Telling Time

I’m happy to share that the World History Encyclopedia has recently published a new article of mine: an entry on the Livonian Rhymed Chronicle.

I’ve written on the Livonian Rhymed Chronicle before, and whilst I’d be hesitant to call myself an expert (should I be admitting that?), the Baltic Crusades are still a topic I feel relatively confident on, and I’ve spent a fair bit of time in the weeds of the LRC.

I’ll try not to repeat here what I’ve written elsewhere, and I know that those of us who read encyclopedia entries for fun are not numerous bunch, but I do feel the Livonian Rhymed Chronicle is up there with one of the more intriguing chronicles. Whilst all medieval chronicle’s carry the philosophical fingerprints of their authors, in the LRC these prints are unmissable, crimson, and on every single page. It’s a fascinating (and often unsettling) experience to read the history of this period from a crusader’s own mouth, seeking to legitimise and exalt the barbarous actions of the order he was a part of.

Generally, I think the Crusades are at best grossly misunderstood, and at worst victims of overt and intentional misrepresentation for political means. What should be viewed as a dark stain on the history of Europe is all too often warped into something that should be venerated. People are somehow still falling for propaganda that’s over 500 years old. It’s for these reasons that I think reliable and well-research histories of the Crusades are particularly important these days, in a world of rife misinformation serving right-wing radicalism.

As I said last time, I am convinced of the urgency of accessible, well-researched history set free to intrigue, inspire and entertain. An idea fails to be educational if it remains trapped behind a paywall. I’m very proud to be able to contribute to the WHE’s mission of providing free and high-quality historical content.

If you’d like to read my entry on the LRC, you can find it here.

My researcher’s profile on the WHE can be found here. Please do subscribe, I hope to be back with another entry soon.

Thanks for reading, and I wish you a pleasant weekend.