History Extra Podcast: "Medieval Murders Most Foul" – Episode Summary
Release Date: March 3, 2025
Host: David Musgrove
Guest: Professor Manuel Eisner, Criminologist at the Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge
Produced by: Jack Bateman
Introduction to the Episode
In the episode titled "Medieval Murders Most Foul," hosted by David Musgrove, listeners are transported back to the tumultuous streets of medieval England. The discussion centers around Professor Manuel Eisner's groundbreaking research project, Medieval Murder Maps, which delves into the intricacies of street violence and homicide in medieval towns and cities such as Oxford, London, and York.
Overview of the Medieval Murder Maps Project
Professor Eisner introduces the Medieval Murder Maps project, explaining its aim to map out murder cases using coroner's rolls from the 14th century. These records provide detailed accounts of violent deaths, offering a rare glimpse into the social dynamics and law enforcement practices of the time.
[02:36] Professor Manuel Eisner: "Today we are talking about a gory topic, but a fascinating topic and that is murder and violence in Medieval England."
Key Findings from Medieval Homicide Records
Eisner discusses the methodology of comparing bioarchaeological data with coroner's records. Surprisingly, both methods yielded similar estimates, suggesting that approximately 2-3% of the medieval population died due to interpersonal violence—20 to 50 times higher than modern England and Wales.
[03:14] Professor Manuel Eisner: "It was about 20 to 50 times more frequent than it is currently in England and Wales."
Detailed Case Study: Michael Cardoyle's Murder
One of the episode's highlights is an in-depth exploration of a specific murder case from November 1300, where Michael Cardoyle, a goldsmith, was fatally stabbed by Robert de Elminham. The narrative, enriched with details from the coroner's records, paints a vivid picture of the confrontation and its aftermath.
[07:23] Narrator: "On Friday after the feast of St Andrew 30th of November 1300, Michael Cardoyle was found dead in his house with a stab wound that penetrated his left breast."
Patterns of Violence in Medieval Cities
Eisner reveals that violence predominantly occurred within the middle strata of medieval society, contrary to the modern association of crime with marginalized groups. The majority of both perpetrators and victims were respectable, often engaged in trades like tailoring, goldsmithing, or carpentry.
[13:43] Professor Manuel Eisner: "Everybody, actually not the majority of people who were involved in violence in the Middle Ages were as wealthy as these two people were."
Additionally, the violent acts were overwhelmingly male-to-male confrontations, with nearly 100% in Oxford and around 90% in other cities.
[16:10] Professor Manuel Eisner: "About 90% of the cases in all three cities are men fighting men. This goes up to almost 100% of all cases in Oxford."
Justice Process in Medieval Times
The episode delves into the medieval justice system, highlighting the role of coroners and juries in investigating murders. Upon discovering a body, an investigative jury was convened swiftly, usually within a day, to determine the perpetrator based on available evidence and witness testimonies.
[23:03] Professor Manuel Eisner: "If you are that perpetrator, are you basically guilty as charged, or is there a way that you can get out of this?"
The process lacked formal detective work, relying instead on the coroner's expertise and the jury's collective judgment. Interestingly, despite the harsh penalties prescribed by law, 90-95% of cases concluded with not guilty verdicts, reflecting a societal tendency to consider the context and character of the accused.
[30:03] Professor Manuel Eisner: "Only a very small minority ended up being convicted for crimes that they had probably committed."
The Role of the Murder Instrument and Its Value
A unique aspect discussed is the valuation of murder instruments—the weapons used in the crimes. Coroner's records meticulously documented the worth of these objects, serving dual purposes: assessing property confiscation and contributing to royal revenue.
[35:45] Professor Manuel Eisner: "The deodant is such a strange thing, isn't it?"
Eisner explains that weapons like Irish knives (daggers) were commonly used, especially in guild-heavy areas like Cheapside in London. The type and value of the weapon often indicated the social standing of the perpetrator.
[37:29] Matt Murdock: "An Irish knife is actually a fighting knife. It's more like a dagger."
Social Implications of the Findings
The research underscores the prevalence of public, male-dominated violence in medieval cities, drawing parallels to modern high-violence areas globally. The findings challenge contemporary stereotypes about historical societies, revealing a complex interplay between social status, occupation, and propensity for violence.
[21:14] Matt Murdock: "Domestic violence is not very often visible in these documents."
Conclusion and Resources
The episode concludes by directing listeners to the Medieval Murder Maps website, where they can explore detailed maps and listen to additional in-depth cases.
[42:37] David Musgrove: "You can check out the Medieval Murder map project@medievalmurdermap.co.uk where you can also listen to a series of in depth podcasts."
Resources Mentioned:
- Medieval Murder Maps Project: medievalmurdermap.co.uk
Featured Guest:
- Professor Manuel Eisner: Criminologist at the Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge
Produced by:
- Jack Bateman
This episode offers a compelling exploration of medieval urban violence, blending meticulous historical research with engaging storytelling to shed light on the darker aspects of England's past.