The 13th century

The Middle Ages, Genghis Khan and the Crusades.

While the passage of time means the stories here are as remote to us as any fictional story, their echos reverberate across the centuries and are visible around us in many intangible ways.

Follow the stories here to see what I’ve looked at that comes from, or is influenced by, the 13th century.

All my 13th Century articles

1200 – 1209

  • The Abbey of Bourgueil August 2, 2025 - In 990, Emma of Blois leveraged her dowry and family alliances to found an abbey in Bourgueil, France. The abbey grew into a regional powerhouse over the next 500 years… Continue Reading
  • The lost Cathedral of St Sophia March 5, 2025 - In occupied Cyprus, across the demilitarised zone in Nicosia, the French gothic cathedral of St Sophia is now Selimiye mosque. The building was at the heart of Cypriot crusader history,… Continue Reading
A photo of the Abbey - Bourgueil, France
The Abbey – Bourgueil, France

1210 – 1219

  • The lost Cathedral of St Sophia March 5, 2025 - In occupied Cyprus, across the demilitarised zone in Nicosia, the French gothic cathedral of St Sophia is now Selimiye mosque. The building was at the heart of Cypriot crusader history,… Continue Reading
  • Learn all about Drimnagh castle May 25, 2020 - You’d think a city of Dublin wouldn’t be the place to hide a castle. Yet many Dublin natives had no idea what I was talking about when I mentioned Drimnagh… Continue Reading
A photo of Selimiye mosque - Nicosia, TRNC
Selimiye mosque – Nicosia, TRNC

1220 -1229

A photo of the organ and choir at St Clementine's - Prague, Czechia
The organ and choir at St Clementine’s – Prague, Czechia

1230 – 1239

  • The significance of the little bridge November 19, 2025 - Prague's Můstek neighborhood and metro station has a fascinating story behind it. This area represents a remarkable convergence of medieval history and modern urban development. What appears today as a… Continue Reading
A photo of the old bridge that gives Mustek its name - Prague, Czechia
A photo of the old bridge that gives Mustek its name – Prague, Czechia (By Nina Belyavskaya)

1240 – 1249

  • The Abbey of Bourgueil August 2, 2025 - In 990, Emma of Blois leveraged her dowry and family alliances to found an abbey in Bourgueil, France. The abbey grew into a regional powerhouse over the next 500 years… Continue Reading
  • Learn all about Drimnagh castle May 25, 2020 - You’d think a city of Dublin wouldn’t be the place to hide a castle. Yet many Dublin natives had no idea what I was talking about when I mentioned Drimnagh… Continue Reading
  • The mystical messianic troglodyte of Comino January 20, 2020 - One early scholar of Kabbalah was a 13th century mystic called Abraham Abulafia. He had visions, tried to convince the Pope of his reasoning and lived in Malta. But who… Continue Reading
  • Český Šternberk Castle August 26, 2019 - It’s not everyday you find castles still owned by the original family. Czechia's Český Šternberk ? towers over the town of the same name, and is one of the few… Continue Reading
A photo of Drimnaugh castle - Dublin, Ireland
Drimnaugh castle – Dublin, Ireland

1250 – 1259

  • The lost Cathedral of St Sophia March 5, 2025 - In occupied Cyprus, across the demilitarised zone in Nicosia, the French gothic cathedral of St Sophia is now Selimiye mosque. The building was at the heart of Cypriot crusader history,… Continue Reading
  • The lost Judith bridge January 24, 2025 - Prague's Charles bridge is the main attraction in this medieval city. Few have heard of its predecessor and fewer have heard about the stories behind it. This article delves into… Continue Reading
  • The lost rotunda of St Wenceslas January 6, 2020 - Rotundas used to be common in Central Europe. Prague was no exception and it is a shame so many have disappeared. This article explains how archaeologists re-discovered St Wenceslas’ rotunda… Continue Reading
A painting of the Judith bridge
Ludomir Herc’s impression of what the Judith bridge may have looked like – Prague, Czechia (Public Domain)

1260 – 1269

  • The lost Cathedral of St Sophia March 5, 2025 - In occupied Cyprus, across the demilitarised zone in Nicosia, the French gothic cathedral of St Sophia is now Selimiye mosque. The building was at the heart of Cypriot crusader history,… Continue Reading
A photo of Český Šternberk Castle - Czechia
Český Šternberk Castle – Czechia

1270 – 1279

  • Andorra January 21, 2026 - Microstates are fascinating. There’s always a story behind them, and their continued existence in today’s world for that matter. Andorra, sandwiched between Spain and France, is one such microstate. For… Continue Reading
  • The mystical messianic troglodyte of Comino January 20, 2020 - One early scholar of Kabbalah was a 13th century mystic called Abraham Abulafia. He had visions, tried to convince the Pope of his reasoning and lived in Malta. But who… Continue Reading
A photo of the road leading to Andorra from France
The Rotunda of the finding of the Holy Cross – Prague, Czechia

1280 – 1289

  • Andorra January 21, 2026 - Microstates are fascinating. There’s always a story behind them, and their continued existence in today’s world for that matter. Andorra, sandwiched between Spain and France, is one such microstate. For… Continue Reading
  • The mystical messianic troglodyte of Comino January 20, 2020 - One early scholar of Kabbalah was a 13th century mystic called Abraham Abulafia. He had visions, tried to convince the Pope of his reasoning and lived in Malta. But who… Continue Reading
Abraham Abulafia

1290 – 1299

  • The lost cathedral of St Nicholas December 2, 2022 - In Famagusta, Cyprus, there is a building that used to be a cathedral dedicated to St Nicholas. It saw major events of the country's history and is now a mosque. Continue Reading
  • The mystical messianic troglodyte of Comino January 20, 2020 - One early scholar of Kabbalah was a 13th century mystic called Abraham Abulafia. He had visions, tried to convince the Pope of his reasoning and lived in Malta. But who… Continue Reading
  • Frydberk castle November 18, 2019 - The criminals who built Frydberk ? castle terrorised the Bohemian countryside in mediaeval times. Conquered, plundered, turned into a ? brewery and then the Church built a place of worship… Continue Reading
  • Jičin – A scenic Bohemian pit stop April 16, 2018 - Driving through Bohemia heading to (or from) Poland means driving through some beautiful landscapes. If you're looking for a pit stop but don't want a faceless motorway cafe, I'd recommend… Continue Reading