The Middle Ages, often romanticized in popular culture, holds many surprising facts about the lives of ordinary people. Beyond the grand castles and epic battles, everyday life was filled with peculiar customs, strange beliefs, and relatable struggles. Let’s delve into ten fascinating aspects of medieval life that might just change your perspective.
They Rearranged Graves
In medieval Europe, disturbing graves was surprisingly common, with around 40 percent of graves being tampered with. Initially, grave robbing was blamed, but evidence suggests community involvement. In an Austrian cemetery, skulls were removed or added to graves, and bones were moved with tools. The motives remain unclear, but theories range from preventing the undead from rising to keeping reminders of lost loved ones. Similarly, an English graveyard showed skeletons bound, decapitated, and containing bones from other individuals, suggesting locals believed restless souls brought bad luck.
Marriage Was Difficult To Prove
Getting married in medieval England was surprisingly easy. All it took was a verbal agreement between a man and a woman. If the girl was 12 and the boy 14, no family consent was necessary, and no church or priest was required. People often married wherever they were, even in bed, with sex counting as automatic marriage. However, proving these unions was challenging. Cases frequently appeared before the court to confirm marriages. Vows were encouraged to be taken in the presence of a priest, since divorce was only possible if the marriage was never legal, such as if someone was already married or related.
Men Received Infertility Treatment
Unlike the ancient world, medieval England also held men accountable for childless marriages. Medical books from the 13th century discussed male reproductive problems and sterility. Odd treatments were employed to identify the infertile partner. Both individuals had to urinate in separate pots full of bran, seal them for nine days, and then check for worms. If the husband was believed to be infertile, he faced options to treat his “unsuitable seed,” including consuming ground-up dried pig testicles with wine for three days. While physicians recognized infertility as a medical condition, medieval courts allowed a wife to divorce an impotent husband.
Apprentices Caused Trouble
In Northern Europe, parents often sent their teenage children into apprenticeships that lasted up to a decade. While this reduced the burden on the family, these young apprentices often faced traumatic experiences. Letters from that time reveal the hardships they endured. Some historians believe apprentices were sent away due to their unruly behavior, hoping that training would positively impact them. However, the apprentices often formed gangs, gambling, frequenting brothels, and causing disorder. In London, violent fights broke out between guilds, and in 1517, apprentices looted the city, fueled by disillusionment over uncertain future prospects despite their years of labor.
The Real Medieval Elderly
In early medieval England, being 50 years old was considered elderly. While some scholars claim this era was a “golden age” for the elderly, society expected older people to continue contributing. There was little concept of retirement. Older warriors still fought, and workers continued to work. Medieval authors had mixed feelings about growing old. Some revered the elderly for their wisdom, while others belittled them as “hundred-year-old children,” describing old age as a “foretaste of hell.” Despite misconceptions, many people lived well into their eighties and nineties.
Everyday Deaths
During the Middle Ages, death wasn’t always the result of violence or warfare. People frequently died from domestic violence, accidents, and even too much fun. Coroners’ records from Warwickshire, London, and Bedfordshire reveal that pigs killed people. In 1322, a pig bit a two-month-old girl in the head, resulting in her death. Cows were also responsible for several fatalities. Drowning was the most common accidental death, with people falling into ditches, wells, and rivers. Additionally, murder and falls from trees, buildings, and chairs accounted for numerous deaths.
Londoners Had It The Worst
London was the most violent place in England during the medieval period. Archaeologists studying 399 skulls from London graveyards found that nearly seven percent showed signs of suspicious physical trauma. Working-class men aged 26 to 35 were the most frequent victims. Coroner’s rolls indicate that many homicides occurred on Sunday evenings, often fueled by drunken arguments in taverns. The lower classes had to settle disputes with deadly informal fights. This resulted in higher violence rates compared to other parts of the country.
Medieval Reading Habits
Religion permeated every aspect of life during the 15th and 16th centuries, making prayer books particularly popular. By analyzing the dirt patterns on the pages, art historians discovered the reading habits of medieval Europeans. Frequently touched pages revealed that prayers dedicated to St. Sebastian, who was believed to ward off the plague, were commonly read. Prayers for personal salvation also received more attention than those for others. Interestingly, a long prayer read early in the morning appeared to put most people back to sleep, as only the initial pages were smudged.
They Skinned Cats
A 2017 study revealed that the cat fur industry extended to medieval Spain. At El Bordellet, a farming community 1,000 years ago, archaeologists found a pit containing around 900 cat skeletons. Bone growth indicated that the cats were nine to 20 months old, the perfect age for yielding large, unblemished pelts. Cut marks on the remains confirmed that the cats were skinned. While some cats may have been used for clothes trimming or cat coats, researchers believe the El Bordellet cats may have been part of a ritual, as the pit also contained a horse skull, chicken egg, and goat horn—all known additions to magical rites.
Wearing Stripes Was Deadly
Wearing stripes could be a deadly fashion choice in the Middle Ages. In 1310, a French cobbler was condemned to death for wearing striped clothing. Stripes were associated with the Devil and were considered the attire of society’s outcasts: prostitutes, hangmen, lepers, heretics, and clowns. Even the disabled, Jews, Africans, and bastard children were often marked with stripes. The reason for this hatred is not entirely clear, although some speculate it may stem from a Bible verse discouraging garments made of two materials. By the 18th century, this aversion to stripes had faded away.
The lives of ordinary people in the Middle Ages were full of surprises and contradictions. From strange burial practices and unusual marriage customs to bizarre medical treatments and deadly fashion choices, these facts offer a fascinating glimpse into a world that was both familiar and utterly alien.
What did you find most surprising? Leave your comment below!
