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

Illustration of the Norman-built Rochester castle. The architect of the castle was Gundulf, a Norman monk, and the castle protected England's southeast coast. It is a view of the castle from the northwest and two of its towers are visible. There is a road leading away from the castle. A woman and a child holding hands, walk down the road. Trees line the road.

Rochester Castle as Seen from the Northwest

Illustration of the Norman-built Rochester castle. The architect of the castle was Gundulf, a Norman…

"Specimens occur in gold, but most frequently in silver. Their average weight is 15 grains, and they were probably current from about 600 to 750." —Whitney, 1889
<p>This image is of a silver sceat currently in the British Museum. The image shows the obverse and reverse of the coin.

Sceat, an Early Anglo Saxon Coin

"Specimens occur in gold, but most frequently in silver. Their average weight is 15 grains, and they…

An ancient bas relief (low relief) sculpture of a war galley.

Sculpture

An ancient bas relief (low relief) sculpture of a war galley.

Illustration including one large shield from the first half of the 13th century, bearing a decorative cross. It also includes two men having a sword fight. The man on the left is wearing a shield from the close of the 14th century, while the man on the right uses a shield from the close of the 13th century. The man on the right is on horseback. Both men have their swords raised and are wearing full armor.

Medieval Shields from the 13th and 14th Centuries

Illustration including one large shield from the first half of the 13th century, bearing a decorative…

Detail from a larger engraving of the siege of Boulogne in 1544 during the campaigns of Henry VIII in France. The detail has a banner in the upper left corner that reads "Highe Bovilloigne" and another that labels one encampment, "The Duke of Al Berkinnys Campe". The detail is from the center of the larger image. Boulogne is at the top of the illustration and their are plumes of smoke and evidence of explosions. The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Boulogneis damaged. Canons are set up as trenches are dug outside the city. There are archers and men with rifles attacking. Several soldiers with spears breach one area of the city. A man is being hung. In the foreground, troops on horseback with spears and flags cluster near an encampment of tents.

Siege of Boulogne by King Henry VIII, Detail of Cowdray Engraving

Detail from a larger engraving of the siege of Boulogne in 1544 during the campaigns of Henry VIII in…

Small crown.

Small crown

Small crown.

"A weapon consisting of a penetrating head attached to a long shaft of wood, designed to be thrust by or launched from the hand at an enemy or at game." —Whitney, 1889
<p>Illustration of two different hunting spears. The spear on the left has a long handle and a simple arrowhead. The spear on the right has a shorter handle and a crosspiece at the base of the blade with a curved blade attached.

Hunting Spears from the 15th or 16th Century

"A weapon consisting of a penetrating head attached to a long shaft of wood, designed to be thrust by…

"St. Peter gives to Pope Leo III the stola and to Charlemagne the banner of Rome as symbols of the spiritual and temporal power. The portrait of Charlemagne here shown is with little doubt the oldest in existence."&mdash;Myers, 1905

The Spiritual and the Temporal Power

"St. Peter gives to Pope Leo III the stola and to Charlemagne the banner of Rome as symbols of the spiritual…

Illustration of a bustling street fair in France during the 13th century. Numerous people crowd the streets, selling and buying various wares. In the foreground, a crippled man on a cart begs passersby. A young man in traditional medieval dress, carries a package and shovel. A dog passes beside him. Performers put on show on a stage in the background. To the right, a man carries bolts of cloth, a man hammers something, and a boy plays with a puppet.

A Street Fair in 13th Century France

Illustration of a bustling street fair in France during the 13th century. Numerous people crowd the…

A group in the manor house, during feudalist Europe.

Tapestry

A group in the manor house, during feudalist Europe.

An aerial view of the siege of Château Gaillard, also called the Saucy Castle. Construction of the castle was begun by Richard the Lionheart in 1196. The castle was besieged by the French who are pictured encamped  to the south of the castle with a siege tower and two catapults. The fortified town of Petit-Andely is pictured to the north in the background. The River Seine runs to the west.

The Siege of Château Gaillard, the Saucy Castle of Richard the Lionheart - Aerial View

An aerial view of the siege of Château Gaillard, also called the Saucy Castle. Construction of the…

Three crowns with varying headdress sizes.

Three Crowns

Three crowns with varying headdress sizes.

Two men thresh a sheaf of wheat using flails. The flails appear to be made from two sticks joined together at a bendable joint. The men are beating the grain. One man's flail is in the air, while the other man's flail hits the bundle of wheat. Both are wearing short, belted tunics and knee length pants. The original drawing is from a 14th century psalter called "The Luttrell Psalter".

Threshing Wheat with Flails in the 14th Century

Two men thresh a sheaf of wheat using flails. The flails appear to be made from two sticks joined together…

"A tournament. The most famous amusement of the chivalrous age was the tournament, which took place in an open space surrounded by a balustrade or a rope, called the lists. It was a mimic combat between knights, who each tried to unhorse the other with his lance. The successful knight was hailed with shouts of applause from the spectators and received a prize from his mistress or the queen."—Colby, 1899

Tournament

"A tournament. The most famous amusement of the chivalrous age was the tournament, which took place…

Scene from the story, "The Tournament."

Tournament

Scene from the story, "The Tournament."

Scene from the story, "The Tournament."

Tournament

Scene from the story, "The Tournament."

An illustration of fourteenth century tournament of knights wearing armor from Romance of King Maliadus manuscript. A tournament is when there are three or more knights fighting on the course, whereas a joust is only two are fighting.

Knight Tournament from Romance of King Meliadus

An illustration of fourteenth century tournament of knights wearing armor from Romance of King Maliadus…

Illustration of a drawing in <I>The Harley Psalter</I>, an illuminated manuscript of the second and third decades of the 11th century. Two Anglo-Saxon warriors ride horseback wielding an axe and long spear or javelin. Both horses are rearing up, their front legs off the ground. Both weapons are raised. The warrior in front has dark hair while the hair of the one behind appears to be lighter-colored.

Two Anglo-Saxon Warriors on Horseback

Illustration of a drawing in The Harley Psalter, an illuminated manuscript of the second and third decades…

Two heavily armored knights on horseback shaking hands.

Two Knights

Two heavily armored knights on horseback shaking hands.

"There are instances mentioned, however, where even women performed the wager of battle; in which case, to equalize the conditions, the man was placed in a pit waist-deep, with his left hand tied behind his back."&mdash;Myers, 1905

Wager of Battle Between a Man and Woman

"There are instances mentioned, however, where even women performed the wager of battle; in which case,…

An engraving of a warrior and horses from the mound of Khorsabad, Nineveh.  (Capital of ancient Assyria).

Warrior and horses

An engraving of a warrior and horses from the mound of Khorsabad, Nineveh. (Capital of ancient Assyria).

Norman ships and warriors following William the Conqueror, also called William of Normandy, land on England's shores at Pevensey. Men with shields and spears, wearing iron helmets and coats of mail, emerge from Norman ships and smaller boats. A large ship with a dragon head at the bow is on the right. Cliffs rise in the background.

William of Normandy and His Norman Forces Land on England's Shores

Norman ships and warriors following William the Conqueror, also called William of Normandy, land on…

A wolf, Canis lupus.

Wolf

A wolf, Canis lupus.

Yappa, or modern day Joppa, from the North.

Yappa

Yappa, or modern day Joppa, from the North.