Ancient World Review

The Battle On The Ice 1242 AD

Subject starts at app 0:40.

"The Battle on the Ice ... was fought between the Republic of Novgorod led by prince Alexander Nevsky and the forces of Livonian Order and Bishopric of Dorpat led by bishop Hermann of Dorpat on April 5, 1242, at Lake Peipus [see next video]. The battle is notable for having been fought largely on the frozen lake, and this gave the battle its name." Source: Wikipedia.

"The battle was a significant defeat sustained by the crusaders during the Northern Crusades, which were directed against pagans and Eastern Orthodox Christians rather than Muslims in the Holy Land. The Crusaders' defeat in the battle marked the end of their campaigns against the Orthodox Novgorod Republic and other Slavic territories for the next century."

It's easy to forget that the Crusades weren't just fought against Muslims in the so-called Holy Land, but against pagans and other Christians in Europe. Technically, a crusade was any church-sanctioned campaign and military/religious orders, i.e., organized gangs, like the Teutonic Knights were used to forcibly convert or slaughter unbelievers and suppress rivals to Rome's hegemony. And the "holy warriors" went rogue sometimes, operating like bandits or mercenaries in the pursuit of their own interests when they weren't massacring Jews and Saracens or attacking Christian kingdoms.

This is how "orthodox" Christianity took over the West. The Eastern Orthodox Church managed to stand up to the onslaught, however. It is now the second largest Christian church in the world, due in large part to its military victories over Catholic forces:

"In the Battle of the Ice, the Teutonic Knights [1], a Catholic group, attempted to invade Russia and convert the Eastern Orthodox population of the Republic of Novgorod. This military campaign was part of the so-called Northern Crusades. Teutonic Knights involved in the Battle of the Ice were mostly Estonian, German, and Danish." Source: National Geographic.

"Russians, led by legendary figure Alexander Nevsky, repelled the invaders. Today, Lake Peipus still forms the central border between Russia and Estonia. Russia remains overwhelmingly Eastern Orthodox and Estonia remains Catholic and Protestant."

[1] "Throughout the 13th and 14th century CE the Catholic Teutonic knights crusaded in Prussia and the Baltic area mainly against pagan Lithuanians and Orthodox Russians, but as the order was bent on expansion for its own sake, many other nationalities were fought besides those." (Ancient History Encyclopedia)

From the 1938 film Alexander Nevsky directed by Eisenstein. Music by Prokofiev. Full movie can be found here.

Despite the fact that he agreed to pay tribute to the Golden Horde, Alexander Nevsky is a legendary figure in Russia, a major national hero. Churches and cathedrals have been named after him. "On 24 September 2008, St. Alexander Nevsky was declared the main hero of Russia's history by popular vote ... In December 2008, he was voted the greatest Russian in the Name of Russia television poll." (Wikipedia)

"Hail and take heed, this is the tale one of the most famous Russian Heroes in history, second only to perhaps Vladimir of Kiev, the Baptizer of All Rus’. Few leaders have captured the hearts and minds of the Russians like Alexander Nevsky, who was voted Russia’s greatest leader of all time in 2008." Source: Russia Insider (2018).

The Teutonic Knights - Founding, Organization, Differences With Other Medieval Military Orders

"The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem ...  commonly the Teutonic Order ... is a Catholic religious order founded as a military order c. 1190 in Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem." (Wikipedia)

"The Teutonic Order was formed to aid Christians on their pilgrimages to the Holy Land and to establish hospitals. Its members have commonly been known as the Teutonic Knights, having a small voluntary and mercenary military membership, serving as a crusading military order for protection of Christians in the Holy Land and the Baltics during the Middle Ages."

Related: The Early Years of the Teutonic Order.

