Category Archives: Primary Sources

Three sources on the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212

by DRM_peter Posted on November 20, 2014

One of the most important battles fought on the Iberian peninsula, this was the culmination of a major campaign by Alfonso VIII of Castile against the Almohads. The battle took place on July 16, 1212. The first account comes from … Continue reading →

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The Battle of the Bannockburn (1314), according to the Vita Edwardi Secundi

by DRM_peter Posted on June 24, 2014

The anonymous author of the Vita Edwardi Secundi provides one of the best accounts of the reign of Edward II.  This includes his description of the battle of Bannockburn in 1314, where the Scots under Robert Bruce defeated Edward and … Continue reading →

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The Career of Robert Guiscard, according to the Annales Lupi Protospatharii

by DRM_peter Posted on April 23, 2014

Robert Guiscard was one of several brothers who came to Italy from Normandy to work as mercenaries and gain their fortune. After arriving in Italy in 1046, he served in several campaigns before taking the place of his brother Humphrey … Continue reading →

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Journal of the Movements of King Edward I in Scotland, 1296

by DRM_peter Posted on April 23, 2014

The following account is a short journal that describes the expedition of Edward I into Scotland. Starting on March 25, 1296, it runs to September 16th, and describes the various movements and events very tersely. This was Edward’s first expedition … Continue reading →

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The Campaign against the Scots in Munster, 1317

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on April 13, 2014

The Campaign against the Scots in Munster, 1317 Irish Historical Studies: v. 24 (1984-85) Abstract The document printed below has been preserved, somewhat unexpectedly, among the series of Ministers’ Accounts in the Public Record Office, London. it is the account … Continue reading →

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Medieval warfare from The King’s Mirror, a thirteenth century Norwegian text

by DRM_peter Posted on April 12, 2014

This Norwegian work, written in the mid-13th century, is in the style of a son asking his father various questions, ranging from the reasons for the shorter days in Scandinavian lands to the power and authority of kings.  Halfway through chapter 36, … Continue reading →

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Philippe de Remy’s description of a fictionalised tournament at Ressons-Gournay (c.1241)

by DRM_peter Posted on April 12, 2014

Translated by David Crouch Philip de Remy (d.c.1264) was a poet, novelist and knight from the region of the northern Ile-de France. He was in royal service by the 1230s, being bailiff of the Gatinais from Count Robert of Artois, … Continue reading →

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Jacques de Vitry: Sermons to a Military Order

by DRM_peter Posted on April 12, 2014

Translated by Helen J. Nicholson Sermons 37 and 38 from his sermon collection, Sermones Vulgares, ‘Sermons to the People’, published by J. B. Pitra, ed., Analecta novissima spicilegii Solesmensis: altera continuatio 2, Tusculana (Paris, 1888). This translation is copyright H. … Continue reading →

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The Siege of Termes (1210), according to the Historia Albigensis

by DRM_peter Posted on April 3, 2014

Peter of les Vaux-de-Cernay is one of the most important sources for the Albigensian Crusades. It is likely that he traveled with the Crusader armies of Simon de Montfort, and was an eyewitness to many of the events he describes. … Continue reading →

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The Siege of Termes (1210), according to the Song of the Cathar Wars

by DRM_peter Posted on April 3, 2014

The flourishing of a dualist heresy in Languedoc at the end of the twelfth century, known as Catharism, led to conflict with the Catholic Church. After the murder of a Papal legate in 1208, Pope Innocent III ordered a crusade … Continue reading →

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The Siege of Toulouse in 1217-18, according to The Chronicle of William of Puylaurens

by DRM_peter Posted on March 24, 2014

William of Puylaurens covered events relating to the history of Languedoc from the twelfth century to the mid-1270s.  The main subject of his history is the Albigensian Crusade, which lasted from 1209 to 1229.  Along with the Historia Albigensis of … Continue reading →

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The Battle of Lincoln (1217), according to Roger of Wendover

by DRM_peter Posted on March 24, 2014

Roger of Wendover (d.1236) was a monk at St.Alban’s monastery in England.  His work, Flores historiarum (Flowers of History) is a chronicle that starts at creation and goes to 1235.  From 1201 to 1235 his work is original.  In the … Continue reading →

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Two Poems by the Twelfth-Century Knight-Troubadour Bertran de Born

by DRM_peter Posted on March 13, 2014

Bertran de Born (c.1140-1202), lord of Autofort, was one of the most famous French troubadours of the Twelfth century. His poetry covers a wide variety of topics, including warfare. Be’m plai lo gais temps de pascor[1] Well do I love … Continue reading →

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The Battle of Gisors, 1198, according to Roger of Hoveden

by DRM_peter Posted on March 13, 2014

The Annals of Roger of Hoveden provide an account of the Battle of Gisors between Richard I of England and Philip Augustus of France, which took place in 1198. Hoveden writes down two versions of this battle, and includes a … Continue reading →

