MEDIEVAL LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS...

In this issue, we look at the lives of the elite – those lucky few who hob-nobbed with kings, queens, princes, and their ilk: courtiers. What was life in court really like? Who were these wealthy hangers-on? In England, one first-hand account from Henry II’s court leaves much to be desired and shows that being near the top wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Moving on to Spain, we look at the music from the court of Alfonso X, “El Sabio” (the Wise) – a king who was a prolific patron of art, literature, poetry, music, and science. Heading east, we look at what art can tell us about the culture of the Mongol court in “Two Paintings of the Great Mongol Shahnama.” Then, the tables are turned when a king visits other courts with an urgent plea for military aid in “A Byzantine Emperor in England.” What help did Manuel II Palaiologos get, and how was he received at various courts? Apropos for our theme, we take a look at the fantastic upcoming exhibition at the Toledo Museum of Art showcasing the suits that helped create the romantic image of knights in shining armor along with weapons from as far back as ancient Greece and Egypt.

Outside of our theme, we look at the monumental conservation efforts that were employed during the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) to save Catalonia’s beautiful medieval art from destruction in “Museum
in Danger.” Last but not least, just in time for October, we have a supernatural spooktacular article about ghosts and revenants in medieval Germany around the year 1000!