Marc Morris
@marcmorris.bsky.social
Medieval historian. 'If it works for Marc Morris, it works for me.' (Scarlett Johansson)
#OnThisDay 1273 Alphonso, son of Edward I, was born in Bayonne, Gascony. He died in 1284. Had he lived and reigned, Alphonso would now be a popular English name.
November 24, 2025 at 7:17 PM
#OnThisDay 1273 Alphonso, son of Edward I, was born in Bayonne, Gascony. He died in 1284. Had he lived and reigned, Alphonso would now be a popular English name.
Good to know that all those technology lessons at Jennifer Arcuri's flat are finally paying off.
November 24, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Good to know that all those technology lessons at Jennifer Arcuri's flat are finally paying off.
This afternoon I did a talk for BBC History Magazine and afterwards at least half a dozen people asked me what I thought about King and Conqueror, so I'm reposting this brief review I wrote back in August. www.marcmorris.org.uk/2025/08/king...
November 23, 2025 at 7:33 PM
This afternoon I did a talk for BBC History Magazine and afterwards at least half a dozen people asked me what I thought about King and Conqueror, so I'm reposting this brief review I wrote back in August. www.marcmorris.org.uk/2025/08/king...
#OnThisDay 1272 Edward I became king of England. It was the first undisputed succession since the Norman Conquest.
November 20, 2025 at 6:39 PM
#OnThisDay 1272 Edward I became king of England. It was the first undisputed succession since the Norman Conquest.
#OnThisDay 1272 Edward I became king of England. (Although he wouldn't know this for several weeks, because he was in Sicily at the time). He was the first king since 1066 whose reign did not commence with his coronation. bit.ly/2rcGnME
November 20, 2025 at 10:36 AM
#OnThisDay 1272 Edward I became king of England. (Although he wouldn't know this for several weeks, because he was in Sicily at the time). He was the first king since 1066 whose reign did not commence with his coronation. bit.ly/2rcGnME
This section of Gerald of Wales' The Conquest of Ireland in which he praises his own family is essentially the Theme from Shaft.
November 18, 2025 at 11:55 AM
This section of Gerald of Wales' The Conquest of Ireland in which he praises his own family is essentially the Theme from Shaft.
#OnThisDay 1272 King Henry III died at Westminster. "He shone more gloriously in death than he did in life," said one contemporary chronicler.
November 16, 2025 at 6:41 PM
#OnThisDay 1272 King Henry III died at Westminster. "He shone more gloriously in death than he did in life," said one contemporary chronicler.
Join me next summer for a tour of Edward I's magnificent castles in north Wales. www.traveleditions.co.uk/tour/great-c...
November 9, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Join me next summer for a tour of Edward I's magnificent castles in north Wales. www.traveleditions.co.uk/tour/great-c...
Ever the details man, Boris Johnson evokes a non-existent 'massacre of Jews in London in 1066' while speaking at Auschwitz.
www.thejc.com/news/politic...
www.thejc.com/news/politic...
November 5, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Ever the details man, Boris Johnson evokes a non-existent 'massacre of Jews in London in 1066' while speaking at Auschwitz.
www.thejc.com/news/politic...
www.thejc.com/news/politic...
When it comes to 1066*, he has form.
* And everything else.
* And everything else.
November 5, 2025 at 4:50 PM
When it comes to 1066*, he has form.
* And everything else.
* And everything else.
Ever the details man, Boris Johnson evokes the 'massacre of Jews in London in 1066' while speaking at Auschwitz.
www.thejc.com/news/politic...
www.thejc.com/news/politic...
November 5, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Ever the details man, Boris Johnson evokes the 'massacre of Jews in London in 1066' while speaking at Auschwitz.
www.thejc.com/news/politic...
www.thejc.com/news/politic...
#OnThisDay 1083 Matilda of Flanders, queen of William the Conqueror, died in Normandy. Contrary to popular myth, she was not 4’2” tall. A (short) thread:
November 2, 2025 at 10:01 AM
#OnThisDay 1083 Matilda of Flanders, queen of William the Conqueror, died in Normandy. Contrary to popular myth, she was not 4’2” tall. A (short) thread:
#OnThisDay 1216 Henry III was crowned in Gloucester Abbey - the last time the coronation of an English monarch took place outside of Westminster.
October 28, 2025 at 8:43 AM
#OnThisDay 1216 Henry III was crowned in Gloucester Abbey - the last time the coronation of an English monarch took place outside of Westminster.
Today is the 610th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt. Don't forget.
October 25, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Today is the 610th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt. Don't forget.
I wonder if Indy is actually supposed to be dodging Nazis on the steps to the chapter house at Wells Cathedral. I suspect not.
October 23, 2025 at 7:56 PM
I wonder if Indy is actually supposed to be dodging Nazis on the steps to the chapter house at Wells Cathedral. I suspect not.
The historical records for Cnut's reign are so scrappy that you can construct pretty much any picture you fancy. Here's the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for the 8 years before his death in 1035.
October 23, 2025 at 1:36 PM
The historical records for Cnut's reign are so scrappy that you can construct pretty much any picture you fancy. Here's the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for the 8 years before his death in 1035.
Cnut. He's forgotten about Cnut, who went on pilgrimage to Rome in 1027. Oh, and Edward I, who spent 2 months at the court of Gregory X in 1273. Otherwise, all over the detail, as per.
October 23, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Cnut. He's forgotten about Cnut, who went on pilgrimage to Rome in 1027. Oh, and Edward I, who spent 2 months at the court of Gregory X in 1273. Otherwise, all over the detail, as per.
Today for some reason I'm reminded of the Carlton Tavern in Kilburn. The only building in its street to survive the Blitz, it was illegally demolished in 2015 by a developer without planning permission. Westminster City Council ordered it to be rebuilt, exactly as it was, and it reopened in 2021.
October 22, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Today for some reason I'm reminded of the Carlton Tavern in Kilburn. The only building in its street to survive the Blitz, it was illegally demolished in 2015 by a developer without planning permission. Westminster City Council ordered it to be rebuilt, exactly as it was, and it reopened in 2021.
King John died #OnThisDay 1216. ‘He was a very bad man’, said one contemporary, ‘more cruel than all others. He lusted after beautiful women and because of this he shamed the high men of the land, for which reason he was greatly hated. Whenever he could he told lies rather than the truth.'
October 19, 2025 at 10:00 AM
King John died #OnThisDay 1216. ‘He was a very bad man’, said one contemporary, ‘more cruel than all others. He lusted after beautiful women and because of this he shamed the high men of the land, for which reason he was greatly hated. Whenever he could he told lies rather than the truth.'
When I'm not doing important work for Playmobil, I also write books.
October 14, 2025 at 1:53 PM
When I'm not doing important work for Playmobil, I also write books.
Today's the 959th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings. As viewers of King and Conqueror will know, William was able to surprise Harold by crossing the Channel in his hovercraft, and the English king was already exhausted, having recently seen off a Martian invasion.
October 14, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Today's the 959th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings. As viewers of King and Conqueror will know, William was able to surprise Harold by crossing the Channel in his hovercraft, and the English king was already exhausted, having recently seen off a Martian invasion.