#the normans

[tomoleary]

Angus McBride — Osprey Elite #9: The Normans; Plate #1 Early Normandy - Bishop, miles and Flemish serjeant (1987) Source

[millificent]

a recent trip to Battle Abbey

yes I know they all look the same but I loved it, definitely made me want to rewatch TCON. Also those vaults!

[theperfumeoftraitors]

“Now the man was such as, to put it briefly, had never before been seen in the land of the Romans, be he either of the barbarians or of the Greeks (for he was a marvel for the eyes to behold, and his reputation was terrifying). Let me describe the barbarian's appearance more particularly – he was so tall in stature that he overtopped the tallest by nearly one cubit, narrow in the waist and loins, with broad shoulders and a deep chest and powerful arms. And in the whole build of the body he was neither too slender nor overweighted with flesh, but perfectly proportioned and, one might say, built in conformity with the canon of Polycleitus... His skin all over his body was very white, and in his face the white was tempered with red. His hair was yellowish, but did not hang down to his waist like that of the other barbarians; for the man was not inordinately vain of his hair, but had it cut short to the ears. Whether his beard was reddish, or any other colour I cannot say, for the razor had passed over it very closely and left a surface smoother than chalk... His blue eyes indicated both a high spirit and dignity; and his nose and nostrils breathed in the air freely; his chest corresponded to his nostrils and by his nostrils...the breadth of his chest. For by his nostrils nature had given free passage for the high spirit which bubbled up from his heart. A certain charm hung about this man but was partly marred by a general air of the horrible... He was so made in mind and body that both courage and passion reared their crests within him and both inclined to war. His wit was manifold and crafty and able to find a way of escape in every emergency. In conversation he was well informed, and the answers he gave were quite irrefutable. This man who was of such a size and such a character was inferior to the Emperor alone in fortune and eloquence and in other gifts of nature.”

Byzantine Princess Anna Komnene commenting on Bohemond I who was the Prince of Taranto from 1089 to 1111 and the Prince of Antioch from 1098 to 1111. He was a leader of the First Crusade, The Norman monarchy he founded in Antioch arguably outlasted those of England and of Sicily.

[thenormanyoke]

From a book on French cuisine ♡

[bryanharryrombough]

441 – God Bothering | The British History Podcast

Northumbria was back at it again. The Continental Bishop turned Earl was dead. Most of his men lay slain at Gateshead, or BBQed in that Chur

[bryanharryrombough]

439 – Juggling Responsibilities | The British History Podcast

There was no getting around it. William had been humiliated. The Duke of Normandy and King of England had spent years mocking his son. He’d

[bryanharryrombough]

435 – Trials and Tribulations | The British History Podcast

Once in a while, the Chronicle has a hot take. Here is one of my favorites: “the more men spoke about just law, the more unlawfully they act

Once in a while, the Chronicle has a hot take. Here is one of my favorites: “the more men spoke about just law, the more unlawfully they acted.” The scribes dropped that one on the lines for 1087, but it could have easily applied to 1075 and 1076. And remember, as you listen to the events of this episode, that William’s sons Robert and Rufus would have been there for all of it.