https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog daily 0.75 2026-02-23 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/the-battle-of-monmouth monthly 0.5 2026-02-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/9d55b3fa-8983-46d4-b407-1f60f2d7c25d/Medieval_knights_by_Matthew_Paris_-_Richard_Marshal.jpg Blog - The Battle of Monmouth. (No, not that one… the other one!) Richard Marshal unhorses Baldwin of Guines. From the Historia Major of Matthew Paris, (BL Parker MS 16 54v (88r)). Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/251d5923-d153-436b-ac48-f48366bc2201/Princejohn07.webp Blog - The Battle of Monmouth. (No, not that one… the other one!) - Origins: King John and the Minority of Henry III. King John… (Image https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Prince_John, accessed 16/02/26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/b5923fbd-edca-44aa-be4f-739140e768cc/King_John_from_De_Rege_Johanne_crop.jpg Blog - The Battle of Monmouth. (No, not that one… the other one!) - Sorry, this King John… John of England, from an early 14th-century illumination. (BL MS Cotton Claudius D. II) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1613574650649-WZGW4SC36LXV19CHOHPZ/20201014_103836.jpg Blog - The Battle of Monmouth. (No, not that one… the other one!) - Make it stand out Goodrich Castle, predominantly a mid-thirteenth century rebuild by William and Joan de Valence, but with the earlier keep (contemporary with the Marshals) looming in the background. (Image: Author’s photo). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/9d55b3fa-8983-46d4-b407-1f60f2d7c25d/Medieval_knights_by_Matthew_Paris_-_Richard_Marshal.jpg Blog - The Battle of Monmouth. (No, not that one… the other one!) Richard Marshal unhorses Baldwin of Guines. From the Historia Major of Matthew Paris, (BL Parker MS 16 54v (88r)). Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/157f0da1-26e7-414a-a98b-e2c316a26ff6/codex_manesse_herzog_von_anhalt.jpg Blog - The Battle of Monmouth. (No, not that one… the other one!) - Make it stand out Knights being defeated in tournament by being caught in headlocks and having their helms torn form their heads, just as happene to Richard Marshal at Monmouth. (From The fourteenth-century ‘Manesse Codex’ (UB Heidelberg, Cod. Pal. germ. 848, fol. 17r). https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/the-ploughed-field-of-agincourt monthly 0.5 2026-02-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1713102054694-XPDNHLS2P15VU5PG9BJX/Cold_Newton_ridge_and_furrow.jpg Blog - The Ploughed Fields of Agincourt. The distinctive ridge and furrow of medieval ploughland at Cold newton, Leicestershire (Image: Matt Neale, Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cold_Newton_ridge_and_furrow.jpg). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/71144e77-83d1-4fbb-a87c-740a15d49a85/agincourt-oct-25th-2009-from-maisoncelles-towards-agincourt-left-and-tramecourt-right.jpg Blog - The Ploughed Fields of Agincourt. - Make it stand out The battlefield is still agricultural land, ploughed for the growing of cereal crops. However modern techniques will have flattened out the corrugations of ridge and furrow that the French knights would have had to cross in 1415. (https://sirgawainsworld.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/agincourt-oct-25th-2009-from-maisoncelles-towards-agincourt-left-and-tramecourt-right.jpg, accessed 21/4/24) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/3b1d1f45-74cf-4240-a76c-70144e1654a8/4252971.jpeg Blog - The Ploughed Fields of Agincourt. - Make it stand out Mud is synonymous with the fighting of the battle of the Somme in 1916. Agincourt was fought over the same churned soil, barely fifty miles distant. (https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/H12362, accessed 21/4/24) https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/bec-de-faucon-for-a-captain monthly 0.5 2024-04-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/db678312-e3f4-4e5e-b571-96cad681242a/becdefaulcon.jfif Blog - Vng petit bec de faulcon A une main pour vng capp[itai]ne… A bec de faucon of a smiilar date in the Wallace Collection, Inv. A975 (Image: The Wallace Collection Online - https://wallacelive.wallacecollection.org/). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/768215b3-d68b-4fe3-90e6-cd2f3a796eb3/4642251150_cfb8995be5_c.jpg Blog - Vng petit bec de faulcon A une main pour vng capp[itai]ne… - Make it stand out Swords were symbols of power and authority in the middle ages, and continue to be so, but they were less commonly used as symbols of military command (Image: National Pictures; UK Parliament). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/5fd4dcdc-208a-4e83-b5ff-9694a96e905d/Odo_bayeux_tapestry.png Blog - Vng petit bec de faulcon A une main pour vng capp[itai]ne… - Make it stand out Odo of Bayeux wielding a baculum as a symbol of his authority, in the Bayeux tapestry. (Image: Wikimedia Commons). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/c91fa1ef-eed6-4e6d-8a5e-4187b2a8a9cf/M-Volley-1-4C-Aug11-crop-2000x1125.jpg Blog - Vng petit bec de faulcon A une main pour vng capp[itai]ne… - Make it stand out French troops at the battle of Fontenoy. Notice the officers’ partisans or spontoons, and how one uses his to ‘dress the lines’. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1257f28f-37ca-41c1-beb0-60701319579e/Paolo_uccello%2C_la_battaglia_di_san_romano%2C_1438-40_ca._11.jpg Blog - Vng petit bec de faulcon A une main pour vng capp[itai]ne… - Make it stand out A gendarme wields a bec du faulcon in Paolo Ucello’s depiction of the Battle fo San Romano (`1432). (Wikicommons, from the original in the National Gallery, London). https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/sixthingsaboutarmour monthly 0.5 2024-01-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/faef7e68-2ec8-45ed-aacf-772c87fcc534/IMG-20230730-WA0000.jpg Blog - Six Things I Have Learnt from Wearing Armour. The harness laid out for an ‘arming the knight’ demonstration at Goodrich Castle (Photo courtesy Richard Jeynes). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/b2bff073-3aee-4dbb-ae84-933e9d892e5a/40192123_2147896872144629_3620484759957798912_n.jpg Blog - Six Things I Have Learnt from Wearing Armour. - Make it stand out A good squire is hard to find… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/898b1605-fdaa-4b0f-a41d-4c49cba99c7e/40294564_329695117601978_4927604639987138560_n.jpg Blog - Six Things I Have Learnt from Wearing Armour. - Make it stand out Brandon helps me on with my cuisse. Tying the pont here is one of the few bits I can truly help with. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/412de9ba-57af-4725-8d09-653a3436413a/20170317_133325.jpg Blog - Six Things I Have Learnt from Wearing Armour. To get the greave right, my calves had to be cast in plaster. A change in size and they no longer fit well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1164d1f4-58b8-456c-a81e-8b8f9edba91c/DSC_0268.jpg Blog - Six Things I Have Learnt from Wearing Armour. - Make it stand out I’m still not wholly convinced of the practicality of having retention chains and can see why they were an armour evolution dead end. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/efd6b85e-b9d7-4c1f-be1c-e644be1394ca/FB_IMG_1690733468554.jpg Blog - Six Things I Have Learnt from Wearing Armour. - Make it stand out You get a lot of requests for photos when you are in harness. Here I pose for the local papers with the Mayor of Newport (photo courtesy Liz Alford) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/8ac93fc1-0f4d-4480-a215-c3cd60c9533d/DSC_0266.jpg Blog - Six Things I Have Learnt from Wearing Armour. - Make it stand out The great helm not only limits head movement and vision, but also disconnects you from what is going on around you. https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/all-the-kings-swords monthly 0.5 2023-05-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/74e6a5d2-9c41-4972-9e9f-ebbed1fae102/British_Coronation_Swords+-+Wikimedia+from+Cyril+Davenport+%281848+%E2%80%93+1941%29+-+G.jpg Blog - All The King’s Swords - Make it stand out Illustrations of the Sword of Offering, the Sword of State, and the Sword of Mercy. (Wikimedia, taken from G. Younghusband & C. Davenport, The Crown Jewels of England. (London, 1919). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/768215b3-d68b-4fe3-90e6-cd2f3a796eb3/4642251150_cfb8995be5_c.jpg Blog - All The King’s Swords - Make it stand out The Sword of State, preceding Elizabeth I and Prince Charles, after the State Opening of Parliament in 2010. (Image: National Pictures; UK Parliament). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/80ac5909-85a5-4ec9-9132-9d7983761bb6/ENGLAND-SwordofMer-Fa103393.jpg Blog - All The King’s Swords - Make it stand out A fairly faithful copy of the current Curtana (although the tip of the original is slightly narrower and cut square). Sword of Mercy (c. 1936), brass, copper, steel, velvet, synthetic fur, paste, metallic cord, (stuffing), (z-bb) 104.5 × 20.0 × 2.5 cm (overall), in the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. A gift of Mr. Alex Isaacson, 1938 Photo: National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/5f6c6a94-2a3d-4f06-b400-0005ed364865/OF-TOL-21015095+%28detail%29.jpg Blog - All The King’s Swords - Make it stand out In this illustration from the French Ordo ad coronandum regem et reginam Francorum, depicting the anointing of a king, his sword appears three times, representing the transfer of power from the Church via the altar to the secular authority. (Image: BnF) https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/re-fighting-agincourt monthly 0.5 2023-10-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/21d8286c-9c84-4ef1-813a-d731a21070ae/20221022_132405.jpg Blog - Re-Fighting Agincourt. - Make it stand out The English line, from a game put on by myself and Gareth Lane (Author’s photo). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/4fc8fdf3-2a11-41a2-9fd9-4d79a239fe37/FfXTX_VXEAUkrCU.jfif Blog - Re-Fighting Agincourt. - Make it stand out The battlefield, as imagined by Gareth Lane, for our re-fight. The castle and village at the bottom served as a deployment area for the French, adding some hollywood-esque interest to an otherwise uninspiring battlefield! (Photo courtesy Gareth Lane). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/d489c57b-17e7-44e9-9589-ee2f927b3f34/20230108_114612.jpg Blog - Re-Fighting Agincourt. - Make it stand out The ‘Herce’ Companies of Lord Camoys (left) and William Bouchier, 1st Count of Eu. Each Company comprises both archers and men-at-arms, is made up of Perry miniatures plastics, and has a footprint of 150mmx100mm. (Author’s photo). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/2b07f434-aa3f-4a8f-91fb-f743ef6f79df/FfoEzMZXgAYcuTE.jfif Blog - Re-Fighting Agincourt. - Make it stand out The French army assembled. Men-at-arms to the fore, with the great captains clamouring for the position of greatest gloire! Figures from Gareth Lane’s collection (photo courtesy Gareth Lane). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/47945561-ddc9-464b-a210-fc65a14826bf/FXpHEzuUEAUgWU_.jpg Blog - Re-Fighting Agincourt. - Make it stand out A Company of mounted men-at-arms, led by Marshal Boucicaut. Although an experienced commander, his relatively lowly birth made it hard for him to command the higher-born French nobles. Figures from Gareth Lane’s collection. (Author’s photo). https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/the-life-academical monthly 0.5 2023-03-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/ed8b5b48-9d26-4720-a303-aef989689dd6/unsplash-image-0oa1jhDLevQ.jpg Blog - The Life Academical - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/a-short-video-on-logistics monthly 0.5 2021-09-19 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/knights-a-football-analogy monthly 0.5 2023-04-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1625237131944-FUQOMVKL7203PUUKVFUH/footballknight.jpg Blog - The Myth of the ‘Miles Strenuus’: A Footballing Analogy https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/this-is-my-sword monthly 0.5 2023-05-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1618232826811-AW3DTJEJD60N3CQ2JNCG/FB_IMG_1530824961241.jpg Blog - ‘This is my Sword. There are many like it but…’ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1618238898730-0SXPNZY4W334BOTTWQ62/DSC_0636.jpg Blog - ‘This is my Sword. There are many like it but…’ Sir Henry Pembridge (probably), at Clehonger Church, Herefordshire (Author’s photo). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1618233803672-G3KYYEMDS6YGBWTTWNKL/DSC_0658.JPG Blog - ‘This is my Sword. There are many like it but…’ The unusual trilobate pommel on the sword on the Sir Henry Pembridge effigy in Clehonger (Author’s photo). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1620330717659-42JRQKHU4LVGBMF27541/FB_IMG_1617956770428.jpg Blog - ‘This is my Sword. There are many like it but…’ The sword in all its glory. Big and heavy for an arming sword, it still handles beautifully, a testament to its maker’s skill (Author’s photo). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1620330782043-6TW5X4JBKQIIWVFLMM7M/FB_IMG_1617956784945.jpg Blog - ‘This is my Sword. There are many like it but…’ The decoration on the edge of the brass pommel is drawn from the contemporary Battle Abbey sword (Author’s photo). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1620337376388-WMBXGB8R4QMQL9DZ5X2P/40460869_717962161889651_6514753084885827584_n.jpg Blog - ‘This is my Sword. There are many like it but…’ The pommel of my sword, with its relic of my re-enactment past (Author’s photo). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1620333988184-AXPVV91E2LAF5VPUZ7AE/20151028_105955.jpg Blog - ‘This is my Sword. There are many like it but…’ The web-footed babewyn on the Thorpe Falchion is a wonderful example of medieval whimsy (Author’s photo). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1620336732484-UD8XQ8BXT9KNTLSNDHXP/FB_IMG_1530824958243.jpg Blog - ‘This is my Sword. There are many like it but…’ Tower Forge’s modern interpretation of the Thorpe babewyn (Author’s photo). https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/nothing-to-say monthly 0.5 2023-03-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1615199165325-8QI4DUCMSQJJX2GHABIV/markus-winkler-cxoR55-bels-unsplash.jpg Blog - Nothing to Say? (Markus Winkler @markuswinkler / Unsplash) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1615199071136-M6AYLK39FJKSIVX5TOCK/download.jpeg Blog - Nothing to Say? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1615200517562-RI61KMR3BTLJWXBZ3KSZ/joao-cruz-IkEpl3JkVqU-unsplash.jpg Blog - Nothing to Say? (Joao Cruz @jcruzweb / Unsplash) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1615200619872-ZX0IPUAWGO0Y20CNGMLE/chris-montgomery-smgTvepind4-unsplash.jpg Blog - Nothing to Say? (Chris Montgomery, chrismontgomery.ca / Unsplash) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1613574650649-WZGW4SC36LXV19CHOHPZ/20201014_103836.jpg Blog - Nothing to Say? (Author’s photo) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1615201343667-DUT4OZ1OJWHFYI51L2VW/20200125_145648.jpg Blog - Nothing to Say? (Author’s photo) https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/thishistoriansharness monthly 0.5 2020-12-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1601637963473-XD8LT2U7XAIDNNP0QA2L/DSC_0270.jpg Blog - This Historian’s Harness Yours truly, a historian in harness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1601636661025-8YTFOAWHUUFDQXV50RB6/free+company.jpg Blog - This Historian’s Harness The Free Company of Aquitaine, warbow archers of the Hundred Years War. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1601897727101-9DYB1CDUOG2VGZOGIYWQ/unknown_pembrugge_s14_r51_large.jpg Blog - This Historian’s Harness The image that spawned an armour. (Joseph Foster, Some feudal coats of arms and others. (London, 1902) / http://effigiesandbrasses.com/646/852/) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1602412284325-ARJW1R8PF3R6MH1UFPIZ/DSC_0637+%281%29.JPG Blog - This Historian’s Harness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1602412277794-AOUS706MSIYGXULLKW1R/DSC_0639.JPG Blog - This Historian’s Harness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1602412187442-WJT2CSCOYT658879EA3K/DSC_0671.JPG Blog - This Historian’s Harness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1602412235690-E1U8AI2Q22TP0QX2JG7U/DSC_0644.JPG Blog - This Historian’s Harness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1602412187681-RZ21VU4H876H3IMGWCSH/DSC_0653.JPG Blog - This Historian’s Harness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1602412235208-MH3W7FHS9VD2TLH7E7FU/DSC_0643.JPG Blog - This Historian’s Harness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1602411920994-5PBF9N8Y46GXQWKV3VH5/17880611_1558711810829194_4881175310124130350_o.jpg Blog - This Historian’s Harness Kevin Legg of Plessis Armouries, working on the mail sleeves that go under my harness. His work is superb. (Kevin Legg) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1601992083889-6NZIK06H0KYPUZEQWR93/image-asset.jpeg Blog - This Historian’s Harness What lies beneath? There was no way to tell what kind of armour this knight was wearing beneath his surcoat. (Author’s image) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1602344810892-UPNQW8HS3K9HDK9LP7EK/DSC_0269.jpg Blog - This Historian’s Harness One of the most frequent questions about the harness is ‘what are the chains for?’ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1602411057257-T1E3G5H5LOOWFGQMVAEK/DSC_0257.jpg Blog - This Historian’s Harness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1602411152647-3GJXXHJFLQYU67FI5CB9/MMRDP1.jpg Blog - This Historian’s Harness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1602410327361-LWP6K3ARVTMU6LVCFTG5/20160629_154837.jpg Blog - This Historian’s Harness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1602410592860-SV8Y3S5B2F8CVLLUJ0KO/20160629_160601.jpg Blog - This Historian’s Harness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1602410219206-95VQ7FAM03L32APBM71O/20170317_133325.jpg Blog - This Historian’s Harness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1602410677065-JA5NCC8F6UG3YWW3B93K/20170317_134540.jpg Blog - This Historian’s