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The Miscellaneous Medieval Illustrations ClipArt gallery offers 84 illustrations of life in the Middle Ages.

Illustration of an aerial view of an 11th century Norman castle in Europe. From this view, it is possible to see the outer wall, moat, outer and inner courts, the keep, turrets, stables and other interior buildings. There is a palisade of stakes around the moat.

An 11th Century Norman Castle, Aerial View

Illustration of an aerial view of an 11th century Norman castle in Europe. From this view, it is possible…

An aerial view of a German Benedictine Monastery compound. A small town is nestled at the foot of a hill in the background. The monastery includes a ditch surrounding the outer wall, stables, gardens, graveyard, workshops, church, cloister, living quarters, and various other buildings. It is pictured as it would have looked at the end of the Middle Ages.

A German Benedictine Monastery with a Small Town in the Background - Aerial View

An aerial view of a German Benedictine Monastery compound. A small town is nestled at the foot of a…

Illustration of the storefront of a medieval shop on a street with buildings on either side. Spires rise in the background. Much of the architecture is in the Gothic style. Two men stand in the street. Two women stand just outside the shop. What appears to be a statue of an angel with a sword adorns the outside wall of the shop.

A Medieval Shop, Storefront

Illustration of the storefront of a medieval shop on a street with buildings on either side. Spires…

Leading alphabet of antiquity. Included is Punic (Western Semitic from Carthage, North Africa - now extinct), Pelasgian (a form of Greek), Phoenician (Northern Semitic language), Ancient Hebraic or Samaritan (an ancient group closely related to Semitics), and Greek.

Alphabet of Antiquity

Leading alphabet of antiquity. Included is Punic (Western Semitic from Carthage, North Africa - now…

Illustration of an English king between AD 800 and 1000. The king is very likely King Alfred who reigned from 871-899. The king is wearing a tunic and fur-trimmed cloak, along with striped tights and no shoes. He is looking up in an awkward position. His crown has three prongs. Both hands are raised in the air.

An English King from the 9th or 10th Century, Possibly King Alfred

Illustration of an English king between AD 800 and 1000. The king is very likely King Alfred who reigned…

An ancient crown/turban.

ancient crown/turban

An ancient crown/turban.

Ancient harp.

Ancient harp

Ancient harp.

A primitive candle lantern originally made by the Anglo-Saxons during the time of Alfred the Great. The lanthorn is made of horn and wood.

Anglo-Saxon Candle Lantern Called a Lanthorn

A primitive candle lantern originally made by the Anglo-Saxons during the time of Alfred the Great.…

A woman stands in several layers of clothing. The dress usually included a cloak, an overdress, an under-dress, and head-covering. Her arms are bent at the elbow and her hands are raised.

Anglo-Saxon Female Costume from 10th Century England

A woman stands in several layers of clothing. The dress usually included a cloak, an overdress, an under-dress,…

Illustration of an Anglo-Saxon manor house or noble's house from 11th century England. There are several porticoes and entrances to the house. People huddle in the entryways, some have shields and spears. An animal head with antlers is at the pinnacle of one roof. The lord and lady are giving alms to several poor people in the courtyard. There is a line of men with canes, a group filling large pottery jars, and a line of people reaching for alms.

Anglo-Saxon Manor House, Circa 11th Century

Illustration of an Anglo-Saxon manor house or noble's house from 11th century England. There are several…

"The amphitheater was made a fortress, packed with houses, in the eighth century, on account of Saracen incursions."—Myers, 1905

The Amphitheater at Arles

"The amphitheater was made a fortress, packed with houses, in the eighth century, on account of Saracen…

An example of a weapon used during biblical times.

Battering Ram

An example of a weapon used during biblical times.

The Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170.

The Murder of Thomas Becket

The Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170.

Illustration of the head of a bishop's staff, also called a crosier. The head is a serpent curled around another reptilian figure and a man with a staff. The serpent symbolizes that the bishop is responsible for the blood of his parish. The lower part is highly ornamented with vines, etc.

