What Was Life Really Like for Medieval Nobility in Europe? 

I'm a de Vere living in Brisbane, Australia. My great grandfather (Horace de Vere) came from England in the late 1800's

This new series with Eleanor is amazing! She never sounds like she's reading a script, just like she's telling us stuff she knows. More more more please!

The part where she talked about the fact that this family is violent, that they rule via violence, made me so happy. History was/is often taught by reframing that, and not directly calling it what it is.

Felt like I was on a personal tour of this castle and history, thank you!

I so thoroughly enjoy Eleanor as a presenter. She has such a smooth way of explaining things and keeping it interesting. Never drawn out or pretentious!

Saw Janega in the thumbnail and hit play so fast 😄 I love the way she explains history and makes it come alive, with a touch of humour and heaps of interesting knowledge.

I remember the castle from before it was restored. We used it as our scout hut in the 1960's and we had free run of the grounds. Each patrol used one of the alcoves in the guard room as it's base but the upstairs was closed and I think unsafe. I remember Musette Majendie and met her several times when she would hand out badges or attend troupe parades. It all looks very different now!

One point about the slit windows on the ground floor: They weren't just windows, it was arrow slits. In the event of an attack on the castle - if it reached the keep - arrows/crossbow bolts would be pelting the attackers from inside and the attackers had little chance to retaliate. So yes, people living there had very little light from the windows but the narrow windows were a defensive feature.

We need a Sitcom about Peasants in Medieval England. Call it “ Good Lord”Do it Monty Python style

As a fable goes, a dog and a horse argue who's more important. The dog says, I am because I guard everything. The horse says, if it was not for my work, there'd be nothing for you to guard.

Dear profesor Janega, I am so so happy to see your videos, because I am from Czech Republic - medieval Bohemian kingdom and also I am a great history and medieval fan. Your doctoral thesis about Jan Milíč and the king Karel IV. made me so happy. Please, excuse my bad english, I am an enternal beginner. I wish you all the best and if you will sometimes be by the chance in Opava, where we are from, you are cordially invited to visit us. And of course, if you can not, we wish you many achievements with your work and your videos. Heartily thank you.

I've actually stood in that Minstrel's Gallery playing guitar. About thirty years ago which, I suppose, is like yesterday to a castle that's been around for nearly a millennium!

Thank you for actually taking the time to appreciate the people who helped build and maintain this castle & the lands/buildings that surrounded it. It’s sad that those people in history are often forgotten

I learned, about ten years ago, my grandfather of many centuries ago (the 1300’s) was Richard de Vere, the Earl of Oxford. I learned from you, Dr. Janega, some of the history of the de Vere family and I thank you. I also appreciate contributions of facts from the many comments. Thank you. I only knew of the family name and nothing more. The architecture of the castle and how it came from the invasion of another country is fascinating. I will continue with this channel to learn more of English history and all of Europe.

Excellent series, I liked learning those small details about architecture, how such a castle and its buildings are built... One thing that stood out was "it's difficult to aneliate such a wealth from a family" and vice-versa for peasants. Well, today it's exactly the same: we have boards of directors, politicians, bankers... which are the new nobility. They will never lose their money, they will only amass more and we commoners are subject to crisis, shortages, wars... which are caused by those very nobles.

The monks were praying 'for' the deceased not 'to', I imagine. Great content, exactly the sort of practical history I love.

This is a really great series for anyone with a passion for history - this particular episode really highlights how the different levels of society were interlinked. Great stuff - please keep making more content like this!

Found this video really interesting! My brother got married in this castle in early 2020 (in the banqueting hall) and we went to the different levels of the castle for the different parts of the wedding. Really cool to learn more about it

I saw a Time Team episode awhile back about Dover Castle. The castle was restored back to what it looked like when built --- all the bright gaudy colors and all.

The sad part is that we tend to think of the system of serfdom, or royals, nobles and peasants is a thing of the distant past, when in fact it never went away, just evolved. We pretty much live under the same system now as people did then. The wealthy and powerful own or control the resources with their own personal armies, while we, the peasants, do all the hard work, and hand over our money in taxes to fund those in power. Then they let us have just enough to keep us from rising up. The one difference is they let us peasants falsely believe that we too, with enough hard work, could have the opportunity to reach the ranks of the nobility one day, whereas the peasants back then knew they would never be allowed into that club. Funny how much things change without changing much at all

One small point missing about Castle Heddingham is that it holds 1 of the 2 "Original" Signed Copies of the Magna Carta, the other Signed Copy is at Runnymeed on the River Thames.

I love these videos by Eleanor Janega, she explains things so clearly and interestingly.

