Well folks it’s me again! What can I say this time to explain yet another absence after my glorious comeback? This time it’s a simple one and a rather sad one. My family and I lost someone exceptionally close to us, my gorgeous Aunty Bev who lost her battle with Motor Neurone Disease. She was [...]
I was going to start this post with a huge explanation of where I have been recently - and by recent I mean nearly 2 years! But I decided the simplest explanation often works better so here we go- I promise I’ll get onto the history after this. I simply fell out of love with [...]
Now you are probably wondering why, after an 8-month hiatus, I am back writing about what looks like a dilapidated cave. Well, it turns out that this cave is actually the Classicists dream as it supposedly where Odysseus spent seven whole years of his life following the Trojan War. Welcome to Calypso’s Cave! Intrigued? Read [...]
Trigger warning: This article will contain discussion of murder, rape and sexual assault. For a lot of people, the concept of ‘victim blaming’ may be a relatively new one. With the rise of social media and the online trolls commenting on every news article, individuals who have suffered any form of injustice are subjected to [...]
I have always been fascinated by women in history, primarily because we don’t actually hear much about them. Simply put, women have always been viewed throughout history as inferior, their voices silenced by androcentric historiography. So, in celebration of women and International Women’s Day I have decided that this week I am going to be [...]
Once again I have found myself much quieter on here than I would have hoped and I guess I am wholly to blame for this absence as it is my blog! However my silence is not without reason and the blame primarily hangs on the seemingly never ending job search during a pandemic combined with [...]
So my family and I really enjoy a cheeky pint or two or a nice bottle of wine and we are always on the look out for new places to try out. For me in particular, I always enjoy finding bars and restaurants with a history, after all I do run a history blog! So [...]
A controversial title for some and more contemporary history for me, but this topic is nonetheless something I wanted to explore after my recent trip to Liverpool, the birthplace of The Beatles. Please note this article does not discuss events after The Beatles broke up so will not cover the tragic death of John Lennon [...]
Hello everyone and welcome back- finally -to my countdown of the top most gruesome female martyrdoms in Early Christian history. Today I will be discussing the death of a young woman named Agnes, so without further ado lets get started! Trigger warning; violence against women and rape discussed below. According to sources, Agnes was born [...]
'Father of History or 'Father of Lies?' is the age old question which surrounds the work of Herodotus of Harlicarnassus. Although some of his work has been proven to be factually correct, other bits are...shall we say, less so. His work, like his life, is shrouded in elements of the unknown and to this day [...]
We have all had to queue for something. Whether its queuing for the checkout at Aldi (or Tesco if you're fancy), at the bar or even the toilet, queuing is just an accepted part of life. But would you queue to get humiliated, tortured and brutally killed? No? Me neither, it doesn't sound like the [...]
Now I love a sauna, a hot tub and a spa day. But because I can't afford spa days left right and centre, for me there is nothing better than a long, hot soak surrounded by lovely bubbles, candles and maybe some wine if I am feeling fancy. Constantine's wife however probably felt differently. Considering [...]
Hello everyone and welcome back to Ancient Greece! Today I will be discussing Assassin's Creed Odyssey, focusing on the flirtatious fornicator; the one and only Alcibiades. 'Alcibiades being taught by Socrates' by Francois-Andre Vincent. Image taken from Wikipedia Please note this isn't going to be an in-depth biography but instead is my view on how [...]
By Bryn Davies Hi everyone! Welcome back to a slightly different post about Yorkshire today written by Bryn Davies. Instead of focusing just on Yorkshire history, today Yorkshire has been incorporated into an article about the influence of the War of the Roses and the warring houses of York and Lancaster on George R.R. Martin's [...]
Hello everyone and welcome back to another post about a woman who we aren't 100% sure actually existed. Like Alexandra last week, this woman is shrouded in mystery but unlike Alexandra's her tale is even more bizarre. In fact, this post is less about the woman herself and more about the monk's interaction with her. [...]