Bishop's Staff - Head with Serpent Design

Illustration of the head of a bishop's staff, also called a crosier. The head is a serpent curled around…

"This fortress was founded by Edward I in 1283. It is one of the most impressive of the decayed medieval strongholds of the British Isles."—Myers, 1905

Carnarvon Castle

"This fortress was founded by Edward I in 1283. It is one of the most impressive of the decayed medieval…

An example of a medieval castle.

Typical Medieval Castle

An example of a medieval castle.

Illustration of the Cathedral at Monreale, near Palermo. It is an example of Sicilian and Norman architecture. Construction was begun in 1174. The interior includes monolithic columns with Corinthian capitals. There are numerous pointed arches. Mosaics cover all of the interior walls and ceilings.

Cathedral of Monreale - Interior View

Illustration of the Cathedral at Monreale, near Palermo. It is an example of Sicilian and Norman architecture.…

This illustration shows one fragment of a French cloister built in the Middle Ages. The architecture is Gothic, with pointed arches and vaulted ceilings, Two monks huddle in the passageway. This cloister looks very similar to the cloister at Mont Saint Michel Abbey, though it is not labeled as such.

A Cloister at a French Monastery from the Middle Ages

This illustration shows one fragment of a French cloister built in the Middle Ages. The architecture…

"The trial by combat, or wager of battle, was a solemn judicial duel. It was resorted to in the belief that God would give victory to the right."—Myers, 1905

Trial by Combat

"The trial by combat, or wager of battle, was a solemn judicial duel. It was resorted to in the belief…

"A count and his wife granting a charter to a city."—Myers, 1905

A Count and His Wife

"A count and his wife granting a charter to a city."—Myers, 1905

A castle courtyard.

Castle Courtyard

A castle courtyard.

A medieval crown.

Crown

A medieval crown.

Antique crown with headdress.

A Crown

Antique crown with headdress.

Reception of Crusaders by the King of Hungary.

Reception of Crusaders by the King of Hungary

Reception of Crusaders by the King of Hungary.

"Cosmas lived in the sixth Christian century. In the cut here reproduced from his Topography, he ridicules the idea of a round earth with people on the under side whose heads hand downwards. The views of Cosmas as to the existence of an antipodal people had defenders throughout the medieval centuries."—Myers, 1905

The Antipodes in Derision

"Cosmas lived in the sixth Christian century. In the cut here reproduced from his Topography, he ridicules…

"There are two large volumes of the survey, one being a folio of 760 pages and the other a large octavo of 900 pages. The strong box shown in the cut is the chest in which the volumes were formerly kept."—Myers, 1905

Domesday Book

"There are two large volumes of the survey, one being a folio of 760 pages and the other a large octavo…

The drawbridge of a castle.

Drawbridge

The drawbridge of a castle.

"The Huns sweeping everything before them as they invade Europe."—Gordy, 1912

Huns Invading Europe

"The Huns sweeping everything before them as they invade Europe."—Gordy, 1912

A high-born, noblewoman rides a stallion while holding a falcon perched on her right hand. She is wearing a falconry glove and holds the horses reins in her left hand. She is wearing the traditional dress for the upper class during the late Middle Ages, or Medieval period, including a piece of fabric wrapped over her head and down around her neck. The ends of the fabric fly out over her shoulders as she rides. Only the front hooves of the horse are visible. A man on horseback follows her in the background.

Falconry as Practiced by a Noblewoman of the Middle Ages on Horseback

A high-born, noblewoman rides a stallion while holding a falcon perched on her right hand. She is wearing…

A garland and diadem.

garland and diadem

A garland and diadem.

The Gauntlet is a piece of protective armor for the hand, dating back to the 12th century. The first gauntlets were leather covered gloves with an unarticulated metal back. They evolved from the chain mail bag, which , in the 12th century, terminated at the sleeves of the hauberk. The gauntlet of the 14th century had separate, but unjointed fingers. This gauntlet was superseded by the 'mitten'.

