Galata Tower and the Chain of the Golden Horn

           The great city of Constantinople (now Istanbul) spans two continents, Europe and Asia, and has portions on both sides of the Bosporus Strait. This made the city a prime trade route, with one of the natural harbors in the city being the Golden Horn. This harbor was one of the busiest trade hubs in the city, which made it a prime target for invaders. In order to defend the Golden Horn and the city from naval assault the Byzantines created a great iron chain that stretched across the harbor from one part of the European coast to the Galata Tower along the north side of the harbor. This chain would prevent enemy ships from entering the harbor. 

The Golden Horn as it is today

           Unfortunately for the Byzantines, multiple invaders found ways around the chain and were able to enter the harbor. The two most notable occasions took place in 1204 and 1453. In 1204 Venetian ships destroyed the chain and were able to sack the city during the 4th Crusade. In 1453 Sultan Mehmed II of the Ottoman Empire took his ships out of the Bosporus and used greased logs to transport them across Galata after failing to break the chain, which would weaken the city's defenses. 

A segment of the chain that stretched across the Golden Horn during the siege of Constantinople, located in the Istanbul Naval Museum in The Conquest of Istanbul and Sultan Mehmet, the Conqueror Hall exhibit

           While it may not have always been effective, the great chain that once spanned the Golden Horn was an impressive defensive piece and helped secure Byzantine trade and the city of Constantinople for centuries, and is a part of the city's rich (and bloody) history. 

The new Galata Tower, which was rebuilt by the Genoese after the original tower had been destroyed by looting crusaders in the 4th crusades

http://www.istanbultrails.com/2009/01/the-golden-horn-separates-the-european-shore-of-istanbul-into-two/

http://www.greatistanbul.com/conquest.html

http://www.denizmuzeleri.tsk.tr/en/idmk/sayfalar2.asp?KID=613&SID=267

http://www.greatistanbul.com/golden_horn.html

Goodwin, Jason. "4. The Siege." In Lords of the Horizons: A Aistory of the Ottoman Empire, 37. 1st ed. New York, New York: H. Holt, 1999.

Edward III's Tomb

Edward III, son of Edward II and Isabella of France, was born on November 13, 1312. He became the King of England at the age of fourteen, in January of 1327. During his reign, he transformed England into a strong military power in Europe. He married Philippa of Hainault, with whom he had thirteen children. Around 1340, Edward declared himself the rightful ruler of France, thus starting the Hundred Years War. Also during his reign, the bubonic plague swept across England, killing three of his own children. Edward III was preceded in death by those children, his wife Philippa in 1369, and his heir, Edward the Black Prince in June of 1376. Edward III then dies on June 21, 1377 of a stroke at Sheen Palace, leaving his throne to his ten-year-old grandson, King Richard II, son of Edward the Black Prince.

Edward III's funeral was held in the Abbey on July 5th. He was laid to rest in St. Edward the Confessor's chapel, near his queen. His wooden effigy is preserved in the Abbey collection, along with the plaster face mask, thought to be modeled on a death mask. One side of this face mask is distorted, showing the effects of the stroke that ended his life. On top of his tomb, he is depicted with long hair and a beard. He is wearing coronation robes and holds two handles of scepters. His tomb is made out of Purbeck marble. Around the tomb are six remaining effigies of his children, originally twelve. On the other side of the tomb are four large shields with the cross of St. George and the arms of France and England.

 

 

Sources: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/edward_iii_king.shtml

http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history/royals/edward-iii



The Papal Palace in Avignon

During the 14^th century Avignon was the center of the papacy. The Palais des Papes, or the Popes Palace was grim looking palace that was decorated by Simone Martini and Matteo Givanetti. The palace was a great illustration of gothic architecture that helped establish a leading role of Avignon in Western Christian influence.

4 Angles inside Saint-Martial Chapel

The construction of the Palace started in 1335 and was completed roughly twenty years later, passing through the reign of John XXII, Benedict XII, and Clement VI.  The pope’s palace is the largest gothic palace in Europe and has the equivalent square footage of four gothic cathedrals.

Construction of the Palace was started during the Reign of Benedict XII. Benedict chose the architect Pierre Poisson to oversee the project. The foundation of the place is anchored on bedrock and resembles the layout of Pope John XXII’s early palace. The walls of the tower rose well over the city and was placed in the center of the apartments to protect the pope.  During Benedict’s papacy the palace was richly decorated with furnishings, wall hangings and mural paintings.

Saint Jean Chapel

Clement VI completed a new tower at the beginning of his papacy. This tower included Kitchen and a wardrobe to be attach to the Papal tower.  Clement assigned architect Jean de loures to the project, who had demolished neighborhoods in order to complete the construction.  During the project Gothic architecture began to be mixed into the palace. The work invited of painters like Matteo Giovannetti to help decorate the Palace. Most the buildings were completed by the death of Clement, though there were further developments after his death when Pope Innocent built more towers and a gallery, and Pope Urban V added a garden.  The Palace became the residence of the Legates after the Great schism, and they stayed there until the French Revolution when it became barracks.

For more information on this magnificent palace visit http://www.palais-des-papes.com/en

Sources:

http://www.palais-des-papes.com/en/content/biggest-gothic-palace-world

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/228

Pictures:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/Chambre_du_cerf_-_le_fr%C3%A8re_du_pape_%C3%A0_la_chasse.jpg/800px-Chambre_du_cerf_-_le_fr%C3%A8re_du_pape_%C3%A0_la_chasse.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Les_douze_tours_du_Palais_des_papes_sur_fa%C3%A7ades_Viollet-le-duc.jpg/1920px-Les_douze_tours_du_Palais_des_papes_sur_fa%C3%A7ades_Viollet-le-duc.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Plafond_chapelle_Saint_Jean_par_JM_Rosier.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/4_anges_-_Cort%C3%A8ge_fun%C3%A8bre_de_saint_Martial_-_registre_m%C3%A9dian.JPG/1024px-4_anges_-_Cort%C3%A8ge_fun%C3%A8bre_de_saint_Martial_-_registre_m%C3%A9dian.JPG

Mass Producing Information in the Middle Ages

During most of the Middle Ages information could not widely be copied. Most books were copied by monks, who spent countless hours copying the precious knowledge of the past. This changed in the fifteenth century when Gutenberg created the printing press, which is regarded by many to be the most important invention in human history. Adapted from Chinese woodblock printing the pages were made by moving around different blocks to create a mirror image of the desired page. Though the process was still quite time consuming, multiple copies could be made quickly and easily once the blocks were set.

An Early Printing Press

Soon the press was spread all over Europe, making information more widely available, and dramatically cutting down on the cost of books. By the sixteenth century the printing press had spread to more than two thousand cities. That is not to say that books were cheap, as an original Gutenberg Bible cost three year's worth of an average clerk's wage. Many peasants who lacked education would not have been able to read anyways, therefore it is still mostly the nobility and clergy who would have likely owned and read books. It did, however provide greater opportunities for education and learning. Today around 50 of the original 200 Gutenberg bibles still survive.

One of the original Gutenberg Bibles

Sources:
http://scarc.library.oregonstate.edu/omeka/exhibits/show/mcdonald/incunabula/gutenberg/
http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/press.html

Domrémy la Pucelle - The House of Joan of Arc & Church of Saint-Remy

Joan of Arc was born around 1412 in a small village of Domremry in the northeastern part of France. Her parents were peasants who owned about fifty acres around the village of Domremry. Her father was one of the leaders of the village and helped collect taxes and watch over the village. Joan never went far from home taking care of animals and became a skilled at sewing and spinning. Joan stayed in the village until she was about sixteen and then left on a quest to save France.

The house indicated that Joan of arc and her family might not have been as poor as history perceives them to be. The statue of Joan kneeling in armor that lies above the front door is not original to the house, being installed in 1839. The house had four rooms and loft, all covered by a shed roof.

Located near the house she was born is the The Parish Church of Saint-Remy. Though Joan was not taught to read or write, but was encouraged by her mother to develop a deep love for the catholic faith.  Joan was baptized in the church of Saint-Remy and spent much time praying there. This is the church where Joan is said to have her first vision.

Sources:

http://www.lausd.net/Belvedere_MS/student_work/JOANOFARC/childhood_education

http://www.domremy.fr/village-jeanne/maison-natale.html

http://www.history.com/topics/saint-joan-of-arc

Pictures:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Jeannedarcbirthplace.jpg/1024px-Jeannedarcbirthplace.jpg

http://www.maidofheaven.com/maid_assets/extras/domremychurch.jpg

http://www.jehanne-darc.com/cms/upload/bilder/domremy2.jpg

http://www.americansinfrance.net/images/Domremy-la-Pucelle-Joan-of-Arc/Joan-of-Arc-Church-2.jpg

St. Peter & his Blessed Toe Nubs

In St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City there is a statues of, you guessed it, St. Peter. This statue is atributed to the artist Arnolfo di Cambio who lived from about 1245 to 1302. The statue depicts St. Peter sitting on his throne. It is one of the few remaining bronze statues of the Middle Ages. His face is said to loook grave and solemn. The hair on his head and face are curled. He is dressed in a tunic with sandals, exposing his toes, but his toes are barely there.

Here people can be seen touching St. Peter's blessed toe nubs

Since the statue was built, almost everyone that visits it rubs, or sometimes even kisses, his toes and feet. People do this while praying to him, begging him to be merciful and open the gates of heaven for them. Because of this, St. Peter's toes are worn thin, they are just one smooth surface instead of individual toes. St. Peter is holding keys (to the kingdom of heaven) close to his chest while his other hand is raised in blessing. On the day of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, which is June 29th, they decorate St. Peter's statue. Part of medieval tradition, it is decorated with an amice, alb, tiara, stole, red cope, and a ring.  

