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rorymaclellan.bsky.social
Historian of the Hospitallers, Templars, crusades, and Jews in medieval England.
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The seal of Ankerwycke Nunnery, Buckinghamshire, showing their church with a thatched roof and half-timbered walls. LFC Ch X 7. #medievalsky

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

Those famous 15th-century Protestants...

submitted 17 days ago • 1 comment

Contract of the future Cardinal Wolsey with an Italian merchant for 2000 suits of armour for Henry VIII's invasion of France in 1513. With Wolsey's signature (spelt Wuley). LFC VIII 18.

submitted 18 days ago • 0 comments

Proofs! For my book on the Hospitallers' role in war and politics in Britain, c.1140-1564. #skystorians #medievalsky

submitted 20 days ago • 1 comment

The martyrdom of St Alban on the seal of John of Hertford, abbot of St Albans. The executioner has raised his hand to catch his eyes which have fallen out of his head as punishment. LFC VII 6.

submitted 27 days ago • 0 comments

Not just commanders, I want to see more fantasy characters with real medieval names like Innocent Stonethakkar, Humphrey of the Golden Testicle, or Cuntzo Weiner.

submitted 28 days ago • 0 comments

Henry VI's pardon to Richard, duke of York, after his failed rebellion in 1452. LFC Ch VI 10. #medievalsky

submitted 35 days ago • 1 comment

A small seal with a tankard and the legend "Loyalty". LFC Ch VI 12.

submitted 36 days ago • 0 comments

Oh, it is this time of year again: did people in medieval Europe have a different relationship with work and free time than we do? Yes, of course. Did they just lie around half of the year doing nothing and enjoying their church-prescribed holidays and basked in their free time? No. 1/

submitted 54 days ago • 6 comments

A great medieval name in this charter: Henry Lie-by-the-fire. LFC Ch V 17.

submitted 55 days ago • 1 comment

For the anniversary of the 1275 expulsions of Jews from Eleanor of Provence's dower towns, we will be gathering at the Tower of London on 30 June to discuss Eleanor, the events of 1275 and expulsion. Do join us if you're able, it's sure to be a great day! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1275-2025-...

submitted 68 days ago • 0 comments

Contract to supply 4000 suits of armour to Henry VIII in 1512, probably for his invasion of France the following year, with the king's signature at the top. LFC V 1.

submitted 60 days ago • 1 comment

My book on the Knights Hospitaller is now up for preorder, releasing in September. Featuring witchcraft, assassinations, feuds, and battles, it follows the order's history in British politics from the 12th century to the Reformation and beyond: thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/...

submitted 61 days ago • 1 comment

The seal of Thomas Furnival, lord of Hallamshire. Instead of Thomas' name, the legend contains the magical words "Agla, beronyx, gradiel, tetragramaton". LFC Ch III 20.

submitted 68 days ago • 1 comment

Seal of a rabbit or hare attached to a grant of land in Bradford-on-Avon in 1436. LFC Ch II 13.

submitted 75 days ago • 0 comments

Hurry, Starmer! Put some tariffs on American comedy before it's too late!

submitted 75 days ago • 0 comments

A decorated capital O with a dragon ouroboros in this charter of David Stewart, earl of Strathearn. LFC XXX 19.

submitted 85 days ago • 0 comments

Contemporary portrait of one of the parties in this 1336 charter. LFC Ch XI 19.

submitted 89 days ago • 0 comments

My article on how the legacy of Henry V was treated in the reigns of Edward IV and Richard III is now online. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

submitted 96 days ago • 0 comments

Big Bird's medieval ancestor discovered. Sloane MS 962, f. 7v.

submitted 98 days ago • 0 comments

📅 #OnThisDay 1314: Templars Jacques de Molay and Geoffroi de Charney meet a fiery end as heretics. 🔥 Unravel the Templar mysteries with @rorymaclellan.bsky.social in our Series 9 episode, debunking conspiracy theories and myths Listen🎧 : pod.fo/e/20c35c #otd #onthisdate #medieval

submitted 98 days ago • 1 comment

Do you need help with medieval Latin? I offer language teaching *and* research assistance, so if you just want a quick answer – e.g. a transcription or translation, or a manuscript identification – I can do that too. Further details here: latin.brunellus.com #medievalLatin #medievalSky

submitted 109 days ago • 1 comment

The year 1478 calculated from 8 different dates, including the Creation, Adam, Eve, the Flood, and the Murder of Thomas Becket. Harley Roll S 32.

submitted 110 days ago • 0 comments

A surprisingly happy pig in this 15th century calendar. Harley Roll S 32.

submitted 110 days ago • 0 comments

The martyrdom of St Alban, the executioner's eyes popping out and falling to the ground after dealing the final blow. Cotton MS Nero D II, f. 39.

submitted 111 days ago • 0 comments

My bingo card from when I wrote a newspaper article on historical (in)accuracy in Outlander

submitted 116 days ago • 0 comments

For the Jewish Square Mile project, which @rorymaclellan.bsky.social and I are academic leads on, we contributed blog posts. Do check them out: www.thejewishsquaremile.org/new-page. I had great fun thinking about 'An Anglo-Jewish Assassination Attempt' of Hagin son of Master Moses in 1258!

submitted 120 days ago • 0 comments

St Brendan the Navigator and his companions driven away from an island by firethrowing demons. BL, Add MS 17275, f. 262r.

submitted 124 days ago • 0 comments

Proofs! My article on the memory of Henry V under the Yorkist kings and how they struggled to balance condemning him as a usurper while wanting to use him as a model for war with France.

submitted 125 days ago • 0 comments

St Eligius shoes a possessed horse by cutting one of its legs off before reattaching it. BL, Add MS 17275, f. 187v. Particularly like the eye of the horse, more grumpy than evil.

submitted 130 days ago • 0 comments