Medieval Murder: A History, 1300-1500

This book explores the many types of medieval murder and many types of medieval murderers, from men killing other men in anger, envy or revenge, to women killing their husbands or their infants, from plotters assassinating their rulers to Christian mobs massacring Jews.Over six chapters, this book discusses the interpretation and debates surrounding murder. It analyses murder in the frame of Christian theology, the development of medieval law and its distinctions among other types and causes of homicide. It also looks into the links around gender and murder, analysing why men predominate in murder and so few women commit it during the medieval period. This book also looks at political assassinations and the variety and evolution of punishment for homicide. Finally, it compares and contrasts fictional narration of homicide in two literary masterpieces to those in saints’ lives and miracle stories.Medieval Murder: A History, 1300–1500 will appeal to students and scholars alike interested in medieval law, politics, society, theology and literature, as well as all those interested in medieval history in general.

About the Author

Trevor Dean is Professor Emeritus of Medieval History at the University of Roehampton (London). He has written extensively on late-medieval crime, criminality and criminal justice especially in Italy but also more broadly in Europe, investigating topics such as revenge, insult, theft, suicide, bigamy and (not least) homicide. His previous publications include Crime in Medieval Europe (2001) and Murder in Renaissance Italy edited with K.J.P. Lowe (2017).