Medieval History 101: The Unauthorized Version

Once upon a time, the people of England had a mythology rich in symbolism and metaphor pointing to the ultimate truth. There was one story in particular which captured the imagination of poets, the story of a star that entered into time and lifted the people of the world out of darkness. The star’s name was Earendel—but what did his name mean? Who among men was so wise that he could unravel the riddle and make clear the mystery? J.R.R. Tolkien believed he knew! O come, O come, and learn the story of the star! Video with subscription at Unauthorized.tv  (History and Logos Channel) The O Antiphons of the Advent Lyrics I. “O King of the people and their hearts’ desire; O Cornerstone, who make both things one: come and save humanity whom you have fashioned from clay.”  II. “O Key of David and Sceptre of the House of Israel; you who open and no one closes; who close and no one opens: come and lead the captive sitting in darkness and the shadow of death from his prison...

To judge from the current debate among Anglo-Saxonists about the racism of their own field, Old English literature is simply one boss fight after another, starting with the battle between Beowulf and Grendel. It’s true! Old English poets loved a good boss fight! But it wasn’t the fight that most English professors would have you believe. Video with subscription at Unauthorized.tv  (History and Logos Channel) Rejoice now in spirit, thrive in the solace Of the Savior, take comfort in Christ. Gather glory, guard your treasure-house, The secure space of your heart’s holdings. Bind up your thoughts. Be careful with vows. A true companion sometimes proves false; Promises can unravel so a friendship is undone. The world sometimes weathers rough storms, The tempests of untrusted, and suffers doom. There is one heart’s haven: one firm faith, One living Lord, one sacred baptism, One eternal Father, the precious Prince Of all peoples, our Maker who has shaped Creation a...

Special episode Mary Grabar  joined me for a conversation  about  her new book  on the way in which Howard Zinn’s  A People’s History of the United States  has warped Americans’ understanding of our nation’s history. Mary Grabar is  a resident fellow  at the  Alexander Hamilton Institute for the Study of Western Civilization  and the founder of the  Dissident Prof Education Project . She taught for twenty years at the college level, and she has written and lectured widely on the problems facing American education. We talked about the kinds of rhetorical techniques Zinn used to promote his moralizing critique of America from Columbus to the Vietnam War, and how his vision of America as essentially corrupt has been promulgated in our schools. How did Zinn manage to capture the imagination of so many Americans? How can we counter his Manichaean vision of American history in the classroom and in the culture at large? Totally u...

His supporters satirize his opponents’ anxiety about the extent of his power by calling President Trump “God-Emperor,” but the taunt is only effective because Americans are not supposed to want kings, never mind emperors. And yet, how else would one define the West? Can there be civilization without hierarchy? Can there be peace without an emperor? Throughout the Middle Ages, European Christians looked to Charlemagne as the model for the emperor who would defend Christendom and bring back the glories of Rome. How much did Charlemagne himself contribute to this ideal? Would the Franks of the eighth and ninth centuries have recognized later representations of Charles as emperor and king? Video with subscription at Unauthorized.tv  (History and Logos Channel) Without an Emperor, there will be, sooner or later, no more kings. When there are no more kings, there will be, sooner or later, no more nobility. When there is no more nobility, there will be, sooner or later, no more bo...

Eighteen years ago, at the beginning of the third millennium after the birth of Christ, Muslim jihadists flew planes into the Twin Towers in New York City. Was this a watershed in the clash of civilizations? You would think after eighteen years, we would know, but historians have been arguing for centuries about the meaning of the Frankish encounter with Muslim forces at the Battle of Tours-Poitiers.  Spoiler alert: The Franks won! But how was the battle remembered? Do we have Charlemagne to thank for defeating the Saracens? You know very well the story is more complicated than you have heard! Video with subscription at Unauthorized.tv  (History and Logos Channel) References Texts The Mozarabic Chronicle of 754  First Continuator of Fredegar Einhard (d. 840), Life of Charles , trans. Samuel Epes Turner (1880) Gregory of Tours (d. 594), History of the Franks , trans. Earnest Brehaut (1916) Vegetius, De re militari The Song of Roland Events The Battle...

Where did Charlemagne get his elephant and what does it tell us about the relationship between the Franks and the Mediterranean world that once was Rome? The answer may surprise you—it certainly surprised the Danes! Without Islam, the Frankish empire would probably never have existed, and Charlemagne, without Muhammed, is inconceivable. —Henri Pirenne  Video with subscription at Unauthorized.tv  (History and Logos Channel).  See also my lectures on medieval history for  the Charlemagne Institute . References Text  Reliquary of Charlemagne, 14th century Aachen Cathedral Treasury Einhard, Life of Charles , trans. Samuel Epes Turner (1880) Chapter 16 , on Charlemagne’s foreign relations People—and elephant Henri Pirenne (1862-1935) Charlemagne (reigned 768-814) Harun al-Rashid (reigned 786-809) Abul-Abbas (d. 810) Pirenne’s disappearances   Papyrus Wines of Gaza Oil from Africa Spices Silk Gold coinage Elephants, ...

