The Maniculum Podcast

This week, we're delving into Empress Theodora's early life and rise to power as empress of the Byzantine era. From her breathtaking performances as a prostitute to her love-at-first-sight romance with Justinian as a young guard, we gather that Theodora was one hell of a woman, regardless of Prokopios' distaste for her. Check out our Kickstarter! Also, check out Gals and Goblins podcast here, and check out their TikTok and other cool content here! They've been gracious enough to share the pod and Kickstarter with their audience, and we're sharing the love - their actual play is goofy, lighthearted, and fun to listen to on commutes, in the kitchen, or while pruning your garden of poisonous plants you're planing to use to poison your evil overlord. Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch! The Beastiary Challenge! Socials: Tumblr Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Citations & References: The Secret History and another version

It's our 100th episode! Come celebrate with us as we host our second tournament - Mac and I compete with each other to see who has the best approach to listener submitted quests, with parties compiled of the characters we've collected from each episode. Special thanks to all the listeners who submitted quest ideas and questions for us to answer! WHO WON? VOTE HERE! Check out our Kickstarter! Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch! The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!) Socials: Tumblr Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Citations & References: Ulrich, Laurel Thatcher. “Vertuous Women Found: New England Ministerial Literature, 1668-1735.” American Quarterly, vol. 28, no. 1, 1976, pp. 20–40. Richard Keikhefer, Magic in the Middle Ages & Forbidden Rites - find both here! Bailey, Michael D. ‘The Disenchantment of Magic: Spells, Charms, and Superstition in Early European Witchcraft Literature.’ The American Historical Review, Vol 111, No. 2. April 2006. pp. 383-404. —. ‘The Age of Magicians: Periodization in the History of European Magic.’ Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft, Vol. 3. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2008. pp. 1-28. —. ‘The Disenchantment of Magic: Spells, Charms, and Superstition in Early European Witchcraft Literature.’ The American Historical Review, Vol. 111, No. 2. University of Pennsylvania Press, April 2006. pp. 383-404.

It's part two of the drama-filled adventure of Eliduc, the two-timing knight! In the final part of this tale, we discuss how medieval writers poke fun at the chivalric system, and explore how to adapt knighthood - in all its forms- into your D&D campaign. Our KICKSTARTER is coming up! Sign up & try it out yourself here! Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch! The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!) Socials: Tumblr Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Citations & References: The Lais of Marie de France Physical and Mental Cruelty in the &quot;Lais&quot; of Marie de France, Renee L Curtis Two for the Price of One: Courtly Love and Serial Polygamy in the &quot;Lais&quot; of Marie de France, Sharon Kinoshita

The drama of courtly love affairs - and their consequences - is back with the Lay of Eliduc! When Sir Eliduc abandons his vows after becoming a knight errant overseas, his wife and young mistress are not left helpless - together, and with a little magic, the two of them subvert expectations to force Eliuduc's hand. Check out the Kickstarter here! Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch! The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!) Socials: Tumblr Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Citations & References: The Lais of Marie de France Physical and Mental Cruelty in the &quot;Lais&quot; of Marie de France, Renee L Curtis Two for the Price of One: Courtly Love and Serial Polygamy in the &quot;Lais&quot; of Marie de France, Sharon Kinoshita

Looking for a new political-intrigue campaign, but on't want to compromise on combat and craziness? Join us this week as we explore the Nika riots, where sports fans create a gang war that nearly brings down the Byzantine empire. With unique faction styles, a political coup, and a pretender emperor, the Nika riots are the perfect ground for a successful city-wide campaign or one-shot! Check out the Kickstarter here! The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!) Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch! Socials: Tumblr Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Citations & References: The Secret History and another version Check out the Burgs &amp; Baliffs Poor Pilgrim&#x27;s Almanack! Check out the TTRPG indie publisher Lost Pages!

Happy Valentine's Day! In this episode, we delve into medieval love spells, contraception, and the challenges women faced in matters of love and pregnancy. From mysterious plants and potions to debates among theologians on abortion ethics, explore the intersection of magic, societal views, and women's health in the Middle Ages. Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch! The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!) Socials: Tumblr Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Citations & References: Bailey, Michael D. ‘The Age of Magicians: Periodization in the History of European Magic.’ Bailey, Michael D. ‘The Disenchantment of Magic: Spells, Charms, and Superstition in Early European Witchcraft Literature.’ Bailey, Michael D. ‘The Meanings of Magic.’ Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft, Kieckhefer, Richard. ‘The Specific Rationality of Medieval Magic.’ Kieckhefer, Richard. Magic in the Middle Ages. John M. Riddle, Contraception and Early Abortion in the Middle Ages Thomas R Forbes, Midwifery and Witchcraft. Lydia Harris, Evacuating the Womb: Abortion and Contraception in the High Middle Ages, circa 1050-1300. Etienne van de Walle, Flowers and Fruits: Two Thousand Years of Menstrual Regulation. John Haldane and Patrick Lee, Aquinas on Human Ensoulment, Abortion and the Value of Life. John M. Riddle and J. Worth Estes, Oral Contraceptives in Ancient and Medieval Times. John Scarborough and Andrea Fernandes, Ancient Medicinal Use of Aristolochia: Birthwort&#x27;s Tradition and Toxicity Phillip A. Bernhardt-House, The Old Irish Impotence Spell: The Dam Dli, Fergus, Fertility, and the Mythic Backround of an Irish Incantation

