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Home / Periods / Medieval Period / High Medieval

Period

High Medieval

c. 1000–1300 CE

The High Medieval period was an age of growth, consolidation, and outward expansion. Europe saw stronger monarchies, a growing aristocratic culture, major church reform, new religious orders, crusading movements, town growth, and expanding trade. Castles, cathedrals, abbeys, and universities became visible symbols of this world.

The period matters because many features associated with classic medieval history reached their clearest form. Knightly warfare, courtly politics, feudal obligations, dynastic marriage, ecclesiastical authority, and urban commerce all shaped daily life and high politics. Its conflicts often turned on inheritance, legitimacy, landholding, faith, and honour.

Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth, Ellis Peters’s Cadfael mysteries, Ariana Franklin’s Mistress of the Art of Death, and Elizabeth Chadwick’s novels are useful anchors for this period. High medieval fiction often follows cathedral builders, monks, physicians, merchants, sheriffs, queens, crusaders, and noble families caught between church, crown, and local power.

Related people for High Medieval

Abd-ar-Rahman III891–961 Adhemar of Le Puyc. 1045–1098 Al-Ashraf Khalilc. 1262–1293 Al-Musta’sim1212–1258 Alan Rufus11th century–1093 Alv Erlingssonc. 13th century–1290 Amalric I of Jerusalem1136–1174 Baibarsc. 1223–1277 Baldwin IV of Jerusalemborn 1161 Balian of Ibelinc. 1143–1193 Berengaria of Navarrec. 1165–1230 Blanche of Castile1188–1252 Bohemond I of Antiochc. 1054–1111 Brian Boru941–1014 Cadwaladr ap Gruffuddc. 1100–1172 Charles I of Anjou1227–1285 Cnut the Great994–1035 Conrad of Montferrat1146–1192 Copsid. 1067 David I of Scotland1084–1153 Eadric the Wildfl. 1067–1070 Edgar Æthelingc. 1052–after 1125 Edith of Wessexdied 1075 Edith the Fairc. 1025–c. 1086 Edward, the Black Prince1330–1376 Edward Bruce1275–1318 Edward III of England1312–1377 Edward II of England1284–1327 Edward I of England1239–1307 Edward the Confessordied 1066 Eleanor of Aquitaine1124–1204 Eleanor of Castile1241–1290 Eleanor of Provencec. 1223–1291 Empress Matilda1102–1167 Enrico Dandoloc. 1107–1205 Eric II of Norway1268–1299 Frederick Barbarossa1122–1190 Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor1194–1250 Genghis Khan1162–1227 Geoffrey de Mandeville, 1st Earl of Essex1092–1144 Gerald de Windsor1070–1136 Godfrey of Bouillonc. 1060–1100 Godwin, Earl of Wessexdied 1053 Gospatric, Earl of Northumbriac. 1040–c. 1074 Gruffudd ap Cynan1055–1137 Guillaume de Beaujeuc. 1233–1291 Gunhild of Wessexc. 1055–1097 Guy of Lusignan1150–1194 Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd1097–1136 Gytha of Wessexc. 1053–late 11th/early 12th century Gytha Thorkelsdóttirc. 1010–after 1068 Harald III of Norway1015–1066 Harold Godwinson1022–1066 Henry III of England1207–1272 Henry II of England1133–1189 Henry I of England1068–1135 Henry of Blois1096–1171 Henry the Young King1155–1183 Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor1165–1197 Hereward the Wakefl. 1069–1071 Hulagu Khan1217–1265 Imad ad-Din Zengi1085/1087–1146 Ingeborg of Denmark, Queen of Norway1244–1287 Innocent IIIc. 1160s–1216 Isabella I of Jerusalem1172–1205 Isabella of France1295–1358 Joan, Lady of Wales1191–1237 Joan of England, Queen of Sicily1165–1199 John, King of England1166–1216 John Marshal1105–1165 John of Gaunt1340–1399 Josce de Dinan1116–1167 Kaloyan of Bulgaria1168–1207 Kerboghad. 1102 Khutulunc. 1260–c. 1306 Kublai Khan1215–1294 Leopold V, Duke of Austria1157–1194 Llywelyn ap Gruffudd1220–1282 Llywelyn the Great1173–1240 Louis IX of France1214–1270 Louis VIII of France1187–1226 Louis VII of France1120–1180 Manfred, King of Sicily1232–1266 Margaret of Provence1221–1295 Matilda of Flanders1031–1083 Nest ferch Rhys1085–1136 Niketas Choniates1155–1217 Osulf II of Bamburghd. 1067 Owain Gwyneddc. 1100–1170 Peter the Hermitc. 1050–1115 Philip II of France1165–1223 Pope Urban IVc. 1195–1264 Raheredied 1144 Raymond IV, Count of Toulousec. 1041–1105 Raymond Roger Trencavel1185–1209 Raynald of Châtillon1120–1187 Richard I of England1157–1199 Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester1090–1147 Robert Curthose1054–1134 Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester1104–1168 Robert de Cominesd. 1069 Robert I, Count of Artois1216–1250 Robert of Jumiègesc. 11th century–1055 Robert Pennantdied 1168 Robert the Bruce1274–1329 Roger de Clintonc. 11th century–1148 Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March1287–1330 Rosamund Cliffordc. 1150–c. 1176 Saladin1138–1193 Shirkuhd. 1169 Sibylla of Jerusalem1160–1190 Simon de Montfort, 5th Earl of Leicesterc. 1175–1218 Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester1208–1265 Sordelloc. 1200–c. 1269 Stephen, King of England1095–1154 Thomas Aquinas1225–1274 Thorfinn of Hamardied 1285 Tostig Godwinsonc. 1026–1066 Urban IIc. 1035–1099 Vladimir II Monomakh1053–1125 William Adelin1103–1120 William FitzAlan, Lord of Oswestry1105–1160 William II of England1060–1100 William II of Sicily1155–1189 William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke1146–1219 William the Conqueror1028–1087 William Wallace1270–1305

Series

Series about High Medieval (1 series)

The Bloody Hand Saga in Order

by David Pilling 9 books 4.3(4,249)

The Bloody Hand Saga follows Thorkell Skaldsson from the English resistance to Norman rule into exile and service in the Byzantine world. Beginning with rebellion in the Danelaw and the Harrying of the North, the series expands into the wars of Emperor Alexios I, the Norman invasion of…

Books

30 Best Novels About the High Middle Ages

Non-Fiction

30 Best Non-Fiction Books About the High Middle Ages

Histories, biographies and reference works are listed separately from the historical novels above.