now, thou passing bell; Rung is my doleful knell; For the sound my death doth tell. Death doth draw nigh; There is no remedy.

The Tower of London also had one of the craziest executions recorded. A novice executioner missed his mark and chased an elder lady around hacking her to death. As comical as it sounds it as a gruesome death seen by over 150 witnesses.

Grab some candy and get ready for a chilling tour of haunted castles!

Haunted Castles covered in this episode:

• Whitby Abbey
• Alnwick Castle
• Chillingham Castle
• Malahide Castle
• The Tower of London

Get your free audio book from Audible.com at: https://www.medievalarchives.com/AudioBook

Download the MP3 and listen to it on your favorite MP3 player. Subscribe to the feed so you do not miss a single episode.

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The intro music was provided by Tim Rayburn. It is available at Magnatune.com

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