Ever wonder how realistic the magic items in D&D are, anyway? What are the lines between a religious token, a pagan amulet, and a giant-made sword?Join us this episode as we unlock the nature of how magic works in the middle ages, and how you can adapt historical magic techniques into your D&D campaign. Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch! The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!) Socials: Tumblr Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Citations & References: Bailey, Michael D. ‘The Age of Magicians: Periodization in the History of European Magic.’ Bailey, Michael D. ‘The Disenchantment of Magic: Spells, Charms, and Superstition in Early European Witchcraft Literature.’ Bailey, Michael D. ‘The Meanings of Magic.’ Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft, Green, Richard Firth. ‘Incubi Faries.’ Elf Queens and Holy Friars: Fairy Beliefs and the Medieval Church, Griffiths, Bill. Aspects of Anglo-Saxon Magic. Hall, Alaric. Elves in Anglo-Saxon England: Matters of Belief, Health, Gender, and Identity. Kieckhefer, Richard. ‘The Specific Rationality of Medieval Magic.’ Kieckhefer, Richard. Magic in the Middle Ages. Saunders, Corrine. Magic and the Supernatural in Medieval English Romance. Taylor, Paul Beekman. ‘The Dragon’s Treasure in “Beowulf.”’ Neuphilologische Mitteilungen, Thayer, J. D. ‘Resolving the “Double Curse” of the Pagan Hoard in Beowulf.’ f.81r of the Rutland Psalter

The drama of Prokopios' Secret History continues in this episode! We learn the secret backstory of how Justinian rose to power -- there's no dramatic coup, but we do learn the origin of the stencil, and learn how Theodora continues to strong-arm her way over a princely love triangle. Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch! The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!) Socials: Tumblr Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Sources & Citations The Secret History and another version

When four knights enter a tournament to win the same lady's hand (after she's led them all on), what could go wrong? Quite a lot, really. Join us in this episode as we explore this soap opera of a reverse-harem, medieval style. Plus, we discuss how medieval tournaments were actually set up, and how to adapt them to your D&D campaign! Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch! Socials: Tumblr Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Citations & References: The Lais of Marie de France The Medieval Tournament as Spectacle: Tourneys, Jousts and Pas d&#x27;Armes, 1100-1600 Tournament rules The Medieval Tournament: A Functional Sport of the Upper Class Our very own blog post!

Merry Christmas and happy winter holiday! Welcome to part two of our Saint Nick special, where we explore the miracles of Saint Nicholas - after his death. Join us as we explore how to adapt the humiliation of saints into your D&D game, and how you can compel your warlock patron to help you - or else. Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch! Socials: Tumblr Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Citations & References: Life of Saint Nicholas Green, Richard Firth. Elf Queens and Holy Friars: Fairy Beliefs and the Medieval Church. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2016. Link Geary, Patrick J. “Humiliation of Saints.” Living with the Dead in the Middle Ages, Cornell University Press, 1994, pp. 95–115. Link

It's the final part of Yonec, and in this episode, we explore how to adapt the Fairy Ring of General Inconspicuousness into your game, and how meta you can get with your meta-textuality. Join us and turn your next D&D game into an extra-planar fairy adventure! Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch! The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!) Socials: Tumblr Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Citations & References: The Lais of Marie de France Celtic Origins of Lais of Yonec The Anonymous Fairy-Knight Lais

Alas, poor Yonec! He doesn't feature heavily in this story, despite being its namesake. Instead, join us as we discover how his parents, a fairy bird-man and a hapless damsel with a penchant for swooning, play meta-textual games within their tale. What pros and cons come with knowing you're in a fairy tale, and are they worth it, in the end? Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch! The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!) Socials: Tumblr Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Citations & References: The Lais of Marie de France Celtic Origins of Lais of Yonec The Anonymous Fairy-Knight Lais

Welcome to the first installment of Prokopios' Secret History - look no further for the next BBEG of your D&D campaign! In this episode, Prokopios, the court historian, explains the dangers of writing his record, and why he's waited so long to divulge the depravities of the Empress of Byzantium. Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch! Socials: Tumblr Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Sources & Citations The Secret History and another version Come Out You Cuck Flag

