wing of the archive
The Medieval Era
Caliphs, monks, poets, and conquerors who carried learning and power through the middle centuries.
Medieval era
Daniel of Galicia
1201 – 1264
Prince of Galicia (1201-1264)
Medieval era
Theophanes the Greek
1340 – 1410
Byzantine-Russian artist (c.1340-c.1410)
Medieval era
Alexander Peresvet
c. 1301 – September 8, 1380
Russian Orthodox monk warrior, later canonizated.
Medieval era
Belisarius
505 CE – March 13, 565 CE
6th century Byzantine general instrumental in reconquest of much of the former Roman Mediterranean territories (505-565)
Medieval era
Leo III the Isaurian
675 CE – June 18, 741 CE
Emperor of Byzantine Empire
Medieval era
Irene of Athens
752 CE – August 9, 803 CE
Empress of Byzantine Empire (752-803)
Medieval era
Nikephoros II Phokas
912 CE – 969 CE
Byzantine emperor from 963 to 969
Medieval era
Zoe Porphyrogenita
978 CE – 1050
Byzantine Empress
Medieval era
John II Komnenos
September 13, 1087 – April 8, 1143
Byzantine Emperor from 1118 to 1144
Medieval era
Manuel I Komnenos
November 28, 1118 – September 24, 1180
Byzantine Emperor
Medieval era
Michael VIII Palaiologos
1224 – December 11, 1282
Founder of the Palaiologan dynasty (1224–1282)
Medieval era
Constantine XI Palaiologos
February 8, 1404 – May 29, 1453
Last Byzantine emperor, from 1449 to 1453
Medieval era
Saint Cyril
827 CE – February 14, 869 CE
Christian missionary to the Slavs (9th c.)
Medieval era
Saint Methodius
815 CE – April 6, 885 CE
Christian missionary to the Slavs
Medieval era
Peter the Hermit
1050 – July 8, 1115
11th century French Christian priest and key figure during the First Crusade
Medieval era
Baldwin I of Jerusalem
January 1, 1058 – April 2, 1118
King of Jerusalem from 1100 to 1118
Medieval era
Baldwin IV of Jerusalem
1161 – March 16, 1185
King of Jerusalem (1161-1185) (r. 1174-1185)
Medieval era
Guy of Lusignan
1150 – July 18, 1194
French Poitevin knight and King of Jerusalem by right of marriage (c.1150–1194) (r. 1186–1192)
Medieval era
Raynald of Chatillon
1120 – July 4, 1187
French crusader
Medieval era
Balian of Ibelin
1135 – 1193
Crusader and noble of the Kingdom of Jerusalem
Medieval era
Raymond IV of Toulouse
c. 1041 – June 22, 1105
Count of Toulouse (1094-1105) and Count of Tripoli (1102-1105)
Medieval era
Tancred, Prince of Galilee
1072 – December 5, 1112
Italo-Norman leader of the First Crusade (1075-1112)
Medieval era
Hugues de Payens
February 9, 1074 – May 24, 1136
Grand Master of the Knights Templar
Medieval era
Simon de Montfort
May 23, 1208 – August 4, 1265
Anglo-Norman nobleman who led a rebellion against King Henry III of England (1208-1265)
Medieval era
Pope Gregory VII
c. 1020 – May 25, 1085
Pope of the Catholic Church from 1073 to 1085
Medieval era
Pope Innocent III
February 22, 1160 – July 16, 1216
Head of the Catholic Church from 1198 to 1216
Medieval era
Pope Boniface VIII
1235 – October 11, 1303
Pope of the Catholic Church from 1294 to 1303
Medieval era
Pope Celestine V
1215 – May 19, 1296
13th‑century Italian hermit and founder of the Celestines, Catholic saint, first pope to resign
Medieval era
Pope Clement V
1264 – April 20, 1314
Pope of the Catholic Church from 1305 to 1314 (1264–1314)
Medieval era
