Josh Baker-Cox
@joshbakercox.bsky.social
PhD at Bangor researching rebellions in 10th and early 12th century England and Normandy.
Lover of Norman (and Anglo-Norman) History, and general fan of Robert Curthose & Robert de Belleme.
https://medievalhistory.home.blog/
Lover of Norman (and Anglo-Norman) History, and general fan of Robert Curthose & Robert de Belleme.
https://medievalhistory.home.blog/
Here it is: the end of 2025! I hope everyone who sees this post has both a tolerable end to this year, and a generally acceptable start to the next one.
December 31, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Here it is: the end of 2025! I hope everyone who sees this post has both a tolerable end to this year, and a generally acceptable start to the next one.
Reposted by Josh Baker-Cox
An interim version of the Explore Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue is now available through the BL website: searcharchives.bl.uk
It contains all the catalogue data from the eve of the 2023 cyberattack, and features embedded links to all currently available digitised content within the records.
It contains all the catalogue data from the eve of the 2023 cyberattack, and features embedded links to all currently available digitised content within the records.
December 15, 2025 at 1:40 PM
An interim version of the Explore Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue is now available through the BL website: searcharchives.bl.uk
It contains all the catalogue data from the eve of the 2023 cyberattack, and features embedded links to all currently available digitised content within the records.
It contains all the catalogue data from the eve of the 2023 cyberattack, and features embedded links to all currently available digitised content within the records.
A few days late to the party but I am excited to say I've been accepted for #IMC2026 as part of the fantastic Loyalty in the Medieval World network. I'll be giving a talk on cool rebellion related stuff to see if attitudes towards them changed with time, and I'm moderating a session too (spooky)!
December 5, 2025 at 11:33 AM
A few days late to the party but I am excited to say I've been accepted for #IMC2026 as part of the fantastic Loyalty in the Medieval World network. I'll be giving a talk on cool rebellion related stuff to see if attitudes towards them changed with time, and I'm moderating a session too (spooky)!
Reposted by Josh Baker-Cox
A blast from my past - the Medieval Soldier database takes nearly 300,000 military service records from 1369-1453 and makes them available as a searchable database.
An invaluable resource for understanding medieval warfare, society and the English medieval state. Learn more in the link. 🗃️
An invaluable resource for understanding medieval warfare, society and the English medieval state. Learn more in the link. 🗃️
We built a database of 290,000 English medieval soldiers – here’s what it reveals
We created the database in order to challenge assumptions about the lack of professionalism of everyday soldiers.
theconversation.com
December 2, 2025 at 10:17 AM
A blast from my past - the Medieval Soldier database takes nearly 300,000 military service records from 1369-1453 and makes them available as a searchable database.
An invaluable resource for understanding medieval warfare, society and the English medieval state. Learn more in the link. 🗃️
An invaluable resource for understanding medieval warfare, society and the English medieval state. Learn more in the link. 🗃️
Medieval 3 Total War has been announced. "Return to roots" and "rebirth of historical total war" have been excited and concerned in equal measure and I am going to nerd out about it way too much lol.
December 4, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Medieval 3 Total War has been announced. "Return to roots" and "rebirth of historical total war" have been excited and concerned in equal measure and I am going to nerd out about it way too much lol.
So I would like to preface this by saying that I have not painted anything in 7 years. And I have only ever been of modest skill (no Golden Demon awards let me put it that way). But doing this Robin Hood cookie, as silly as it sounds, has made me want to crack on with my SAGA vikings at long last.
November 17, 2025 at 1:59 PM
So I would like to preface this by saying that I have not painted anything in 7 years. And I have only ever been of modest skill (no Golden Demon awards let me put it that way). But doing this Robin Hood cookie, as silly as it sounds, has made me want to crack on with my SAGA vikings at long last.
For some reason I've been thinking about where Roger de Breteuil tried to cross the Severn lately. He was stopped by, among others, Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester and the Worcestershire fyrd. Worcester had a castle, so surely Roger didn't intend to bulldoze his way through/past a fortified city?
November 5, 2025 at 12:18 PM
For some reason I've been thinking about where Roger de Breteuil tried to cross the Severn lately. He was stopped by, among others, Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester and the Worcestershire fyrd. Worcester had a castle, so surely Roger didn't intend to bulldoze his way through/past a fortified city?
When your computer freezes on the day Crusader Kings 3's new dlc releases and this evening while trying Europa Universalis V on release day your monitor breaks and won't turn back on but you can't prove these weren't just coincidences.
