purple is still regarded as the colour of power and authority.
One of the many names for epidemic typhus. The name comes from the Greek
A pyx or pix, from the Latin
A qaadi is a judge ruling in accordance with Islamic religious law (sharia) appointed by the ruler of a Muslim country. Because Islam makes no distinction between religious and secular domains, qaadis traditionally have jurisdiction over all legal matters involving Muslims.
A quarrel, or bolt, is the term for the ammunition used in a crossbow. The name is derived from the French
Routiers were bands of mercenary soldiers, mainly infantry, dating from the mid-twelfth century. They were usually seen in France, Aquitaine and Occitan but also in Normandy, England and the lands of the Holy Roman Emperor. They were noted for their lawlessness and ruthlessness. King John’s use of mercenaries in his civil wars led to the condemnation and banishment of mercenaries in the Magna Carta, in 1215.
The sable is a species of marten which inhabits forest environments. Its range in the wild originally extended through European Russia to Poland and Scandinavia. It has historically been harvested for its highly valued dark-brown fur, which remains a luxury good to this day.
In the Roman Catholic Church and in some Lutheran, Anglican and Methodist churches, the sanctus bell, a small hand bell or set of bells, is rung shortly before the consecration of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, and again when the consecrated elements are shown to the people.
The monastic scapular dates from as early as the seventh century in the Order of Saint Benedict. It is a large length of cloth suspended both front and back from the shoulders of the wearer, often reaching to the knees. It may vary in shape, colour, size and style. Monastic scapulars originated as aprons worn by medieval monks and now form part of the habit of monks and nuns in many Christian orders.
A short, stabbing sword, sometimes as short as a dagger. Seax is an Old English term for ‘knife’.
The original name for the site of what is now known as the Battle of Hastings in 1066 between the Norman army of William, Duke of Normandy, and the English army of Harold, King of England. Victory for William led to a Norman dynasty on the English throne and a dramatic new course for English and British history. A few miles north of Hastings on England’s south coast, it was originally known in English as Santlache (Sandy Stream), which the Normans changed into Sanguelac (Blood Lake) and which was then shortened to Senlac. Senlac Hill was approximately 275 feet (84 metres) above sea level, before the top of the ridge was levelled off to create Battle Abbey.
A shamshir is a type of sabre with a curve of five to fifteen degrees from hilt to tip. The name is derived from the Persian
Sharbat (or sherbet) is a popular West and South Asian drink that is prepared from fruits or flower petals. It is sweet and served chilled. Popular sharbats are made of one or more of the following: rose, sandalwood, lemon, orange, mango or pineapple. The word ‘sharbat’ is from Persian and ‘sherbet’ is from Turkish, both of which in turn come from the Arabic
The ‘Song of Roland’ (in French ‘
In folklore traced back to medieval legend, a succubus (plural, succubae or succubi) is a female demon or supernatural being appearing in dreams who takes the form of a human woman in order to seduce men, usually through sexual intercourse. The male counterpart is the incubus.
Tabor refers to a portable snare drum played with one hand. The word ‘tabor’ is an English variant of a Latin-derived word (
The talwar is a type of curved sword or sabre from the Indian sub-continent which was used in the Arab world throughout the Middle Ages and is still found in the modern countries of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
The ‘Te Deum’ is an Ambrosian Hymn or A Song of the Church, an early Christian hymn of praise. The title is taken from its opening Latin words:
A local village chieftain of Anglo-Saxon England. Not a great landowner or a titled aristocrat but the head of a village. Thus, thegns formed the backbone to the organization of Anglo-Saxon life. While serving with the army, usually as part of their service to the earl of their province, they formed a large part of the king’s elite fighting force, the housecarls.
The Byzantine Empire was organized into military districts or themes, which reflected different nationalities within the Empire. Themes were responsible for generating their own regiments for the Emperor’s army. In turn, retired soldiers were granted lands in the military theme from which they served. By the end of the eleventh century, there were thirty-eight themes in the Byzantine Empire, each composed of between 4,000 and 6,000 men, giving a standing army of approximately 200,000 men.
The Battle of Tinchebrai was fought on 28 September 1106, in Normandy, between an invading force led by Henry I of England, and his older brother Robert Curthose, the Duke of Normandy. Henry’s knights won a decisive victory, capturing Robert and imprisoning him in England and then Wales until Robert’s death in Cardiff Castle. The battle itself only lasted an hour. Most of Robert’s army was captured or killed. Besides Robert, those captured included Edgar the Atheling and William, Count of Mortain. Most of the prisoners were released, but Robert Curthose and William of Mortain were to spend the rest of their lives in captivity.
Originally an Ancient Greek galley with three rows of oars, each above the other. It was a vessel of war and the oarsmen’s strength could produce a ramming speed of significant impact.
The legend of the True Cross first appeared in the fourth century. Supposedly either fragments of the cross,