Hello everyone and happy Sunday! Today's post is something a little different, as you may be able to tell from the title. I have decided to write about a woman that may or may not have existed and a work that may or may not be completely fictional. That being said though, the tale encountered [...]
Hello everyone and welcome back to Yorkshire! Today I will be discussing the 'Harrying of the North', a campaign led by William the Conqueror which saw the north of England absolutely decimated. Read below to find out more. 1066 is probably one of the most famous days in the British historical calendar. This is of [...]
Hello everyone and happy Sunday! Today is the first of what will be a regular slot on my blog where I discuss historical women. I believe that woman have sat too long in the shadows of historiography and that their stories need to be told. Therefore, the aim of these posts is to shed light [...]
Hello everyone and welcome to another post for Historia Gaming all about ‘God of War’ 2018. Today I will be talking about whether I think that the mixture of Greek and Norse mythology works in the latest game. Please note this is all my opinion so if you don't agree with me that is totally [...]
Hello everyone and welcome back to Historia Yorkshire where I discuss all things Yorkshire related. Today I will be talking about the beautiful Richmond Castle, one of the most complete 11th century fortresses in the whole country! In 1069 William the Conqueror defeated a rebellion in York which subsequently led to an event now called [...]
Hello everyone and welcome back to another post on Historia Gaming. I am taking a break from Assassins Creed Odyssey for a while to talk about another game which involves Classical themes; God of War. Today I will be discussing whether or not the main character in the God of War franchise is in fact [...]
Hello everyone and happy Monday! Today I will be discussing another beautiful historic building located in Yorkshire’s green and pleasant lands; Fountains Abbey. If you haven't been here, you need to get here when COVID-19 calms down because it is simply one of the most beautiful places in North Yorkshire. Read below for the history [...]
Hello everyone and welcome back to Ancient Greece! Today I will be discussing a beautiful temple on the Acropolis; the Temple of Athena Nike. In the 6th century BC, a cult dedicated to Athena Nike was established in Athens and a small temple was built which used Mycenaean fortifications. Though the original temple was sadly [...]
Hello everyone and happy Monday! I have decided that for the next couple of weeks/months, I will be dedicating my Monday posts to the history of North Yorkshire. This is in part due to COVID-19 reducing the range of historical sites around England and the world that I can visit, but is primarily due to [...]
Imagine telling Henry VIII that if he married Anne Boleyn he would be dead a few months later... Can't picture it? Neither can I. After all, he was notorious for simply beheading people who said that. But what if those words came from a nun? A nun who prophesied and predicted, claiming that she had [...]
Welcome to the second post in Historia Gaming! Today I will be discussing Delphi, one of the most beautiful and interesting sites in Ancient Greece, home to the Oracle of Delphi -yes this is the woman who sat on a tripod and inhaled lots of fumes. But how does Assassins Creed compare to the real [...]
As a lover of gaming and history, I have always found it fascinating that game developers constantly look to the past for inspiration whilst creating something for the future - and this is something that I want to explore and share with you all in more detail. From “Assassins Creed Odyssey” to “The Witcher 3: [...]
Hello everyone and welcome to a post dedicated to Gertrude Courtenay, the first Marchioness of Exeter. Like me when I first read about her a few weeks ago, you are probably thinking, wait, who is she?! Well, wonder no more! Here we have a woman who was once a favourite of Katherine of Aragon. A [...]
By Bryn Davies Hawaii. Sun. Sea. Sand. DEATH. Read below to find out more about Captain James Cook! In 1778 Captain James Cook, pioneer of maritime exploration found himself, not for the first time, sailing the Pacific. Cook was in search of the fabled North-West Passage, a sea route north of Canada that was believed [...]
Richard II has reigned peacefully for the last 8 years. However, old insults lie heavy on his paranoid mind. Following the death of his wife Queen Anne in 1394, Richard’s already fragile mind begins to crumble. Read below to find out about the tyrannical years of Richard II and what leads to his downfall. In [...]
Welcome back to the troubled and troubling reign of Richard II! A quick recap before we dive into part two. Richard was made king aged 10 and by age 14 had defeated a major threat to his reign; the Peasants Revolt. Will there be peace for Richard and his realm after this? Read below to [...]