"The order was led by a Grand Master ... who was chosen by an electoral college and who was expected to consult his senior officers and commanders. In the 15th century CE, there was a second master in Livonia who became increasingly independent from the order based at its then headquarters in Prussia. It did sometimes happen that a master was ousted by his officers, indeed there was one case of murder of a particularly unpopular master. The order controlled many lands across Europe and the Middle East, the territories split into administrative provinces or balleien, each governed by a landmeister." Source: Ancient History Encyclopedia.

All videos from the excellent Real Crusades History channel.

Note: The Teutonic Order still exists, though it has been purely religious since the early 1900s, I think. They have a website (German only).

Related: Ten Interesting Things You Should Know About The Teutonic Order.

The Statutes Of The Teutonic Knights: A Study In Religious Chivalry (PDF).

The Old City Of Acre

The history of Acre (also known as Akko) goes back to the Bronze Age. It is one of the oldest continuously-inhabited settlements in the world and the full story of the city is too complex to get into in any detail here. Over the centuries, Acre fell under the control of the Phoenicians, Caananites, Persians, Macedonians, Ptolemies, Egyptians, Romans, Byzantines, Muslims, Israelites, etc. etc. During the Crusader period, Acre was conquered by the forces of King Baldwin and became the main port of the First Kingdom of Jerusalem. In subsequent years, control of the city bounced back and forth between the Crusaders and Muslims until it was taken over by the Ottomans in 1517. The city's history since then has been just as turbulent.

Note: "Significant remains from the Crusader period were first uncovered in Akko during the 1950s and 1960s when portions of building complexes, below ground level but almost completely preserved, were cleared of debris. During the 1990s, within the framework of the development of Akko, excavations were undertaken both outside and inside the present-day Old City walls, bringing to light fascinating remains of Akko’s illustrious medieval history, previously known mainly from pilgrims’ accounts." Source: "Archaeology in Israel: Ancient City of Akko," Jewish Virtual Library.

The Holy Island Of Lindisfarne

Video from 2013.

"The Holy Island of Lindisfarne, also known simply as Holy Island, is a tidal island off the northeast coast of England, which constitutes the civil parish of Holy Island in Northumberland. Holy Island has a recorded history from the 6th century AD; it was an important centre of Celtic Christianity under Saints Aidan of Lindisfarne, Cuthbert, Eadfrith of Lindisfarne and Eadberht of Lindisfarne. After the Viking invasions and the Norman conquest of England, a priory was reestablished. A small castle was built on the island in 1550." (Wikipedia)

"The ruined church and monastic buildings that still stand on the island today are not Anglo-Saxon; they are the remains of the new priory built on the island in the late 11th century by the monks of Durham. So where is the original monastery? And what happened to it after the attack?" Source: DigVentures.

"All that is known to survive are some carved stone monuments of Anglo-Saxon date, which were found by archaeologists clearing away some of the collapsed rubble from the priory ruins in the late 19th and early 20th century."

Good times at Lindisfarne, 793 AD. From Vikings, Season 1.

Note: "... a major ... geophysical survey funded by National Geographic was carried out by Durham University in September 2012. This has shown that there is limited archaeological evidence for the monastic boundary that had previously been postulated, but an alternative boundary has been identified, which is associated with an area of possible industrial activity. It also identified a probably infirmary cloister associated with the later priory and a possible structure aligned on the two standing churches." Source: Durham University.

The Escomb Saxon Church 675 AD

"Escomb Church is the Church of England parish church of Escomb, County Durham, a village about 1 ¹⁄₂ miles (2.4 km) west of Bishop Auckland. It is one of the oldest Anglo-Saxon churches in England and one of only three complete Anglo-Saxon churches remaining in England, the others being St Lawrence's Church, Bradford-on-Avon and All Saints' Church, Brixworth." Source: Wikipedia.

"The church was founded about AD 670–675, when the area was part of the Anglian Kingdom of Northumbria. Much of the stone was taken from the nearby Roman fort at Vinovia (Binchester). On the gable of the south porch is a 7th or early 8th Century sundial [1:47 next video], and on the north wall is a reused Roman stone with the markings 'LEG VI' (Sixth Legion) [1] set upside down. Above the sundial projects an Anglo-Saxon relief of an animal's head."