November 4, 2025 at 10:15 PM
When your computer freezes on the day Crusader Kings 3's new dlc releases and this evening while trying Europa Universalis V on release day your monitor breaks and won't turn back on but you can't prove these weren't just coincidences.
I just got an email from Oxford Scholarly Editions Online that they're retiring the option to get individual subscriptions and that is, to be impressively diplomatic on my part, less than helpful. I would even go so far as to describe it as "frustrating".
October 29, 2025 at 1:33 PM
I just got an email from Oxford Scholarly Editions Online that they're retiring the option to get individual subscriptions and that is, to be impressively diplomatic on my part, less than helpful. I would even go so far as to describe it as "frustrating".
Reposted by Josh Baker-Cox
Back on the trains today, this time to Norwich for a visualising Canterbury castle trip to look at the remodelled keep. Here's the latest blog on our project from Katie McGown #medievalsky castlestudiestrust.org/blog/
Castle Studies Trust Blog – Advancing the understanding of castles
castlestudiestrust.org
October 29, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Back on the trains today, this time to Norwich for a visualising Canterbury castle trip to look at the remodelled keep. Here's the latest blog on our project from Katie McGown #medievalsky castlestudiestrust.org/blog/
Reposted by Josh Baker-Cox
The Bibliography of British and Irish History (BBIH) has recently been updated with 5000+ new references. Discover further details about this update in this On History blog blog.history.ac.uk/2025/10/bibl... @brepols.net
Bibliography of British and Irish History October 2025 update - On History
What’s new in BBIH? The October 2025 update to the Bibliography of British and Irish History adds over 5,000 new publications. The new update includes books, journal articles, book chapters and…
blog.history.ac.uk
October 13, 2025 at 10:00 AM
The Bibliography of British and Irish History (BBIH) has recently been updated with 5000+ new references. Discover further details about this update in this On History blog blog.history.ac.uk/2025/10/bibl... @brepols.net
Not medieval I'm afraid, but things are getting wonderfully autumnal at Croome Court.
That said the first image is not just a church on the grounds of the Court, but also the parish church of Croome D'Abitot. Who was the first Norman sheriff of Worcester? Urse d'Abetot.
That said the first image is not just a church on the grounds of the Court, but also the parish church of Croome D'Abitot. Who was the first Norman sheriff of Worcester? Urse d'Abetot.
October 13, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Not medieval I'm afraid, but things are getting wonderfully autumnal at Croome Court.
That said the first image is not just a church on the grounds of the Court, but also the parish church of Croome D'Abitot. Who was the first Norman sheriff of Worcester? Urse d'Abetot.
That said the first image is not just a church on the grounds of the Court, but also the parish church of Croome D'Abitot. Who was the first Norman sheriff of Worcester? Urse d'Abetot.
Tell you what, this bloody cold thing that's been going around sucks. Not enjoyable, I would give it a 6/10.
October 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Tell you what, this bloody cold thing that's been going around sucks. Not enjoyable, I would give it a 6/10.
Reposted by Josh Baker-Cox
MLGB is back!! Delighted that Medieval Libraries of Great Britain @bodleian.ox.ac.uk is now back online. We are also working had on plans for the next phase of the resource, enhancing & adding data & functionality. HUGE thanks to my colleagues for their hard & clever work mlgb.bodleian.ox.ac.uk
October 7, 2025 at 10:19 AM
MLGB is back!! Delighted that Medieval Libraries of Great Britain @bodleian.ox.ac.uk is now back online. We are also working had on plans for the next phase of the resource, enhancing & adding data & functionality. HUGE thanks to my colleagues for their hard & clever work mlgb.bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Robin Hood Season 1 Trailer
YouTube video by Rotten Tomatoes TV
youtu.be
September 24, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Reposted by Josh Baker-Cox
Question for the medieval crowd: does anyone know of a good published map of Europe in 1066? (yes, I have googled)
September 10, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Question for the medieval crowd: does anyone know of a good published map of Europe in 1066? (yes, I have googled)
Oh and in other news it looks like I will be presenting a paper at the next Leeds IMC with the 'Loyalty in the Medieval World' network. So very much looking forward to that while simultaneously mildly panicking.
September 8, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Oh and in other news it looks like I will be presenting a paper at the next Leeds IMC with the 'Loyalty in the Medieval World' network. So very much looking forward to that while simultaneously mildly panicking.