Earlier this summer, I was invited to spend a day at the  Charlemagne Institute for Defending and Advancing Western Civilization talking with the  Alcuin Interns  on three major themes in medieval history. We talked about  Charlemagne ,  monasticism , and  the conquest of Constantinople in 1204 . Our texts were Einhard’s  Life of Charles , Jocelyn of Brakelond’s  Chronicle of the Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds , and Geoffrey of Villehardouin’s  Chronicle of the Fourth Crusade . I also spoke about the website  for this course. Regular videos for Unauthorized.tv   return next week! Assigned texts Einhard and Notker the Stammerer,  Two Lives of Charlemagne , trans. Lewis Thorpe (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1976); new edition, trans. David Ganz (London: Penguin, 2008) Jocelyn of Brakelond,  Chronicle of the Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds , trans. Diana Greenway and Jane Sayers (Oxford: Oxford U...

You thought keeping track of all the relationships in  Game of Thrones  was complicated? Just wait till you hear about the relationships between Gregory the Great, the monastery at Jarrow, the oldest copy of the Vulgate translation of the Bible, the Anglo-Saxon missionaries to the continent, Charlemagne’s campaign against the Saxons, the secret runes of the evangelists, and how the bird came to sit on the shoulder of the Peace-Child of God at his baptism. Video with subscription at Unauthorized.tv  (History and Logos Channel) Father of us, the sons of men, You are in the high heavenly kingdom, Blessed be Your name in every word. May Your mighty kingdom come. May Your will be done over all this world— just the same on earth as it is up there in the high heavenly kingdom. Give us support each day, good Chieftain, Your holy help, and pardon us, Protector of Heaven, our many crimes, just as we do to other human beings. Do not let evil little crea...

What if I told you that without the Rule of St. Benedict for monks there would be no Western civilization? Hint : It isn’t because monks were not supposed to laugh. Video with subscription at Unauthorized.tv  (History and Logos Channel) References  Texts  Umberto Eco, The Name of the Rose , trans. William Weaver (1983); film adaptation , dir. Jean-Jacques Annaud (1986) Benedict of Nursia, Rule , ed. in Latin and English by one of the Benedictine Fathers of St. Michael’s (London, 1875)  Gregory the Great, Dialogues , bk. II on Benedict People John Cassian (ca. 360-435) Benedict of Nursia (ca. 480-March 21 543/547) Rupert of Deutz (ca. 1075-ca. 1129) Benedict gives his rule to Maurus Monastery of St. Gilles, Nimes, 1129 Jocelyn of Brakelond (fl. late twelfth-early thirteenth century) Types of books for the liturgy Psalters Antiphoners (chant for Divine Office) Graduals (chant for Mass) Lectionaries (readings for Divin...

You have heard Vox Day talk about how “nation” means a people related by blood, history, language, and religion. But what if a people related by blood, history, and language change their religion? What would induce you to change your ancestral worship for a God you had never heard of until some strangers arrived? Video with subscription at Unauthorized.tv  (History and Logos Channel) References Text Bede ,  Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum  ( Ecclesiastical History of the English People ),  trans. by A. M. Sellar  (London: George Bell and Sons, 1907); trans. by Bertram Colgrave,  ed. by Judith McClure and Roger Collins  (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1969, 1994) Book I, chapter 25: How Augustine came to Britain and first of all preached to the king of Kent on the island of Thanet; then, after obtaining permission, he went to Kent to preach. Book I, chapter 26: How in Kent he followed both the manner of life and the teaching of ...

Are you worried about being called “racist” for agreeing with President Trump’s recent tweets inviting those who hate our country or who are not happy here to leave? Would you prefer that American schools taught a more traditionally English-centered narrative of our nation’s history? Let me tell you a little bit about the Venerable Bede, author of the first history of the English nation. Video with subscription at Unauthorized.tv  (History and Logos Channel) References Texts Bede, Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum  ( Ecclesiastical History of the English People ),  trans. by A. M. Sellar (London: George Bell and Sons, 1907); trans. by Bertram Colgrave, ed. by Judith McClure and Roger Collins (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1969, 1994) Gildas, De excidio et conquestu Britanniae  ( On the Ruin and Conquest of Britain ),  trans. by J.A. Giles and T. Habington (1842) Geoffry of Monmouth, Historia regum Britanniae  ( History of t...