[1] I think this was Legio VI Victrix, which was transferred to Britain by Hadrian in 119 AD.

Official website for the Escomb Saxon Church.

Little is known about this beautiful old building. According to Great English Churches, "Escomb is much less well-known than ... other iconic locations and yet it is much more complete and more satisfying to visit. Perhaps Escomb’s 'problem' is that its origins are largely unknown and so is its place in the context of those other places and their illustrious abbots and patrons.

"All we know of Escomb is that it was built in [the seventh century] - probably between AD 670 and 690 - with none of the ifs, buts and maybes that surround many of England’s other most ancient churches. It’s an Anglo-Saxon church, pure simple and unadorned."

All Saints Church, Brixworth

"All Saints' Church, Brixworth, in Northamptonshire, is an outstanding example of early Anglo-Saxon architecture in central England. In 1930 Sir Alfred Clapham called it 'perhaps the most imposing architectural memorial of the 7th century yet surviving north of the Alps'. It is the largest English church that remains substantially as it was in the Anglo-Saxon era." (Wikipedia)

Historic England listing for All Saints' Church.

"Brixworth Church served a monastery that was founded here in 680 during the reign of King Offa of Mercia, probably on a different site and made of wood. This was likely to have been under the auspices of Medehamsted Abbey (modern Peterborough). The present church dates from AD750-850. The monastery was destroyed by the Vikings in 870 and the church ruined but not destroyed. Reconstruction took place in 960-970." Source: Great English Churches.

Note: The church is still active (previously Catholic, now Church of England). Their website can be found here.

Abandoned Medieval Church & Youngsbury Burial Mounds

Video from 2018.

According to The Lost Byway, "[t]he Youngsbury Mounds had been excavated in 1890 by County archaeologist John Evans who wrote a report published as, ‘On the Exploration of a Barrow at Youngsbury, Near Ware, Herts’. Here’s an extract from his report:

"'The more eastern of the two barrows is recorded to have been opened a hundred years ago by Mr. David Barclay, the then owner of Youngsbury, and there is a tradition of spearheads, coins, and other objects having been found in it, none of which however are now forthcoming. According to Clutterbuck’s [?] account, it was nevertheless Roman pottery and coins that were found in the barrow, which he says proved it to be of Roman origin. Judging from the appearance of the barrow a shaft has been sunk in it from the top, but I am by no means sure that the original central interment has ever been reached. This barrow is of much the same dimensions as the other, the opening of which I am about to describe, and in all probability it belongs to the same period.'"

Note: I'm not sure where this is. The only reference to "Youngsbury" I could find is to a old house in Hertfordshire, built in 1745. I think this house was in a medieval village called Thundridge which was located near the current village of the same name. According to Wikipedia, "[a]ll that now remain of the old Thundridge location are the 15th-century church tower of the 'Thundridge Old Church^' of All Hallows and Little Saint Mary, and a few bricks from the chimney-stack of the Manorial home of Thundridgebury." I could be all wrong about this, however.

Terrorism & Neglect: Current Threats To French Gothic Cathedrals

"French Gothic architecture is a style which emerged in France in 1140, and was dominant until the mid-16th century. The most notable examples are the great Gothic cathedrals of France, including Notre Dame Cathedral, Chartres Cathedral, and Amiens Cathedral. Its main characteristics were the search for verticality, or height, and the innovative use of flying buttresses and other architectural innovations to distribute the weight of the stone structures to supports on the outside, allowing unprecedented height and volume ..." (Wikipedia)

Comment: If France becomes a Muslim country, something that could very well happen if current trends continue, these beautiful old cathedrals could end up being destroyed or turned into mosques or museums like the Hagia Sophia, the former Greek Orthodox cathedral in Istanbul. There have already been several terrorist attacks right outside Notre Dame cathedral and how long will it be before some ISIS-inspired or connected scumbag tries to blow up the cathedral itself?

