Bow and Blade

Charles the Bold once again faces the Swiss Confederation, this time at the Battle of Murten (also known as Morat). In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly explore the battle and explain how it ended in disaster for the Burgundians.

You can listen to this episode ad-free on our Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/cw/medievalists

This episode of Bow & Blade was recorded live at the 2026 International Medieval Congress at the University of Leeds. Kelly and Michael answer questions including was Agincourt the most decisive battle of the period, what battle do they find most useful to teach, and who was the most effective general of the Middle Ages?

You can listen to these episodes ad-free on Medievalists.net Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/cw/medievalists

Florence and its allies faced the forces of Arezzo in one of the most important battles of medieval Tuscany. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss the Battle of Campaldino and the fighting that brought Dante Alighieri onto the battlefield.

Brought to you by Medievalists.net

King Richard III faces Henry Tudor in one of the decisive battles of the Wars of the Roses. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss the Battle of Bosworth and how the identification of its battlefield has offered new insights into how the fighting unfolded.

You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/cw/medievalists

As the Hundred Years' War entered its final chapter, England and France fought for control of Normandy. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly examine the road to the Battle of Formigny and its decisive impact on the war.

You can support this podcast and Medievalists.net on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/cw/medievalists

One of the pivotal battles of the Crusades, the Battle of Hattin was shaped by both brilliant strategy and disastrous decisions. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly explore how Saladin orchestrated a crushing defeat of the Crusader army, while also sharing insights into the film Kingdom of Heaven.

You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/cw/medievalists

In the latest Q&A episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly answer questions about infantry vs cavalry in late medieval battles, will there be archaeological excavations at Hundred Years' War battlefields, favourite centuries and what our hosts will be doing this summer.

You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/cw/medievalists

Charles the Bold was building his Duchy of Burgundy into a European power when he faced the Old Swiss Confederacy. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly talk about the Battle of Grandson, a key event of the Burgundian Wars.

You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/cw/medievalists

Though often regarded as one of the most important battles of the Middle Ages, the Battle of Tours remains shrouded in uncertainty. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly explore the limited evidence to uncover where the battle may have been fought and what might have taken place there.

You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/cw/medievalists

After Henry V's death, the Hundred Years' War flares back to life as a Franco-Scottish army confronts the English in Normandy. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly dig into the Battle of Verneuil—one of the war's bloodiest clashes—and why it mattered.

You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/cw/medievalists

Scotland's in turmoil in the 1330s—and Edward III spots an opening. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly break down the Battle of Dupplin Moor, where tactics, terrain, and timing turn chaos into catastrophe.

You can support this podcast on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

In the latest Q&A episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly tackle listener questions on Joan of Arc, standout new books on medieval warfare, and whether Richard III really killed the Princes in the Tower.

You can support this podcast and listen to it ad-free on Medievalists.net's Patreon  - https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

In this episode of Bow & Blade, the Michael and Kelly head to the Pyrenean stronghold of Montségur to unpack the dramatic siege that brought the Cathar refuge to its end. They explore how faith, politics, and military pressure collided on the mountain—and what the fall of Montségur meant for the wider Albigensian Crusade.

In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly examine the Battle of Stirling Bridge in Scotland as a clear example of poor generalship. Focusing on the English command's mistakes, they explore how underestimating William Wallace and the Scottish forces led to disastrous decisions over terrain and timing.

You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

As the Eternal City's power waned, enemies closed in. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly delve into two devastating sieges of Rome — one led by the Goths, the other by the Vandals.

In this episode of the podcast, Michael and Kelly let us know where they have been the last few months - and this includes going to a lot of medieval castles and cities.

You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

Bow & Blade is hosted by 

In this episode, Michael Livingston and Kelly DeVries answer your questions, including:

Which medieval sites should one visit in southern England and Wales?

Was Gilles de Rais guilty of being a mass-murderer?

The Ottomans launch another siege against the city of Belgrade. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Kelly and Michael explore how Suleiman the Magnificent and his forces ultimately achieved victory.

We have several new online courses starting up, including Medieval Warfare in the Middle East, Europe, and Central Asia with Nicholas Morton. Click here to see all our online courses on Thinkific.

The Ottoman Empire, led by Mehmed II, clashes with Hungarian and Serbian forces under John Hunyadi. In this episode of Bow & Blade, we examine the first of two sieges that took place in Belgrade.