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Warfare in England and France in 1173-74, according to William of Newburgh

by DRM_peter Posted on March 13, 2014

William of Newburgh (d.1198) was one of England’s most important historians in the twelfth century.  In the following section, he details the war that broke out in 1173 between Henry II against his son, Henry, called ‘The Younger’.  Henry II … Continue reading →

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Description of a Motte and Bailey Castle from Flanders, from the 12th century

by DRM_peter Posted on February 23, 2014

Walter, archdeacon of the diocese of Thérouanne, spent his youth among the regular canons of Saint Martin of Ypres whence he was called by John of Warneton, bishop of Thérouanne in 1115. John made him archdeacon of Flanders in 1116 … Continue reading →

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Warfare in Flanders, according to Galbert of Bruges’ The Murder of Charles the Good

by DRM_peter Posted on February 23, 2014

Galbert of Bruges was a cleric who worked principally in the fiscal administration of the castellany of Bruges. He was thus a marginal member of the count’s curia, at least when the count was in Bruges, and it is reasonable … Continue reading →

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A Plan to regain the Holy Land from the Master of the Hospitallers (c.1305)

by DRM_peter Posted on February 4, 2014

Following the expulsion of the Crusaders from their last outpost of Acre in 1291, several attempts and plans were made to bring back Christian rule to Jerusalem and the Holy Land. In the following memorandum, Fulk of Villaret, master of the Hospitallers, proposes this invasion plan. Continue reading →

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The Seventh Crusade (1249), according to Abu al-Faraj Gregory Bar Hebraeus

by DRM_peter Posted on January 20, 2014

Bar Hebraeus (1226-1286) is one the best known Syriac writers of the Middle Ages.  His Chronography contains a history of the world from creation until his own time.  Most of his information relates to events in the Middle East, including … Continue reading →

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Robert of Clari’s account of the Fourth Crusade

by DRM_peter Posted on January 20, 2014

Robert of Clari was a knight from Picardy who took part in the Fourth Crusade, which ended with the capture of Constantinople in 1204.  Robert seems to have returned to France in 1205, since although his work contains references up … Continue reading →

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Two accounts of the conquest of Cyprus by Richard the Lionheart (1191)

by DRM_peter Posted on January 11, 2014

The following are two accounts of the invasion of Cyprus by Richard I in 1191.  The Seljuk Turk under Saladin had recaptured Jerusalem in 1187 and Cyprus’ geographical position placed her on the route of the Crusaders from Western Europe … Continue reading →

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History of William the Marshal: The taking of Le Mans and the flight of Henry II

by DRM_peter Posted on January 5, 2014

The following section details the French capture of Le Mans in 1189.  War had broken out between Henry II against his son Richard and Philip Augustus, King of France.  Henry had gathered his forces, including William, at Le Mans, while … Continue reading →

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Frederick I ‘Barbarossa’ issues rules for his army (1158)

by DRM_peter Posted on December 30, 2013

The Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick I, nicknamed Barbarossa, often was engaged in campaigns in Italy against rebellious cities such as Milan. As he began one campaign in 1158, Frederick issued a set of rules for his army to follow. Frederick’s … Continue reading →

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The Siege of Tyre in 1111-12, according to the Chronicle of Ibn Al-Qalanisi

by DRM_peter Posted on December 18, 2013

One of the most interesting contemporary accounts of the crusades comes from a twelfth-century resident of Damascus.  Ibn Al-Qalanisi was a distinguished scholar in Damascus, and was twice elected the mayor of that city.  His Chronicle begins in 1097 with … Continue reading →

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The Battle for Antioch in the First Crusade (1097-98) according to Peter Tudebode

by DRM_peter Posted on November 21, 2013

Peter Tudebode was a Poitevin priest who was part of the First Crusade, perhaps with forces of the count of Toulouse. He wrote his account, the Historia de Hieroslymitano Itinere, by at least 1111, which was after many of the … Continue reading →

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The Battle of Stamford Bridge (1066) and the life of Haraldr Sigurðarson, according to Theodoricus Monachus

by DRM_peter Posted on November 7, 2013

Theodricus Monachus’s De antiquitate regum Norwagiensium is one of the oldest historical works of Norwegian history. It is a Latin account of the kings of Norway from Hardaldr harfaagri (around the ninth century), to Sigurð Magnusson, who died in 1130. Continue reading →

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The Siege of Tarsos in 965, according to Leo the Deacon

by DRM_peter Posted on September 11, 2013

The history, divided into ten books, covers the years from 959 to 976, that is, the reigns of Romanus II (959-963), Nicephorus Phokas (963-969) and John Zimisces (969-976). It describes the wars against the Arabs including the recovery of Crete from the Arabs in 961, the conquest of Antioch and Northern Syria (968-969), the Bulgarian War (969) and the defeat of the Southern Russians (971), one of the most brilliant periods of the later Empire. Continue reading →

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Episodes of Medieval Warfare from the History of the Franks by Gregory of Tours

by DRM_peter Posted on June 12, 2013

One of the most important sources from the early medieval period is The History of the Franks, written in the late sixth century by Gregory of Tours, the bishop of Tours for twenty-one years and an important political figure in the Merovingian kingdom. Continue reading →

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