Report from 2016. More information here.

Video from 2017. More information here.

In the case of Notre Dame, there may be no need to blow up the cathedral since the French state (which owns the cathedral and seventy other churches in Paris) has been doing a good job of letting it fall into disrepair:

"For 13 million visitors per year, Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris soars in splendor. But beyond its façade, look closely, and you'll see that the majestic medieval monument is falling apart. Now, a foundation in France hopes Americans will donate money to help save the place that's home to some of Catholicism's most important relics, including the crown of thorns said to have been worn by Jesus." Source: CBS News (2018).

I'm not sure if any renovation work has actually started. More information about the damage to the cathedral and how to make donations can be found at the Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris site.

Viking Longhouses And Great Halls

Viking longhouses and great halls were related structurally, i.e. they shared the same basic design and the construction techniques and materials (1) used to build them were generally the same. The main differences between them were their size and function.

(1) "...the longhouses were built around wooden frames on simple stone footings. Walls were constructed of planks, of logs, or of wattle and daub." (Hurstwic) If the roofs and walls were covered with sod, the grass and other plants in the sod would frequently keep growing, giving the longhouses a characteristic green and bushy appearance. 

Most people lived in longhouses during the Viking period. According to The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings (p. 36), "the most typical Viking-age farm building was the longhouse, which accommodated both people and animals under one roof."

The Vikings built longhouses wherever they went. For instance, the next video shows a reconstruction of a Viking longhouse that once existed in a Canadian settlement.

The great halls, aka mead halls, were usually bigger and more elaborate since they were the political centers of Viking life. They served as meeting and feasting places, so they were designed to accommodate larger numbers of people.

Mead halls evolved from the basic longhouse design. They were usually royal residences, but this wasn't always the case and some of the early mead halls were pretty primitive:

"In ancient Scandinavia and Germanic Europe a mead hall or feasting hall was initially simply a large building with a single room." (Wikipedia). "From the fifth century to early medieval times such a building was the residence of a lord and his retainers. The mead hall was generally the great hall of the king."

Some of these mead halls were huge. Back in 2014, for instance, the remains of  gigantic feasting hall "the size of a football field" was discovered in Sweden, according to the International Business Times. "The longhouse, an early iteration of the magnificent banquet halls of medieval Europe, dates back to between the 5th and 12th centuries A.D..." The IBT described it as "straight out of Beowulf."

Next video is about a Viking longhouse excavated in Iceland.

Calling a mead house a "great hall" is probably a misnomer since the term normally refers to "the main room of a royal palace, nobleman's castle or a large manor house or hall house in the Middle Ages," according to Wikipedia. The Viking great halls had the same function, however, even if they were smaller and more primitive, so this is probably just hair-splitting on my part.

The most famous mead house in literature has to be Heorot, the "palace" of King Hrothgar, aka Hroðgar, in Beowulf. According to Wikipedia, "The hall was large enough to allow Hroðgar to present Beowulf with a gift of eight horses, each with gold-plate headgear. It functions both as a seat of government and as a residence for the king's thanes (warriors). Heorot symbolizes human civilization and culture, as well as the might of the Danish kings—essentially, all the good things in the world of Beowulf. Its brightness, warmth, and joy contrasts with the darkness of the swamp waters inhabited by Grendel.^"

The biggest Viking longhouse in the world, currently the home of the Lofotr Viking Museum.

The Viking Homestead

Closed captions helpful.

"The vast majority of Norse people lived on small farms. However, the nature of these settlements varied widely from one region to another. In prosperous regions, farms tended to cluster into small villages or hamlets. In less prosperous areas, individual farms were well separated. In Iceland, farms were widely separated, and nothing like villages existed." Source: Hurstwic.

"Typical farm settlements took the form of a central cluster of buildings enclosed by fences. Outside the fenced areas were the fields used for cultivation or grazing. Each homestead typically consisted of a longhouse and multiple out-buildings."