I do love listening to Dr. Janega's videos! This was wonderful, thank you so much!

Another excellent documentary and presentation. A wonderful historian. Thank you Eleanor.

I was lead to believe that the slit windows at the bottom were to protect the castle from invaders and not because the poor were at the bottom.

Eleanor's extensive knowledge and warm personality contribute to the stunning visuals to make this an extremely enjoyable watch.

Fantastic content. I appreciate Eleanor's enthusiasm!

I sort of get the point she is trying to make about the windows but it's more that the higher status functions were put on the upper levels so that the larger windows could correlate to the need for less security. They weren't going to put larger windows on the lower floors of a defensive structure

This is excellent! Eleanor can explain things so well. So glad she has joined History Hit!

This is an amazing series of videos, loving them

You bring it all to life! Wonderful tour and you can just hear the sounds and smell the smells from the kitchens and such.

This is so well done. I learned alot. Thank you so much I hope Eleanor will continue to film videos like this. Wonderful to share with students in an educational context. It is credible and fact-filled, not filler or time wasted swanning around making it about the presenter. Eleanor just delivers interesting point after interesting point. Great to see inside that castle and house.

Excellent series, great content. Thank you!

This series with Eleanor Janega was very enjoyable. I can't wait for the next!

Great to have Eleanor linking the architecture of the castle with what would have been going on in the surrounding community.

The thousands who we don’t see are definitely just as important, if not more so. Thank you this was a very fun tidbit of history for me.✌️💗🤘

Eleanor!! One of my favorites, she’s so wonderful and well spoken yet easy to understand.

These videos are fantastic, always worth watch. Way better than some of the crud you see on TV.

I LOVED this series!!! More please.

I love Eleanor Janega. A great historian. I always wonder how is it feel like living in a castle 🏰 in medieval times.

Very, very well done. Impressive in scope. Spoken dynamically. Excellent. Thank you for your efforts!

I really enjoyed this - didn't want it to end! I would have liked to know a bit more about the family's relationship(s) with the reigning soverign(s) but still, great show!

Really nice summary, thanks Eleanor.

Enjoy Dr Janega so much! Fascinating

Me too, from the Netherlands: a great explication (both informative and entertaining) of the topics of castles and life inside (and around) them. Besides, these rooftop matters were entirely new to me. On the topic of the kitchen (with its fires) far from the public and private spaces: I don't know about England, but the Dutch farm (with a thatched roof) where my father grew up had a separate sort of shed ("bakhuis", translates to "baking house") that featured the oven.

Thank you for another fantastic episode! I am so glad that I am living now -even though life is complicated & scary in different ways - i can deal with NOW eadier.

Love this series. Thank you.

Yay I love these! She’s great. Keep these coming. They are fascinating

Hedingham Castle, I learned to walk on the grounds there as I lived a cow's field behind it!🥰

Mistake at the beginning! Motte is the keep/bit at the top. The Bailey is the bit that surrounds it. Castle building 101 🤷🏻‍♂️ Defend the Bailey then retreat to the Motte.

Really enjoying these, informative and entertaining as well

Great narration. Excellent explanation of life during that period.

Thoroughly enjoyed this series

So little has changed. Thank you for the true history ❤

A playlist of these videos is needed.

Insiders look at a blessed existence, very well done. Thank you.

I love this lady’s videos!! I could listen to Eleanor all day

I love this lady , as an Englishman who is a republican , she is showing the historical truth about the royal hierarchy, which even today is misrepresented by all the media channels in the UK including the BBC , and sadly the average Brit is too ignorant to understand the historical roots of the royal family and the current establishment.

Dr Janega is an excellent instructor and presenter.

I was fortunate that I visited the Devere castle when I was in England and am enjoying a virtual tour again with you.

This is where Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, was born and lived until his father, John de Vere, 16th Earl of Oxford, died (perhaps murdered). Edward then was sent to live with William Cecil, Lord Burghley and chief advisor to Queen Elizabeth I.

This lady is awesome.

Great research. Great content. Great presentation. Just all and all a great series!

Always Love videos with Doc Eleanor. It's like she was there.

Excellent and informative series...thank you( history Hit) channel...

So much history, So little time. Thanks to Eleanor......

Thank you dr.Janega for the amazing video

Yes! Beautifully spoken.Great History Hit!

"if you're bringing a huge banquet up to the banqueting floor which is on the second floor you need to make sure it is piping hot in order to get across the yard". I have read quite a bit on medieval dining and the "removes" which we would now call "courses" and from what I have read it seems temperature was not an issue and that most dishes were served cold. I would love to know the sources that show it was served hot as this is not the impression I have been given from the current history, the fact the courses were indeed served hot is interesting.