We're joined this week by Dr. Anthony Kaldellis, a professor of Classics of the University of Chicago and a brilliant Byzantine scholar. Dr. Kaldellis grants us an inside look into the creation of the world's first gossip rag: Prokopios' Secret History, detailing all the saucy and sordid details of the Byzantium court! Check out Dr. Kaldellis' podcast, Byzantium and Friends! You can also explore his new book, The New Roman Empire: A History of Byzantium, which has just come out! Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon!  Check out our merch! Socials:  Tumblr Website Twitter  Instagram Facebook

Happy Halloween! This season, we're covering some more spooky stories of the undead. So if you're looking to incorporate some real, historical depictions of how to deal with the undead in your next D&D game, don't delay! Learn the best kept secrets of How to Win Lawsuits against your Undead Neighbors and more in this episode. Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon!  Check out our merch! Socials:  Tumblr Website Twitter  Instagram Facebook Citations & References: History of Hairshirts Quest Friends Poroniec Caesarius of Heisterbach. The Dialogue On Miracles. Translated by H. von E. Scott and C. C. Swinton Bland, vol. 2. Harcourt, Brace & Co., 1929. Grant, A. J. “Twelve Medieval Ghost Stories.” The Yorkshire Archaeological Journal, vol. 27, no. 4, pp. 363-79. Map, Walter. De Nugis Curialium (Courtiers’ Trifles). Translated by Frederick Tupper and Marbury Bladen Ogle. Macmillan, 1924. William of Newburgh. “The History of William of Newburgh.” The Church Historians of England, edited and translated by Joseph Stevenson, vol. 4. Seeleys, 1856.

Le Fresne, from the Lais of Marie de France, is like a medieval episode of "The Bachelor," but with a surprise twin twist. When two noble sisters are split up as infants and grow up to be equally gorgeous, it leads to a royal mix-up that even DNA testing couldn't solve. Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon!  Check out our merch! Socials:  Tumblr Website Twitter  Instagram Facebook Citations and References Episode 10 (June 12, 2023): &quot;Adam and Steve (what the Bible says about homosexuality)&quot; Marie de France https://www.gutenberg.org/files/11417/11417-h/11417-h.htm#VI

We're back with part two of our chat with Kate! Follow the adventures of Xuanzang, a monk with a quest for enlightenment, as he embarks on a journey to India, meeting eccentric characters, facing weird monsters, and dealing with the inner turmoils of enlightenment. Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon!  Check out our merch! Socials:  Tumblr Website Twitter  Instagram Facebook Kate’s Website : drkatehartmann.com Citations & References: Introduction to Chinese Buddhism Video What is Buddhism Video Who was the Buddha Video Buddhist meditation explained Video Xuanzang by CoolHistoryBros Video Hartmann, C. (2023), Karmic Opacity and Ethical Formation in a Tibetan Pilgrim's Diary. J Relig Eth. https://doi.org/10.1111/jore.12435 Gyatso, Janet. “One Plus One Makes Three: Buddhist Gender, Monasticism, and the Law of the Non-Excluded Middle.” History of Religions 43, no. 2 (2003): 89–115. https://doi.org/10.1086/423006.

We return to the Great Tang Records this week with a special guest, Dr. Kate Hartmann, as she provides some enlightening context surrounding Xuanzang's travel blog and hot takes on what kind of buddhism is best. Join us as we learn how reincarnation actually works, and why it's better to be a human than a god when it comes to enlightenment. Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon!  Check out our merch! Socials:  Tumblr Website Twitter  Instagram Facebook Kate’s Website : drkatehartmann.com **Citations & References: ** Introduction to Chinese Buddhism Video** What is Buddhism Video Who was the Buddha Video Buddhist meditation explained Video Xuanzang by CoolHistoryBros Video Hartmann, C. (2023), Karmic Opacity and Ethical Formation in a Tibetan Pilgrim's Diary. J Relig Eth. https://doi.org/10.1111/jore.12435 Gyatso, Janet. “One Plus One Makes Three: Buddhist Gender, Monasticism, and the Law of the Non-Excluded Middle.” History of Religions 43, no. 2 (2003): 89–115. https://doi.org/10.1086/423006.

The Lais of Guigemar is a medieval tale of romance with a magical twist that could give any modern rom-com a run for its money. When a dashing knight accidentally shoots a white doe and falls under a love curse, he's destined for a quest filled with enchanted belts, hidden desires, and a whole lot of "deer"-ly beloved drama. Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch! Socials: Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Citations & References: Marie de France https://www.gutenberg.org/files/11417/11417-h/11417-h.htm#VI

WHO or WHAT is the Abominable Whistler? What uncanny powers do they possess? These and other questions will be thoroughly elided in this week’s episode as we return to the Gesta Romanorum for more so-called "deeds of the Romans". Tune in to learn the best way to catch fish and how to lie to God. Don't miss it! Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch! Socials: Website Twitter Instagram Citations & References: Hypnogoria - on Toads: Link