Images

The Great Hall of Stirling Castle, Scotland. Built c. 1500 during the reign of James IV of Scotland (r. 1488-1513). The hall was destroyed but has since been restored to its original form, including the hammer-beam ceiling.

A relief depicting the Gauls of Ambiorix fighting the Roman army of Julius Caesar in the mid-1st century BCE. (Palais Provincial, Liège, Belgium)

A painting of Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk (1473-1574 CE) who served as Lord High Steward amongst many other offices of state in a long career. (Painting by Hans Holbein the Younger, Windsor Castle, England)

An illustration of a medieval noble taking his bath and being attended to by servants. (Codex Manesse, 14th century CE, Zurich, Switzerland)

Three Viking Age swords dated to between c. 750-950 CE are shown here. They were found in the river Meuse near Den Bosch, Aalburg and Wessem, in the Netherlands. They now belong to the collections of the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden...

Artist's rendition of the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030 CE, an alleged (but not 100% proven to be historic) battle in which King Olaf II of Norway (also known as Olaf II Haraldsson, r. 1015-1028 CE) was killed by the opposing peasant army.

The Viking Age helmet pictured here is known as the Gjermundbu helmet, named after the farm it was found at near Haugsbygd, Norway, in 1943 CE. It was located inside a Viking Age burial chamber. Although at the time of discovery it was in...

The shell keep of Cardiff Castle, built c 1150 CE.

The enceinte (wall enclosing a castle or town) of Aigues-Mortes, France. 13th century CE.

Soncino Castle, Lombardy, Italy. First built in the 10th century CE and then rebuilt in the 13th century CE. The barbican adds extra protection to the principal entrance of the castle and gatehouse.