Gauntlet

The Gauntlet is a piece of protective armor for the hand, dating back to the 12th century. The first…

Illustration of a town in Germany during the late Middle Ages, or medieval period. The town sits on the Main River, which is labeled "Moenus". A bridge spans the river and a fortress, possibly Fortress Marienberg sits on a hill in the right background. The majority of the city sprawls out over the left portion of the drawing. Low unoccupied hills are visibly in the background

A German Town on the Main River, Possibly Würzburg

Illustration of a town in Germany during the late Middle Ages, or medieval period. The town sits on…

A close-up, front view of the gold Alfred Jewel, which was made in the late 9th century. The inscription reads "aelfred mec heht gewyrcan", which means "Alfred had me wrought". You can clearly see the animal head at the base and the snout, which would have been hollow so that a rod could be fitted onto the jewel.

The Gold Alfred Jewel, Front View

A close-up, front view of the gold Alfred Jewel, which was made in the late 9th century. The inscription…

A close-up, side view of the gold Alfred Jewel, which was made in the late 9th century. The inscription reads "aelfred mec heht gewyrcan", which means "Alfred had me wrought". You can clearly see the animal head at the base and the snout, which would have been hollow so that a rod could be fitted onto the jewel.

The Gold Alfred Jewel, Side View

A close-up, side view of the gold Alfred Jewel, which was made in the late 9th century. The inscription…

A habergeon, or coat of mail, used by soldiers during medieval times.

Habergeon

A habergeon, or coat of mail, used by soldiers during medieval times.

"Grinding with a hand-mill in the fourteenth century, as pictured in an old manuscript."—Gordy, 1912

Grinding with a Handmill

"Grinding with a hand-mill in the fourteenth century, as pictured in an old manuscript."—Gordy, 1912

Two young men prepare the field using a simple harrow pulled by a horse. One man follows behind the harrow. He is wearing a short tunic and his hood is pushed back. The other man goes in front of the horse, guiding it, and using a whip to drive it forward. Two birds fly overhead.

Harrowing a Field for Farming in the Middle Ages

Two young men prepare the field using a simple harrow pulled by a horse. One man follows behind the…

The Battle of Hastings, as depicted on the Bayeux tapestry.

Battle of Hastings

The Battle of Hastings, as depicted on the Bayeux tapestry.

An illustration of angles and a knight surrounding the holy grail.

Holy Grail

An illustration of angles and a knight surrounding the holy grail.

"A fief was conferred by a very solemn and peculiar ceremony called homage. The person about to become a vassal, kneeling with uncovered head, placed his hands in those of his future lord and solemnly vowed to be henceforth his man and to serve him faithfully even with his life. This part of the ceremony, sealed with a kiss, was what properly constituted the ceremony of homage."—Myers, 1905

The Ceremony of Homage

"A fief was conferred by a very solemn and peculiar ceremony called homage. The person about to become…

From the ninth to seventh century BCE in northern Iraq.

Human headed winged lion

From the ninth to seventh century BCE in northern Iraq.

"Pope Urban II presiding over the council of Clermont in 1095 and calling the Christian people to the first crusade for the deliverance of the Holy Land, after an engraving of the sixteenth century."—Gordy, 1912

Pope Urban II

"Pope Urban II presiding over the council of Clermont in 1095 and calling the Christian people to the…

"Investiture of a bishop by a king through the giving of the crosier, or pastoral staff."—Myers, 1905

Investiture

"Investiture of a bishop by a king through the giving of the crosier, or pastoral staff."—Myers, 1905

Illustration of a knight, riding a horse at full gallop, carrying a javelin and wearing full armor. A woman's sleeve streams from his left shoulder. He wears the sleeve as a favor from the woman. The illustration is from Viollet-le-Duc's "Dictionary du Mobilier francais.,

A Knight on Horseback, Wearing a Woman's Sleeve as a Favor

Illustration of a knight, riding a horse at full gallop, carrying a javelin and wearing full armor.…

"At the age of twenty-one the squire became a knight, being then introduced to the order of knighthood by a peculiar and impressive service."—Myers, 1905

Arming a Knight

"At the age of twenty-one the squire became a knight, being then introduced to the order of knighthood…

A ritual where a knight is stripped of his position due to discipline.

