Podcast: Medieval Morsels

Host: Lucas Miller

Episode Description:

In this episode of Medieval Morsels, we examine the real lives of medieval princesses beyond the fairy-tale stereotypes. Far from passive figures waiting in towers, princesses often played critical roles in diplomacy, dynastic politics, and cultural life. Through marriage alliances, regencies, and patronage, they helped shape the political and social landscape of medieval Europe.

This episode explores how princesses were educated, how their marriages influenced kingdoms, and how chroniclers and later storytellers transformed their images into enduring legends. By separating myth from historical reality, we gain a clearer picture of women’s influence and agency in the medieval world.

Topics Covered:

• The political role of princesses in dynastic alliances
• Education and upbringing of noble daughters
• Marriage as diplomacy in medieval Europe
• Princesses as regents and power brokers
• Representation of princesses in chronicles and literature
• The contrast between historical reality and fairy-tale tradition

Key Takeaways:

• Medieval princesses were central to international politics
• Education prepared many princesses for leadership and court life
• Marriage alliances could reshape entire regions
• Literary portrayals often simplified or romanticized their lives
• Princesses exercised real influence within the constraints of their time

Recommended Reading:

• Medieval Queenship edited by John Carmi Parsons
• Women in Medieval Europe by Jennifer Ward

Connect with Medieval Morsels:

Subscribe for more engaging explorations of medieval history. Share the episode with fellow history enthusiasts and leave a review to support the podcast.

Medieval Morsels

Host: Lucas Miller

In this episode of Medieval Morsels, we explore the fascinating world of mythical creatures that filled the medieval imagination. From dragons and griffins to unicorns and sea serpents, medieval people didn’t always separate myth from reality the way we do today. These creatures appeared in bestiaries, manuscripts, and travelers’ tales, shaping how people understood nature, morality, and the unknown.

We discuss how mythical beasts symbolized virtues and vices, how they were used in religious and moral teaching, and why they captured the curiosity of medieval audiences. This episode blends history, folklore, and cultural analysis to uncover what these legendary creatures reveal about the medieval mind.

Topics Covered:

• The role of mythical creatures in medieval bestiaries
• Dragons as symbols of chaos and evil
• Unicorns and their religious symbolism
• Griffins, basilisks, and other hybrid beasts
• Mythical creatures in medieval art and manuscripts

Key Takeaways:

• Mythical creatures were used as teaching tools as much as entertainment
• Many people accepted these creatures as part of the natural world
• Symbolism played a central role in how beasts were interpreted
• These legends reveal medieval attitudes toward nature and morality

Recommended Reading:

• The Book of Beasts by T. H. White
• Medieval Bestiaries: Text, Image, Ideology by Florence McCulloch

Connect with Medieval Morsels:

Follow and subscribe for more bite-sized explorations of medieval history. Share the episode with fellow history lovers and leave a review to support the podcast.

Medieval Morsels Podcast

Did medieval people really avoid water and drink ale all day instead? It’s one of the most persistent myths about the Middle Ages—and the truth is far more interesting.

In this episode of Medieval Morsels, we explore what people actually drank in medieval Europe and why. From wells and rivers to brewing practices and the role of “small beer,” we examine how sanitation, nutrition, and daily life shaped medieval drinking habits. You’ll learn how ale functioned as both food and beverage, why water wasn’t always as dangerous as modern myths suggest, and how brewing became an essential part of household survival.

By separating popular misconceptions from historical evidence, this episode reveals how medieval communities balanced practicality, health, and culture in something as simple—and essential—as a drink.

Follow Medieval Morsels for bite-sized history that uncovers the realities behind medieval myths and brings the past into sharper focus.