What I’ve been reading
Okay, so for whatever reason, I have apparently become absolutely obsessed with history lately. I think it is because of all that fantasy world-building!
But basically, a lot of medieval history (no matter what country you focus on) is just Game of Thrones level of intrigue/battles minus the dragons, which is totally my thing!
Case in point, one of the prominent crusader figures I’ve recently been reading about is a dude called Taticius, who was a representative for the Byzantine Emperor. An experienced and formidable warrior, he was also a eunuch and, after having his nose cut off in a previous battle, he wore a metal replica.
A replica metal nose.
This dude was a real man who existed and walked the earth almost a thousand years ago.
Goodness.
So anyway, here is the book I am reading, The First Crusade by Thomas Asbridge:
I knew nothing about the crusades before I started reading this.
But I’ve since learned the First Crusade took place in the lates 1090s and saw about 100,000 (!) Christian peasants, knights, princes, women and children march from Europe through the Byzantine empire (the capital of which was Constantinople, now Istanbul in Turkey).
These crusaders were off to cleanse their sins by fighting in a holy war, aimed at ‘freeing’ Jerusalem from the Islamic world.
It’s a pretty nuts story. And the crusaders were a pretty brutal bunch (as most folks were back in medieval times!). Before the crusaders had even marched out of their home in Europe they’d already managed to brutally massacre the entire populations of Jewish people living in some of the cities they passed. Scary stuff.
Fun fact though … one of the medieval towns in Europe where the crusaders spent time killing everyone was called Worms.
I found that name pretty funny and had a giggle, until I learned the city is still called that today … It’s located in Germany and is considered one of the oldest cities in northern Europe! Well, there you go.
Haha. Wipes tear. Worms.
Anyway, if you like history and are interested in the Crusades, then definitely check out this book, it’s really great!
THANK YOU FOR READING
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PJ Nwosu writes dark mystery novels set in epic fantasy worlds.
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