Calum Cockburn

A screenshot of a search input in the British Library's interim Explore Archives and Manuscripts catalogue.

An interim version of the Explore Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue is now available through the BL website: searcharchives.bl.uk

It contains all the catalogue data from the eve of the 2023 cyberattack, and features embedded links to all currently available digitised content within the records.

British Library Chief Executive steps down after less than a year: www.bl.uk/about/press/...

British Library Board statement: www.bl.uk/about/press/...

Publication day! My book on the Knights Hospitaller, 'Warrior Monks: Politics and Power in Medieval Britain' is now out. Available in all good and evil bookshops: www.amazon.co.uk/Warrior-Monk...

Seal showing an eagle looking at a star

A strolling eagle looking at the stars. LFC Ch XXV 12. #medievalsky

Author copies! My book on the Knights Hospitaller and their part in medieval Britain's wars, politics, and intrigue will be out on 25 September. #medievalsky

A charter with two seals and featuring the autograph signatures of Henry VIII, Thomas Wolsey and John Daunce.

In June 1513, Henry VIII launched an invasion of France, attempting to reclaim lost English lands.

Today's blogpost by @rorymaclellan.bsky.social looks at three documents which shine a light on the preparations for this campaign and the supply of armour for Henry's troops.

t.co/rYaeYw6Jbq

Cataloguing the Campbell charters A new project is underway to examine an important collection of charters and rolls housed at the British Library. The Campbell charters are being catalogued as part of the British Library’s Hidden Col...

A post on my latest cataloguing project: the Campbell Charters, which include a collection of grants from Scotland's kings and a roll for calculating dice probabilities. #medievalsky

blogs.bl.uk/digitisedman...

An opening from a concertina-fold almanac, showing a perpetual calendar. British Library Add MS 17367.

For our latest exhibition 'Unfolding Time: The Medieval Pocket Calendar', we borrowed two concertina-fold almanacs from @britishlibrary.bsky.social. To learn more about these remarkable objects, check out this blog by @ccockburn.bsky.social. blogs.bl.uk/digitisedman... pic.x.com/jAoEC1Ct87

They’re so brilliant! And I love the the one with its own leather pouch :)

An opening from a concertina-fold almanac, showing an illuminated chronicle table.

Labours of the Month and circular diagrams showing the daylight hours and hours of darkness.

A pouch for a printed concertina-fold almanac.

My latest post for @BLMedieval looks through the folds of a fascinating collection of concertina-fold almanacs, currently on loan to @lampallib.bsky.social's latest exhibition, Unfolding Time: The Medieval Pocket Almanac.

blogs.bl.uk/digitisedman...

😍 There’s a special place in my heart for Rhygyfarch!

More thoughts on Eleanor Rykener in the BL's #MedievalWomen exhibition.

Her inclusion is majorly important, not just because of *her* importance as a beacon of trans visibility in the historical record, but also the current anti-trans environment in the UK & elsewhere

I’m so sorry that you’ve not been able to see it! It’s going to be a really tough one to say goodbye too as well!

A page from Christine de Pizan's Livre des faits d'armes et de chevalerie, including an illustration of Christine writing in her study before the goddess Minerva in full armour.

A page from Middle Dutch prayer-book and primer for a young girl, with an illustration of a female teacher instructing a group of girls with open books.

A page from a 15th-century illuminated Breviary, featuring a full-page illustration of the Crucifixion, and including a nun kneeling before Christ on the Cross.

The seal of Empress Matilda, attached a parchment tag, showing her enthroned, holding a sceptre, with a Latin legend around the edge.

It's the final week of our #MedievalWomen exhibition and we've been working on restoring our Medieval and Renaissance Women digitisation project online. The first manuscripts are now available!

blogs.bl.uk/digitisedman...

The coronation of Charles VII, featuring Joan of Arc holding an unfurled banner.

A composite image showing portraits of Shajar al-Durr, Joan of Arc, Margery Kempe, Empress Matilda and Christine de Pizan.

So pleased to reveal a project I've been working on the last few months: an animation inspired by our Medieval Women exhibition, telling the story of five of its key figures.

The full animation can be seen in today's post on the Medieval MSS blog!

blogs.bl.uk/digitisedman...

An ivory cross, once belonging to Sibylla, Countess of Flanders, featuring her lying prostrate before the crucified Christ.

The ivory cross of Sibylla, Countess of Flanders, currently on display in our Medieval Women exhibition. She was left as regent while her husband was on Crusade; decided to join him on his next trip and then left him to join a convent outside Jerusalem.

blogs.bl.uk/digitisedman...

A reproduction of the statue of Eleanor of Castile once belonging to the Waltham Cross.

On this day in 1290, Eleanor of Castile, Queen of England died. Her body was taken from Lincoln to Westminster to be buried and 12 stone crosses were later commissioned to mark the route and later became known as the Eleanor Crosses.

blogs.bl.uk/digitisedman...

A detail of a historiated initial, showing a bishop performing a rite for the enclosure of an anchoress in an anchorhold.

An order for the enclosure of an anchoress in her anchorhold, from a 15th-century Pontifical (Lansdowne MS 451, f. 76v)

blogs.bl.uk/digitisedman...

It’s Sloane MS 1315 🙂

A Christmas jumper featuring a brass-rubbing inspired design and the figures of different medieval women.

There are many good reasons to visit our #MedievalWomen exhibition, and the BL shop’s themed Christmas jumper is definitely one of them 🎅🎅

blogs.bl.uk/digitisedmanus…

They’re a fab collection! :)

A charm for how to make stars appear lying on the ground.

A charm for how to make a loaf of bread dance in an oven or on a table.

Having fun exploring magical manuscripts today, with some fantastic charms, including ‘how to make a loaf of bread dance in an oven or on a table’ (involves putting quicksilver/mercury in the dough) and ‘how to make stars seem like they’re lying on the ground’.

In case you haven't heard – Medieval Women: In Their Own Words is open! *cue medieval fanfare*

Step into the Middle Ages and explore the lives of women both well-known and long-forgotten, and their stories of creativity, courage, and resilience: bit.ly/BLMedievalWo...

P.S. Members go free!

The opening page of Ippolita Sforza’s handwritten copy of Cicero’s De Senectute.

A copy of Cicero’s treatise on Old Age, written by Ippolita Maria Sforza in 1458, when she was only 14 years old (Add MS 21984)

blogs.bl.uk/digitisedman...

Haha I’ll reunite them :)

They don’t but it’s definitely the Riom one! In the others the elements of her ‘J’ have more of a curve to them.

Ikr - I made a beeline for that signature in the secondhand book shop

Found this edition of Vita Sackville-West’s biography of Joan of Arc, with these gorgeous woodcuts and a reproduction of her signature on the cover. #MedievalWomen