Stumbled across this and Eleanor is fabulous. Subscribed it’s a no brainier. Eleanor’s style, knowledge and humour has me hooked. Thank you

Love it & Dr. Janega! More, more!👏

This is awesome! Love learning new stuff.

Pretty sure that the lowest windows are narrow as part of the fortifications, making them hard to get into. but still able to fire arrows out of.

Dr. Janega just can't miss. Thank you for another wonderful tour through history!

I freaking love 💕 this series! Eleanor Janet’s is so awesome-smart, funny, & down to earth-very relateable

'Rich guys tag!' Love it! Your commentary is insightful with a great sense of humor. You have a wonderful mixture of knowledge mixed with a sense of gaiety! 😊

Since I am descended from the Weirs and De Veres, this ruffles my ego really effing hard. I knew about my ancestors, but I didn´t know they were this powerful. I thought they were like any other noble family. I am really proud of them.

I love how Dr Janega articulates the details of a different era.

A simple, direct, comprehensive program more pointedly expository than nearly anything I have yet seen on Norman life and culture.

Well explained and highly interesting.

Really well done and fascinating video. Your presenter Eleanor rocks!

Love Janega! Would love to see her explain more about history

I thoroughly enjoyed the presenter. Her love for the subject really came through.

Thank you for shedding light on my ancestors.

Really enjoyed this video. Greetings from Germany

Great content!

Excellent! My first exposure to Elenor! Will be looking for more.

Such a great video!

I'm a simple man, I see Dr Janega, I click

As ever, the perfect blend of relatability and erudition from the wonderful Dr Eleanor. I always try to imagine what these chevron arch decorations would have looked like if painted.. Really enjoyable and informative. Impressive. ⭐👍

Excellently done ‼️🎉🛖⚔️🛡️⚜️

Excellent material 👌

I love Dr. Janega's work and her fascinating windows into medieval life. She brings the past to life with such enthusiasm. I also appreciate that she takes time to tell the stories of those often forgotten in traditional histories. I'm a bit surprised and dismayed, though, that she made a very basic error about what a motte-and-bailey castle is. She described it as follows: "This is a perfect example of what we call a motte-and-bailey defensive structure. So a bunch of people from the local area -- probably serfs -- would have been forced to come dig out a bunch of ground and build these foundations themselves in a defensive structure. Then, on top of that you have the bailey, in this case the keep that you can see here. What we're unfortunately missing here would be what we call a curtain wall. So, it would have been a defensive wall on top of the motte itself around the edges. That would be where you would defend a castle in the first instance. If everything goes wrong, you then retreat inside the bailey itself with the entire household.... By very virtue of the motte, you have to get in over a bridge." This is a widespread, but fundamental, misconception about what a motte and a bailey are. *Motte* is not an antecedent of the word "moat," despite the superficial similarities. Motte comes from the Old French _mote_ and refers to a mound or a hill, as the _OED_ helpfully explains. It's a recent word, only coined for discussing castles in the 1800s. So, the motte isn't a moat, and it's not the keep, either. The motte is just the hummocky bit upon which the central structure of the castle (usually a keep) sits. Motte-and-bailey castles _did_ usually have a moat around them, but that's a separate feature that isn't integral to the definition. The curtain wall encircles both the motte (which might have its own wall or stockade) *and* a flat, low-lying area around the mound. That open area, which would contain any ancillary structures, is the *bailey* itself. A moat, if present, would be dug around the bailey, external to the curtain wall. However, the motte would remain a separately-defensible structure within the bailey. The bailey would not be concentric, necessarily. More often, the bailey would only occupy perhaps a 90- to 120-degee arc around the motte, sufficient for the necessary structures (stable, guardhouse, chapel, etc.), but small enough to limit the amount of encircled area (and thus save building costs for the outer wall). The curtain wall would sweep around this whole space, but then be much closer to the base of the motte around the other 240 to 270 degrees of arc. Some castles even had multiple outer cordons, guarding approaches to the castle from multiple directions. This is the case with Windsor Castle, a fortress with one motte, but two baileys. So, motte-and-bailey really means mound-and-field, not moat-and-tower.

Eleanor is an absolutely wonderful presenter. Would love to see more videos with her as the host.

What a great teacher. The way she narrates leaves me suspended

Great video! Thanks

I appreciate that she ended this episode with a nod to the people that actually did the work and made it possible for the rich to be rich.

My mum used to take me to Hedingham Castle sometimes when I was a kid. It's a really fantastic place. Confusingly Hedingham Castle is found in a village called Castle Hedingham. Great to have a tour of the place with Dr Janega.

Excellent presentation!

Fascinating, thank you.