Pope Alexander VI
January 1, 1431 – August 18, 1503
Pope of the Catholic Church 1492–1503 from the Borgia family (1430/32-1503)
Medieval era
Pope Julius II
December 5, 1443 – February 21, 1513
Pope of the Catholic Church from 1503 to 1513 (1443–1513)
Medieval era
Anselm of Canterbury
1033 – April 21, 1109
11th‑century Benedictine monk, Archbishop of Canterbury, philosopher and theologian
Medieval era
Alcuin
724 CE – May 19, 804 CE
8th-century Northumbrian scholar, clergyman, poet, and teacher
Medieval era
Isidore of Seville
560 CE – April 4, 636 CE
Hispano-Roman scholar, theologian and bishop (c. 560–636)
Medieval era
Bede
672 CE – 735 CE
Anglo-Saxon monk, writer and saint (672/3–735)
Medieval era
Saint Boniface
675 CE – June 5, 754 CE
8th‑century Anglo‑Saxon bishop and missionary, Catholic saint and martyr, known as the ‘Apostle to the Germans’
Medieval era
Columba
December 7, 521 CE – June 9, 597 CE
6th‑century Gaelic Irish missionary monk, Christian saint, pioneer of Celtic Christianity in Scotland and “Apostle of the Picts”
Medieval era
Columbanus
540 CE – November 23, 615 CE
Irish missionary and saint (540-615)
Medieval era
Cuthbert
635 CE – March 20, 687 CE
7th-century Anglo-Saxon bishop, monk, hermit and saint (635–687)
Medieval era
Adalbert of Prague
956 CE – April 23, 997 CE
Bohemian missionary and saint (c.956–997)
Medieval era
John of Damascus
675 CE – December 4, 749 CE
Christian monk, priest, hymnographer and apologist (675/6-749)
Medieval era
Peter Lombard
c. 1100 – 1160
Medieval priest and theologian
Medieval era
Albertus Magnus
1193 – 1280
German-Dominican friar and saint (c. 1200–1280)
Medieval era
Duns Scotus
1265 – November 8, 1308
Priest, friar, philosopher, theologian, college teacher
Medieval era
William of Ockham
1285 – April 9, 1349
English Franciscan friar and theologian (c.1287–1347)
Medieval era
Roger Bacon
1220 – 1292
English polymath, philosopher and friar (c.1219/20–c.1292)
Medieval era
Meister Eckhart
1260 – January 28, 1328
German philosopher and theologian
Medieval era
Nicholas of Cusa
1401 – August 11, 1464
German philosopher (1401 – 1464)
Medieval era
Marsilio Ficino
October 19, 1433 – October 1, 1499
Italian philosopher and Catholic priest (1433–1499)
Medieval era
Pico della Mirandola
February 24, 1463 – November 17, 1494
Italian Renaissance philosopher (1463–1494)
Medieval era
Bridget of Sweden
1303 – July 23, 1373
Swedish nun, mystic, and saint (c.1303–1373)
Medieval era
Margery Kempe
b. 1373
British Christian mystic and author
Medieval era
Pope Formosus
816 CE – April 4, 896 CE
Pope
Medieval era
Solomon ibn Gabirol
1021 – 1058
11th-century Andalusian poet and Jewish philosopher
Medieval era
Benjamin of Tudela
1130 – 1174
Jewish explorer and writer
Medieval era
Gildas
500 CE – January 29, 570 CE
6th-century British monk, writer and saint
Medieval era
Paul the Deacon
720 CE – 799 CE
8th century Benedictine monk, scribe and historian
Medieval era
Liutprand of Cremona
c. 922 CE – 972 CE
Italian historian, diplomat, and Bishop of Cremona (920-972)
Medieval era
Adam of Bremen
c. 1100 – c. 1085
11th-century German historian and chronicler
Medieval era
William of Tyre
1130 – 1186
Medieval prelate and chronicler, archbishop of Tyre