"...no power on earth can get us to her in the stronghold of Tintagel? It stands completely surrounded by the sea and can be reached only by a narrow cliff. Three armed Knights could hold it against you, even though you had the whole kingdom of Britain at your back." De gestis Britonum
September 8, 2025 at 9:48 AM
"...no power on earth can get us to her in the stronghold of Tintagel? It stands completely surrounded by the sea and can be reached only by a narrow cliff. Three armed Knights could hold it against you, even though you had the whole kingdom of Britain at your back." De gestis Britonum
Finally on the train home after my first Battle Conference (first ever conference in fact). What a genuinely fantastic four days, and to anyone else who was there thank you so much for making it so memorable and so welcoming. Not to brag but I think my Jenga skills weren't too shabby either...
July 26, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Finally on the train home after my first Battle Conference (first ever conference in fact). What a genuinely fantastic four days, and to anyone else who was there thank you so much for making it so memorable and so welcoming. Not to brag but I think my Jenga skills weren't too shabby either...
So turns out you can't just go to Hailes Abbey anymore, and that I guess over COVID they changed it to a booking visit system? Either way, I still got to poke around the church which is always lovely to see!
July 17, 2025 at 12:35 PM
So turns out you can't just go to Hailes Abbey anymore, and that I guess over COVID they changed it to a booking visit system? Either way, I still got to poke around the church which is always lovely to see!
Reposted by Josh Baker-Cox
I'm delighted to say that my translation of the Latin Passion of St Cnut the Holy (in a volume edited by @hopesteffen.bsky.social and others) has now been published by Museum Odense and is freely available to download from the museum's website: download.museumodense.dk/files/publik...
July 10, 2025 at 3:39 PM
I'm delighted to say that my translation of the Latin Passion of St Cnut the Holy (in a volume edited by @hopesteffen.bsky.social and others) has now been published by Museum Odense and is freely available to download from the museum's website: download.museumodense.dk/files/publik...
Reposted by Josh Baker-Cox
This, ladies and gents, is how academia is supposed to work. Not everything can/has to be ‘transformative’, ‘field-shaping’, ‘ground-breaking’, etc. ‘Incremental’ is not a dirty word (pace REF!) but the basic principle of how knowledge is generated.
I write a lot. It’s never *decisive.* It’s never the argument that changes the minds of the powerful. Nothing I write changes any outcome.
I do it anyway. Because it adds pebbles. If enough people add enough pebbles, then you’ve helped build a mountain. And that’s enough. It has to be.
I do it anyway. Because it adds pebbles. If enough people add enough pebbles, then you’ve helped build a mountain. And that’s enough. It has to be.
July 7, 2025 at 9:45 AM
This, ladies and gents, is how academia is supposed to work. Not everything can/has to be ‘transformative’, ‘field-shaping’, ‘ground-breaking’, etc. ‘Incremental’ is not a dirty word (pace REF!) but the basic principle of how knowledge is generated.
Currently trying to write the first part of a new "chapter" draft (I find introductions always take a while), but I'm being kept company by a tiny ceramic octopus from a Spanish island. They are as yet unnamed however, which I think is criminal.
Also I have only just noticed they have six arms.
Also I have only just noticed they have six arms.
July 1, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Currently trying to write the first part of a new "chapter" draft (I find introductions always take a while), but I'm being kept company by a tiny ceramic octopus from a Spanish island. They are as yet unnamed however, which I think is criminal.
Also I have only just noticed they have six arms.
Also I have only just noticed they have six arms.
Reposted by Josh Baker-Cox
Dragons in Caen! I repeat dragons in Caen! Superb graffiti! Last time I was at the castle, it was a building site. I can't wait to go back (possibly next month) @catrionacooper.bsky.social #medievalsky #castles #normans
June 21, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Dragons in Caen! I repeat dragons in Caen! Superb graffiti! Last time I was at the castle, it was a building site. I can't wait to go back (possibly next month) @catrionacooper.bsky.social #medievalsky #castles #normans
Got unfeasibly excited to see the word rebel in a specific context earlier.
Then I went for a wander to try and see some Moorhen chicks at a nearby pond to celebrate (I did not see any) and get some sun rays so I look a little less like Count Orlok.
Then I went for a wander to try and see some Moorhen chicks at a nearby pond to celebrate (I did not see any) and get some sun rays so I look a little less like Count Orlok.
June 11, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Got unfeasibly excited to see the word rebel in a specific context earlier.
Then I went for a wander to try and see some Moorhen chicks at a nearby pond to celebrate (I did not see any) and get some sun rays so I look a little less like Count Orlok.
Then I went for a wander to try and see some Moorhen chicks at a nearby pond to celebrate (I did not see any) and get some sun rays so I look a little less like Count Orlok.