Degradation of a Knight

A ritual where a knight is stripped of his position due to discipline.

A medal of Antioch engraved with an image of Nemesis, the goddess of divine punishment.

Medal of Antioch

A medal of Antioch engraved with an image of Nemesis, the goddess of divine punishment.

A medal of Aradus depicting a fly on one side, which appears to commemorate Jupiter. The other side depicts the stag with a palm tree, which was iconic of material possessions at the time.

Medal of Aradus

A medal of Aradus depicting a fly on one side, which appears to commemorate Jupiter. The other side…

Medieval Castle of the Holy Roman Empire. "1 Moat, 2 Drawbridge, 3 Wicket, 4 Merlons, 5 Embrasures, 6 Rampart, 7 Portcullis, 8 Donjon or Keep, 9 Turret, 10 Escutcheon." -Foster, 1921

Medieval Castle

Medieval Castle of the Holy Roman Empire. "1 Moat, 2 Drawbridge, 3 Wicket, 4 Merlons, 5 Embrasures,…

Costumes of Medieval women.

Medieval Costumes

Costumes of Medieval women.

A medieval crown.

medieval crown

A medieval crown.

Medieval town of the Holy Roman Empire in 1491.

Medieval Town

Medieval town of the Holy Roman Empire in 1491.

The 'mitten' superseded the gauntlet of the 14th century. Rather than having separate, unjointed fingers, it had jointed steel plates (meshed), for the fingers.

Mitten (Armor)

The 'mitten' superseded the gauntlet of the 14th century. Rather than having separate, unjointed fingers,…

"The monks also became copyists, and with great painstaking and industry gathered and multiplied ancient manuscripts, and thus preserved and transmitted to the modern world much classical learning and literature that would otherwise have been lost."—Myers, 1905

Monk Copyist

"The monks also became copyists, and with great painstaking and industry gathered and multiplied ancient…

Illustration of Saint Patrick on the shores of Ireland, with bishop's miter and crosier, and other clergy behind him. He is holding his hand in blessing over several men, women, and children. Women kneel on the ground, one with a basket of fish. A little boy and girl watch the saint. A boat can be seen on the water and mountains rise in the background. Snakes slither on the ground in front of Saint Patrick.

Saint Patrick Blesses the Irish and Banishes Snakes

Illustration of Saint Patrick on the shores of Ireland, with bishop's miter and crosier, and other clergy…

Two medieval peasants, a man and woman, break clods of earth apart with mallets. The man is swinging his mallet, while the woman appears to be resting on hers. The man is wearing a short tunic and a hood. The woman wears a long dress and a head-covering.

Peasants Using Mallets to Break Clods of Earth Before Farming the Land

Two medieval peasants, a man and woman, break clods of earth apart with mallets. The man is swinging…

A scene from the Middle Ages, in which two people are plowing their land. One drives the oxen with a whip, while the other guides the plow. The original image is from a 14th century manuscript.

Plowing in the Middle Ages

A scene from the Middle Ages, in which two people are plowing their land. One drives the oxen with a…

"Reaping in the fourteenth century, as pictured in an old psalter."—Gordy, 1912

Reaping

"Reaping in the fourteenth century, as pictured in an old psalter."—Gordy, 1912

Men and women reap the grain from a field in the 14th century. Two women are bent over using sickles to cut the grain. One man stands behind them, gathering the reaped grain. He has a sickle tucked in his belt. A second man oversees the scene with his hands on his hips. A bundle of grain sits in the background. The original image is pictured in an old psalter.

Reaping Grain the 14th Century

Men and women reap the grain from a field in the 14th century. Two women are bent over using sickles…

The ship is pictured as it looked shortly after being unearthed. The tent-like structure at the back that is in most depictions, is not included in this illustration. Four of the 32 shields that were found can be seen attached to the side of the hull. The ship is raised up on a wooden frame. The ship was found in a burial mound in Sweden.

The Remains of the Prow of the Viking Ship Gokstad

The ship is pictured as it looked shortly after being unearthed. The tent-like structure at the back…