St. Peter's Statue dressed up for the Feast of Saints Peter & Paul

Sources:

http://stpetersbasilica.info/Statues/StPeter/StPeter.htm

http://www.wga.hu/html_m/a/arnolfo/2/10peter.html

Enrico Dandolo and the Doge's Final Resting Place

            When looking back at the great leaders of the middle ages one can see how they would have great tombs and final resting places created to make sure that their remains would be preserved for future generations to see and remember. It is also common to see instances where these tombs are destroyed and lost to time, and one notable example is the tomb of Enrico Dandolo, Doge of Venice. Enrico was born to a wealthy and powerful Venetian family, and he was able to rise through the ranks of the Venetian administration, eventually becoming Doge of Venice at the age of 85 and suffering from blindness. Despite his advanced age and blindness, Enrico was able to make many reforms to the Venetian legal system and strengthened Venice’s power in the Mediterranean, making the city-state one of the most powerful trade cities on the Mediterranean and a major military power in the region.

A painting of Doge Enrico Dandolo.

            Then, in 1201 Enrico agreed to build ships to transport troops (around 33,000) for the 4^th crusade, and the shipbuilders of Venice built 50 warships and 450 transports for the crusaders. When the crusaders were unable to pay for the ships, Enrico became one of the leaders of the crusade and took them on a massive diversion that ended up leading to the sack of Constantinople, which hurt the Byzantine Empire (the chief rival to Venice at the time) and proceeded with the crusade into Europe. Due to health concerns he returned to Constantinople and died in 1205 at the age of 98, and was buried in the Hagia Sophia. Enrico Dondolo’s actions would set Venice as the premier power in Italy and in the Mediterranean for centuries to come.

Enrico's tombstone in the Hagia Sophia

            While Enrico's gravestone is located at the Hagia Sophia, the tomb was destroyed by the Ottomans after they took the city of Constantinople in 1453. The marker above was created in the 19th century by a restoration team, and is the probable location of where Enrico was buried in the 13th century. Due to the destruction of the tomb, many tourists to the Hagia Sophia make the mistake of assuming that the marker signifies the location of Enrico's tomb and  that it is a medieval marker. 

Image Sources:

http://www.allempires.com/article/files/images/D1050_Lg.jpg 

https://deadliestblogpage.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/enrico-dandolo.jpg 

Information sources: 

http://www.dndjunkie.com/civilopedia/LEADER_ENRICO_DANDOLO.aspx 

http://www.allempires.com/article/index.php?q=enrico_dandolo 

Mosaics to the Past

In 1907, work began for the creation of the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis in St. Louis, Missouri. This cathedral was built to replace the previous St. Louis Cathedral built along the Mississippi River, but it had something special added to it. The Basilica of Saint Louis has the largest installation of mosaics in the Western Hemisphere. The installation of the mosaics began in 1912, two years before the Basilica was open for use. The collection contains 41.5 million glass pieces in more than 7,000 colors and in total it covers 83,000 square feet. Pictures depicted in the mosaics included images of St. Louis, significant archdiocesan events, and biblical scenes from the Old and New Testament in the Bible.

The mosaics in the basilica are more than just pieces of art they are historical references too. The mosaics are composed in two styles, Byzantine and Italian. The two styles differ in the intensity

Alter of Blessed Sacrament Chapel

of the colors used to complete the mosaics, with the Byzantine mosaics being intensely colored and the Italian being composed of muted shades. One of the most famous Byzantine mosaics that we examined in class was Emperor Justinian’s and Attendants mosaics of San Vitale, in Ravenna, Italy. The most fascinating and interesting thing about the mosaics is not just how large and impressive they are, but rather how they incorporate history from 1,367 years ago. The Basilica of Saint Louis is not just a historical homage to the patron saint of the city, but is an architectural treasure incorporating the old with the new.

Works Cited

"Cathedral Basilica Celebrates Its 100th." Explore St. Louis. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2015.http://explorestlouis.com/2014/08/06/cathedral-basilica-celebrates/

"Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2015.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_Basilica_of_Saint_Louis

That's a Hairy Situation...

Hair shirts were a form of rough cloth, usually made from goat or camel hair, and worn as a form of penance or humiliation for whoever was wearing it. It received it's Latin name cilicium from Cicilia, were the cloth was most commonly from. However, it is believed that hair shirts were used long before it was given that name. The earliest finding of the Latin word was found in the Vulgate Bible.

"Ego autem, cum mihi molesti essent, induebar cilicio."

During the early middle ages hair shirts were becoming more and more common, not only with those chasing the ascetic life, but among the average lay people as well. There are many saints who give testimony to the use of the shirts at the time. St. Jerome even mentioned that the hair shirts were commonly worn under the extravagant clothing of men with higher positions. 

Hair shirts were even used during spiritual ceremonies such as baptisms, where the candidate would stand on the hair cloth with their bare-feet during a portion of the ceremony. The hair cloth is also used during Ash Wednesday and sometimes covered the altar during penitential seasons during the year. 

Sources:

 Alston, George Cyprian. "Hairshirt." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 24 Nov. 2015 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07113b.htm>.

"Medieval Manuscripts Blog." Medieval Manuscripts Blog. N.p., Web. 24 Nov. 2015