Defeating a revolt only to incite one of his own, what some call the tyrannical reign of Richard II sees a child grow to be a man with an unsettled mind. Read below for part one of the troubled and troubling reign of Richard II which saw another Plantagenet king deposed! Coronation of Richard II. [...]
The Lady of the Sun; sounds poetic doesn’t it? Mysterious almost. Wondering who she is and how she is involved with Edward III? Read below to find out more about the reign of Edward III and his mistress Alice Perrers. Crowned after the usurpation of his disgraced father Edward II by his mother and her [...]
By Bryn Davies With the threat of Coronavirus growing, the panic increasing and the loo roll running out, one voice has been very quiet during this pandemic. Her majesty Queen Elizabeth II, safely tucked away, is yet to voice her concerns and advice regarding the illness. However, that is set to change this Sunday with [...]
So as a follow on from yesterdays post I decided that today I would write a little blog post about Whorlton Church. Nestled in a grove of trees, in the abandoned Medieval village of Whorlton lies Whorlton Old Church. It is absolutely stunning and like the castle- pretty forgotten! Read below to find out more! [...]
Hello everyone, here I am breaking away from my Plantagenets once again, however I am so excited about this post. Today (whilst socially distancing) my family and I went to look round the ruins of an old castle which is literally about 15 minutes away from our house. We have never visited it before and [...]
Smothered, red hot poker, died- smothered, red hot poker, survived?! Not quite as catchy as the Henry VIII version about his wives is it. Intrigued as to what I’m talking about? If so welcome to episode two of the Plantagenets; the mysterious and potentially brutal death of Edward II. Crowning of Edward II - image [...]
Ever fallen out with a friend? Ever looked for ways to resolve relationship issues? Well, take it from me do not take relationship advice from the Plantagenet’s. Welcome to the first in the Plantagenet series: the dramatic story of Henry II and his friend Thomas Becket! Picture taken by me! Henry II, the first Plantagenet [...]
Picture taken by me outside the Lamb and Lion Inn in York! Hello everyone! After a long hiatus due to a family holiday, I’m back! I am ready to go and fill up your quiet moments with interesting historical facts and figures! After a long deliberation about who and what to talk about I have [...]
Picture by me! Why is there a Buddha head in a tree I hear you ask?! Well look no further for this mystery is still...not solved. Whilst looking around Buddhist temples in Thailand we stumbled across something that we didn’t know was a famous tourist attraction- the Buddha head in the tree! Curiosity piqued I [...]
Image of Guy Fawkes. Taken from Wikipedia. Published in William Harrison Ainsworth's 1840 novel 'Guy Fawkes'. Remember, Remember the 31st January, Brexit, Europe and Guy Fawkes?! Confused? Sound familiar? A modern take on the old Guy Fawkes poem perhaps? Well you are correct, that is just what it is! So why am I talking about [...]
Sounds dramatic doesn't it, but what was The Anarchy? The Anarchy is a period of English history spanning from 1135-1153. It is defined by revolts and civil war between cousins, started by the sinking of the White Ship- I told you that was an important event! Following the untimely demise of Prince William in the [...]
January is a killer of a month. It's one we all love to hate, especially now as although nearing the end, we still feel like we have years to go. It's dark, cold and full of New Year's Resolutions that we all struggle to keep. But have you ever wondered why January is called January? [...]
http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/Viewer.aspx?ref=royal_ms_20_a_ii_fs001r Image taken from The British Library, Royal MS 20 A II. Details the White Ship. Ever had a feeling that you have had a bit too much to drink? When the extra glass of wine seems like a great idea but the room begins to spin a little bit? When the impending doom of [...]
Historia Mundi is a blog about...you guessed it! History. Processed with VSCO with m5 preset Why History? The problem with history nowadays is that people are generally losing interest. That is not a blanket statement based on fact or statistics, but from personal experience. A lot of the time when people ask me about my [...]
Historia Mundis 