War Trauma in Medieval Europe

The study of medieval combat trauma is a fledgling field, despite the wealth of both sources and studies of medieval warfare. While some research considers individual aspects of trauma, few works engage with the difficult and changing theories on the causes and consequences of psychological trauma in wartime, or apply that theoretical knowledge in an historically appropriate way. This book offers the first detailed analysis of the relevant theories and their applicability to narratives written about medieval war. In doing so, it not only demonstrates how the difficult issue of identifying evidence for trauma can be tackled, but also suggests new ways of looking at the medieval experience of war.

Kathryn Hurlock is Professor of Religious and Military History at Manchester Metropolitan University. She has published widely on the history of crusading and pilgrimage, and on medieval combat trauma.