Harness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1602410240447-F16RWDI78243TU2FH7IP/20160629_150522.jpg Blog - This Historian’s Harness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1602410352586-LXXDJJW0WXOWHLSO06D4/20170317_133338.jpg Blog - This Historian’s Harness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1602412421268-79BSAFI6GOJY3KINWMBM/20180228_105724.jpg Blog - This Historian’s Harness Sir Richard Pembridge, Knight Garter, resting on his great helm and the impressive crest. (Author’s photo). https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/To-lose-one-excalibur monthly 0.5 2020-09-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1598949692326-20JFS7SEB2J4QVQZ3JEU/CC3HJ2.jpg Blog - ‘To Lose One Excalibur May Be Regarded As A Misfortune…’ Excalibur holds a fascination for us, imbued with magic, mysticism and power. It becomes the eponymous heart of John Boorman’s 1981 re-imagining of the Arthur legend. but in the medieval tales it does not always have the same significance. (Universal Images Group North America LLC / DeAgostini / Alamy Stock Photo) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1598950868942-0YFLVZB3MNLVXGORO3E0/P46HT2.jpg Blog - ‘To Lose One Excalibur May Be Regarded As A Misfortune…’ Charles of Orléans, being led away captive at Agincourt, from a later fifteenth-centruy chronicle. The raid on the baggage that saw the theft of Excalibur (or, as it might be, Clarent or Courte) also led Henry to order the execution of a number of French prisoners. (Martial d’Auvergne, The Vigils of Charles VII, circa 1484, Département des Manuscrits. Français 5054,fol. 11 / Alamy) https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/latte-lanyards-and-livery monthly 0.5 2020-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1597069899898-YS9JIO2DPOO38M0BF7YN/24458001.jpg Blog - Latte, Lanyards and Livery The Dunstable Jewel is the most exquisite example of a high-status livery badge. About an inch in height, depth and width, this enamelled fourteenth-century object must have been for one of the highest adherents to the Lancastrian royal house. (© The Trustees of the British Museum.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1597069437542-NREW92XC9MG5IQRYRWB3/Edward+Fiennes+de+Clinton Blog - Latte, Lanyards and Livery Edward Fiennes de Clinton, !st Earl of Lincoln, wearing his livery collar. Edward Fiennes de Clinton, 1st Earl of Lincoln, by Unknown artist (oil on panel, 1584) NPG 900 © National Portrait Gallery, London https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/joan-of-arc-sword monthly 0.5 2020-07-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1595431198835-FEKC3Z7TQ386BGF2NIE4/Ingres_coronation_charles_vii.jpg Blog - The Sword of Joan of Arc Dominique Ingres’ 1851 portayal of Joan at the coronation of Charles VII typifies the modern impression of the heroic Maid of Orléans (© Image ID: H29DY2, IanDagnall Computing / Alamy Stock Photo) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1594827849825-8FOYQ60N6145B5C5640A/MP074J.jpg Blog - The Sword of Joan of Arc This is the only image of Joan made in her lifetime. Clément de Fauquembergue, the secretary of the Parlement of Paris, doodled it in the margin of a set of government documents in 1429. (© Image ID: MP074J, The Picture Art Collection / Alamy Stock Photo) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1594827493592-A80QDVHY64DRVCN64D5N/296785001.jpg Blog - The Sword of Joan of Arc The blessing of swords, and the inscribing of their blades with charms, was not an uncommon practice. The thirteenth-century ‘Witham sword’, bears letters that appear to form an inovcation for divine aid. (© The Trustees of the British Museum. Shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) licence.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1594828225927-AKVEEFMJGNDUWE2CTY5I/RRD1AM.jpg Blog - The Sword of Joan of Arc This image of Joan, complete with her standard depicting God flanked by angels and the names Jhesus Maria, was once thought to be a 15th-century contemporary image, but is now believed to be a 19th-century forgery. (© incamerastock / Alamy Stock Photo) https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/reenactment monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/Agincourt monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/university monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/medieval+history monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/medieval+warfare monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/logistics monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/heraldry monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/medieval+clothing monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/Richard+the+Lionheart monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/King+John monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/Hundred+years+War monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/knighthood monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/video monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/Medieval+History monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/hundred+years+war monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/Wargaming monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/Coronation monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/Swords monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/academic monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/humour monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/Liveries monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/monty+python monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/Excalibur monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/soccer monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/Age+of+Empires+IV monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/King+Arthur monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/Medieval+Swords monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/corporate+uniform monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/Earls+of+Pembroke monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/football monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/Costumed+interpretation monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/La+Pucelle monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/chivalry monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/professor monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/Henry+V monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/Armour monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/Joan+of+Arc monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/martial+display monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/arms monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/Jeanne+d%27Arc monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/Marshal monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/blog/tag/siege+of+orleans monthly 0.5 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/home daily 1.0 2023-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1593010631082-P5FM84KRWPN98H1JRYWK/Robert+W.+Jones Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1590095675446-L6WZ1IBYQBYPHLSKBWOY/Arming+the+knight+at+the+Chiltern+Open+Air+Museum Home The use of experimental archaeology and experiential learning is an important aspect of my academic work. Here I give a public presentation on arming the knight at the Chiltern Open Air Museum. https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/contact daily 0.75 2024-09-04 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/privacy-statement-for-subscribers daily 0.75 2020-07-24 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/mywork daily 0.75 2026-03-15 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/mywork/tours monthly 0.5 2025-12-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1606743785647-Y83XPBGB8AU00X9NKSQB/tour+Corfe.jpg My Work - Tours Introducing university students to Corfe Castle, Dorset https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1606821090903-IO7VZT7LIA22WO48GZME/Rob+Tour+corfe.jpg My Work - Tours Placing Corfe Castle in its wider landscape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1606742353330-OUNIID877AX0U1ELAH44/Rob+Baths.JPG My Work - Tours Explaining the symbolism of the Gorgon’s Head Pediment at the Roman Baths in Bath. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/5f45a451-2084-487b-86c6-5fe1d09b490e/Screenshot%2B2020-11-30%2B163702.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/49dc7942-61f0-4da9-8f5d-ce1dde9f2e89/332345700_711080853837342_1752127951593028810_n.jpg https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/mywork/interpretation monthly 0.5 2021-05-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1591520792676-TT31Y3AMYQKH2JR2PCCW/48415900_2545879075452495_7108233010171871232_o.jpg My Work - Costumed Interpretation - History you can handle… By using accurate replicas of original artifacts it is possible to allow the public to touch, hold, and even wear them, interacting with them in ways that they simply cannot with most museum exhibits. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1591731225729-JU3VDDIZYZQNZ3MJ9MIW/received_1022433321260295.jpg My Work - Costumed Interpretation - History that you can see… As well as being able to see the past up close, rather than within a glass case, costumed interpretation brings the artifacts to life. People can see how the objects of the past were used, worn and worked. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1591731041299-QU0WSSRZL9X4ODK6G0TB/received_2507452705998161.jpg My Work - Costumed Interpretation - History you can explain… It is not enough to simply describe and display the objects of the past, they can only really be understood in the context of their time. In my presentations I combine explanation of the practicalities of the weapons and armour with the stories, beliefs and culture of those who wore it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1591521911919-PNNUUTWL9L0B7THNJD06/40293595_1951296085167487_536685622815883264_n.jpg My Work - Costumed Interpretation - History you can question… Engaging with the public directly is a central part of my activities as a costumed interpretor. Answering their questions makes me look at the history afresh, and I often come away with new insights as a result of the conversations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1591524544094-WKE6YX1DOP1UEG83TOYX/The+English+Civil+War My Work - Costumed Interpretation - Whilst my heart is medieval… I also have a long history of working in the seventeenth-century. I have presented solo as an individual musketeer, and with a number of others as an officer in charge of a body of infantry. As with my medieval presentations, I weave explanations of the dress and weapons with the history of the period, and the motivations and beliefs of those who bore them. https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/mywork/hema monthly 0.5 2023-06-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/69992b9a-d81b-498e-aa6a-a2dc4b378616/De_Fechtbuch_Talhoffer_059.jpg My Work - Historical Swordplay - Swinging swords in a historically authentic manner… Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) is the practice of recreating the techniques of medieval and early modern swordplay, through the interpretation of contemporary written sources (often referred to as Fechtbüche - fight books - which, very loosely, can be considered manuals on the art of fencing), using modern analogies of historical weapons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/078ef2d4-ed29-450c-8e3c-3f436df59501/10425041_10153019534894852_6478085965888188984_n.jpg My Work - Historical Swordplay - Historical research, experiential learning, and sport combined… HEMA is a unique combination of historical research - trying to interpret the source material - experiential learning - trying out your hypothesis physically - and sport - fencing against an opponent with the aim of scoring a hit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/f6e1cebf-5faa-4ad7-95c4-a8b3c73518e5/97977808_3025459997504878_7689921562308247552_n.jpg My Work - Historical Swordplay - Playing with swords… I am an instructor, accredited by the British Federation for Historical Swordplay (BFHS), and use my pedagogical and public speaking skills to run taster sessions and beginners’ classes in medieval longsword, sword and buckler, and sixteenth-century rapier and dagger. https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/mywork/lectures monthly 0.5 2026-03-07 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/mywork/podcasts monthly 0.5 2026-03-15 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/mywork/books monthly 0.5 2020-11-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/a5eab53f-9bdf-46f4-b2ef-dff355cf9b2e/Sword+Cover.jpg My Work - Books and Articles - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1590255611223-TJVY7YNBD1ZTPSAB2A4S/Bloodied+Banners%3A+Martial+Display+on+the+Medieval+Battlefield My Work - Books and Articles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1590255710045-JKD3726BQGXK2MKV9E0R/Knight%3A+The+Warrior+and+World+of+Chivalry My Work - Books and Articles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/1590255780745-H661AUMI177NJ7K91GDA/A+Companion+to+Chivalry My Work - Books and Articles https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/medieval-wargaming daily 0.75 2024-11-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec647a042b9b43d7011699c/f9e370ca-0f23-4704-aecf-a4533c01c02a/%C3%89CORCHEURS+%281%29.png https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/medieval-wargaming/bahd monthly 0.5 2023-01-04 https://www.historianinharness.co.uk/medieval-wargaming/acop monthly 0.5 2021-05-24