Dr Rory MacLellan
Historian of the Hospitallers, Templars, crusades, and Jews in medieval England.
rorymaclellan.com
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- It was great speaking to @mattlewishistory.bsky.social about my book on the Knights Hospitaller in Britain and their part in everything from the earliest witch trials to the Wars of the Roses #medievalsky shows.acast.com/gone-medieva...
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- 7 years since a new 'military order' took issue with my article on them. I think they missed my followup article talking about their hilarious novel which has electronic trebuchets, a green ghost sent by God to kill Pope Francis, and the author writing himself in as the heir to Charlemagne.
- The Iron Cross-like logo definitely feels like a crusader reference, probably to the Teutonic Knights, which is odd as the UK far-right hasn't engaged with them that much. Normally their past appropriation by the Nazis was a step too far.
- Starring the Domesday Book's best names: Humphrey aurei testiculi (of the Golden-testicle) and Alfred Caddebelloc (Testicle-testicle)
- In the archives for my new postdoc on inclusive histories at Royal Holloway. Working on John and Magna Carta currently. Found a charter of Stephen Langton that he rather passive aggressively dated as 'the second year after the end of the interdict' (which John caused by opposing Langton).
- One of the key figures in the Department of Manuscripts' history. Can't imagine he'd be pleased to know that the BL today has a room named after his nemesis Panizzi but not after him.
- The life of Frederic Madden, in his words, 200 years after the events described. Transcribed from his journal by students @ies-sas.bsky.social. Released daily in 2026.👇 madden1826.com
- The tomb of Bernat Despuig (d. 1537), 12th master of the Knights of Montessa. Now in the Església del Templo in València.
- Taxidermied head of the owner's pet dog in a box at the entrance to the archive.
- In the old Department of Manuscripts archive there's a moving set of letters from the father of one of the men here, A. C. Stewart, recounting his death in battle in April 1918, just a few months after he wrote to his colleagues to say he was sure the war would be over soon.
- Reposted by Dr Rory MacLellanBritish Library staff asked for a decent pay. Instead they got ‘a few money-saving present ideas’, such as ‘consider not giving presents this holiday season’. They are on strike this week. I wrote about it for @lrb.co.uk. www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/de...
- There is an AI Christmas mural in Kingston filled with horrors to rival Bosch or Dr Moreau. The chicken-dog is my favourite.
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- Wish I had a photo of the graffiti in my old PhD office of St Hippo of Augustine, a hippo in a mitre
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- Medieval institutions were not nearly as powerful as people today imagine. The extremes discussed in this thread are much more modern threats, ones made possible by modern technology.
- The weirdest bit from my latest conference paper on Nick Griffin's band of Knights Templar cosplayers was the group's ruling on the correct pronunciation of 'Outremer', shifting from an 'Allo 'Allo reference to full on blut und boden.
- Reposted by Dr Rory MacLellan"You encounter a strange, cult-like group that lives in almost total isolation from the outside world. They jealously guard their arcane knowledge and practice some exceedingly cruel rituals."
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- Reposted by Dr Rory MacLellanBritish Library workers are sick of poor pay, overwork, and feeling the fallout of a cyber-attack which left them vulnerable to identity theft and blackmail. Now, they are going on strike for a fortnight. tribunemag.co.uk/2025/10/from...
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- Worked as the historical advisor on this and the rest of the St Wilfrid's project. Was great to see the CGI recreation of the village as it looked like when the Hospitallers were there
- Charter of John Balliol 'heir of the kingdom of Scotland' granting manors in northern England to the warlike bishop of Durham Antony Bek, 15 November 1290. LFC Ch XXX 7. #medievalsky
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- On 24th November I'll be giving a free talk in central London on the English Hospitallers in the countryside and all the feuds and fights they got into. #medievalsky www.orderofmalta.co.uk/events/chapt...
- ...are you sure, Google?
- Had a great time speaking at the Museum of the Order of St John last night about the Templars and Hospitallers and then signing some copies of my book on the Hospitallers, 'Warrior Monks', afterwards.
- Seal showing St Margaret of Antioch bursting out from the dragon that ate her and driving a staff into its mouth. LFC Ch XXVIII 2. #medievalsky
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- 13th century seal showing a hand holding a sprig of foliage. LFC Ch XXVII 15. #medievalsky
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- Seal of Henry of Winchelsea, with an impression from an intaglio gem of a lobster. LFC Ch XXVI 17. #medievalsky
- Spotted in the wild at Foyle's.
- 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...
- 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...