You can support this podcast on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

Joan of Arc continues to put the English on the run. In this episode of Bow and Blade, Kelly and Michael examine this battle from the Hundred Years' War and how big a factor the Maid of Orleans was in this French victory.

You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to www.patreon.com/medievalists

King Henry III faces Simon de Montfort as England falls into civil war. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly talk about the Second Barons' War, and why Henry and his son Edward lost a battle they should have won.

You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

In this episode, Michael Livingston and Kelly DeVries answer your questions, including:

When did jousting and tournaments become irrelevant to training for warfare (and become more of a professional sport)? 

How much training did medieval soldiers have?

How were soldiers selected for the various roles in the military?

How can one have a career in medieval studies?

You can support this podcast, and listen to it ad-free, by joining our Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

At the beginning of the 15th century, Owain Glyndŵr would lead a Welsh rebellion against King Henry IV of England. One of the key moments of the war would take place at Bryn Glas.

You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

Huge armies clash as the Ottoman sultan sultan Bayezid I faced off against the emir of the Timurid Empire, Timur. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly look at the battle and the account of the fighting by Johann Schiltberger.

You can support this podcast on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

In 1327, Scottish forces invaded England, posing the first test for the newly crowned Edward III. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss how the English response turned out so badly.

You can support this podcast and Medievalists.net on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

A turning point in the history of Iberia, the year 1212 would see the combined armies of Castile, Aragon and Navarre facing off against the Almohads. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly talk about a key battle of the Reconquista. 

It is a Q&A episode of Bow & Blade, with Michael and Kelly answering listener questions. In this episode, they talk about the impact of weather on medieval battles, how often did soldiers train, and why are there more sources about the Battle of Crecy (1346) than the Battle of Poitiers (1356).

You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

One of the key dates from the Middle Ages is the year 1453. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss how the Ottomans were able to conquer the city of Constantinople and bring an end to the Byzantine Empire.

You can support this podcast on Patreon. - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

Scotland and England are at war again, with the important border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed under siege. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss how the English were able to inflict a quick and devastating defeat on the Scots.

You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

A rather unassuming spot in Greece has seen dozens of battles throughout history. On this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael Livingston and Kelly DeVries are joined by Myke Cole to talk about the book The Killing Ground: A Biography of Thermopylae, written by Michael and Myke.

You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

The Vikings are attacking England, and it's up to Alfred, King of Wessex, to stop them. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss this important battle in Anglo-Saxon England.

You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

Michael Livingston and Kelly DeVries answer listener questions about medieval military history. What do we mean when we talk about lines at a battle? Could those first into a battle survive? Are there campaigns that do not lead to battles or sieges? What was their favourite scene of medieval warfare from a film?

You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly take another look at this important battle from the Hundred Years' War. How do a visit to the battlefield and the writings of an Italian chronicler change their views on how Edward the Black Prince gained his victory?

You can help support this podcast on Patreon - go to www.patreon.com/medievalists

In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly look at how the imperial army of Frederick Barbarossa and a Milanese force suddenly encountered each other in northern Italy. How would this battle change the Holy Roman Empire's plans for Italian conquest?

You can support this podcast on Patreon. Go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

It is a clash between Viking kings, as Harald Hardrada of Norway faces off against Sweyn II of Denmark. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss this naval battle and how it was told by the Icelandic writer Snorri Sturluson.

You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

The most famous battle in Scottish history took place at Bannockburn in 1314. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael Livingston and Kelly DeVries examine how Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, was able to defeat the English led by King Edward II.

You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

In their eighth Q&A, Michael Livingston and Kelly DeVries answer your questions, including who were the almost famous leaders of the Middle Ages, the importance of languages for medievalists, and their favourite battle sites.

You can support this podcast on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

Philip Augustus, King of France, faced off against an alliance that included the Holy Roman Emperor, the King of England, and the leading nobles of the Low Countries. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss this important battle and how it changes Western Europe.

You can support this podcast and Medievalists.net on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/medievalists 

One of the epic clashes between England and France during the Hundred Years' War, Michael and Kelly discuss the Battle of Agincourt. It's perfect timing too, as Michael. Livingston has just released his new book: Agincourt: Battle of the Scarred King, from Osprey Publishing - https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/agincourt-9781472855206/ 

You can also support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

In what could be considered the first battle of the Middle Ages, the Roman Emperor Valens goes to war against the Goths in southeastern Europe. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly talk about the battle and why the Romans suffered such a massive defeat.

You can support this podcast and Medievalists.net on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists