Richard III (1452–85) was the last Yorkist king of England, whose death at the battle of Bosworth in 1485 signified the end of the Wars of the Roses and marked the start of the Tudor age. Many myths persist about the last Plantagenet king, whose remains were discovered beneath a Leicester car park in 2012. Did Richard III murder the Princes in the Tower? Did he want to marry his niece, Elizabeth of York? And was he a usurper? HistoryExtra.com
Richard III (1452–85) was the last Yorkist king of England, whose death at the battle of Bosworth in 1485 signified the end of the Wars of the Roses and marked the start of the Tudor age. Many myths persist about the last Plantagenet king, whose remains were discovered beneath a Leicester car park in 2012. Did Richard III murder the Princes in the Tower? Did he want to marry his niece, Elizabeth of York? And was he a usurper? HistoryExtra.com
Art historians have argued about the meaning of The Garden of Earthly Delights—Hieronymus Bosch’s enormously sized, lavishly detailed, and compellingly grotesque late 14th- or early 15th-century triptych—more or less since the painter’s death. What does it really say about the appearance and fall of man on Earth that it seems to depict? How seriously or ironically does it say it? Does it offer us a warning against temptation, or a celebration of temptation? Does it take a religious or anti-religious stance? And what’s with all those creepy animals and bizarre pseudo-sex acts? OpenCulture.com
In Britain, an attic in a historic home has revealed a trove of 15th century treasures. The rare items were uncovered during the recent COVID-19 lockdown and were discovered thanks to the hard work of a lone archaeologist. These 15th century treasures are expected to provide insights into the history of English Catholicism during the period when it was heavily persecuted by successive royal governments. Ancient-Origins.net
The Battle of Visby was a violent Medieval battle near the town of Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland, fought between the inhabitants of Gotland and the Danes, with the latter emerging victorious. The battle left a lasting archaeological legacy; masses of slaughtered soldiers and citizens lay scattered across what was once a blood battle field. Slashed and broken bones, skeletons still in their chain mail and armor, and smashed skulls, some still with spears and knives protruding out of them. One can only imagine what they endured before they breathed their last breaths. Ancient-Origins.net
Archaeologists working in Israel have discovered the remains of an olive oil soap making workshop, farm houses and medieval gameboards.
The Israel Antiquities Authority announced the discovery after a six-month excavation at the town of Rahat in southern Israel. The soap making workshop, known as a soapery, dates back about 1200 years and is the oldest of its kind found in the country. Medievalists.net
How did people name their children in the Middle Ages? Why did we start using surnames? And what were the most popular names? HistoryExtra content director Dr David Musgrove chats to Dr James Chetwood about the way people’s personal names changed dramatically over the course of the Middle Ages, and what this tells us about medieval society. HistoryExtra.com
In 1463, London outlawed the shoes of its fanciest men. These dapper lords had grown ridiculous in their dapperness, and had taken to ambling streets shod in long, carrot-shaped shoes that tapered to impish tips, some as long as five inches beyond the toe. These shoes were called “crakows” or “poulaines” (a term also used to refer to the tips alone), and the court of King Edward IV eventually found them offensive enough to pass a sumptuary law prohibiting shoe tips that extended over two inches beyond the toe. AtlasObscura.com
After a night ravaged by bedbugs, it’s said King John ordered this weather-vane constructed. AtlasObscura.com
Next meeting: 22nd August 2020 (the 535th anniversary of the Battle of Bosworth).
Due to the way the COVID-19 pandemic has been managed here in Western Australia over the past months, I am pleased to be able to announce our August meeting can go ahead!
Our Local Council (City of Belmont) have confirmed the use of our meeting room (subject to their cleaning requirements), and we will still be abiding by all recommendations/restrictions put in place by the Federal and State governments.
For more information, please email Richard3inWA@gmail.com.
