Kenneth F. Duggan 🇨🇦
@kfduggan.bsky.social
Professor | Historian of crime, law, living standards, & social control in Western Europe, 7th-13th centuries | Dog lover | Pasta addict.
Background picture is of Nanaimo.
Portrait is from the 14th-century Luttrell Psalter.
Background picture is of Nanaimo.
Portrait is from the 14th-century Luttrell Psalter.
Pinned
Strange men on golf courses distributing tariffs is no basis for a system of government. Bring back the women lying in ponds.
Reposted by Kenneth F. Duggan 🇨🇦
My little emerald got some shots today. It was tough for a brief moment but we all got through it.
November 10, 2025 at 10:29 PM
My little emerald got some shots today. It was tough for a brief moment but we all got through it.
A damn good point. ⬇️
So it turns out... the US air travel system was incredibly, deeply dependent on federal funding to just run day-to-day all this time, to the benefit of private airline shareholders, when everyone thinks that state-run trains are leeching off the government. Weird!
November 9, 2025 at 3:45 AM
A damn good point. ⬇️
I’m getting raise-the-roof vibes from @profgabriele.com and 6-7 vibes from @lollardfish.bsky.social .
Are you a palms in or palms out historian. @profgabriele.com
November 8, 2025 at 11:17 PM
I’m getting raise-the-roof vibes from @profgabriele.com and 6-7 vibes from @lollardfish.bsky.social .
I’m increasingly annoyed with people who think lack of planning on their part necessitates an emergency on mine. It doesn’t. Don’t expect me to stop or delay my work just because you can’t get your shit done in a timely manner.
And no, this is not related to students; my students are great.
And no, this is not related to students; my students are great.
November 7, 2025 at 5:15 PM
I’m increasingly annoyed with people who think lack of planning on their part necessitates an emergency on mine. It doesn’t. Don’t expect me to stop or delay my work just because you can’t get your shit done in a timely manner.
And no, this is not related to students; my students are great.
And no, this is not related to students; my students are great.
Getting told I look too young to be teaching at a university is not something I take as an insult – even if it’s intended as one. However, telling the story and hearing someone say “They thought you looked too young?!” is.
a man wearing glasses and a silver shirt is pointing at the camera
ALT: a man wearing glasses and a silver shirt is pointing at the camera
media.tenor.com
November 5, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Getting told I look too young to be teaching at a university is not something I take as an insult – even if it’s intended as one. However, telling the story and hearing someone say “They thought you looked too young?!” is.
What historians see when people claim AI is solving mysteries that have baffled historians for years.
November 5, 2025 at 2:24 PM
What historians see when people claim AI is solving mysteries that have baffled historians for years.
Made a comment about Tennyson today. My wife's response:
"Come on; you know no Tennyson. You only know Sendak: I told you once, I told you twice are seasons of the year are nice for eating chicken soup with rice".
"Come on; you know no Tennyson. You only know Sendak: I told you once, I told you twice are seasons of the year are nice for eating chicken soup with rice".
November 4, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Made a comment about Tennyson today. My wife's response:
"Come on; you know no Tennyson. You only know Sendak: I told you once, I told you twice are seasons of the year are nice for eating chicken soup with rice".
"Come on; you know no Tennyson. You only know Sendak: I told you once, I told you twice are seasons of the year are nice for eating chicken soup with rice".
Reposted by Kenneth F. Duggan 🇨🇦
Getting away with crime or getting justice?
Sometimes medieval criminal court records reveal instances in which localities and/or individuals took the punishment of crime into their own hands. The castration case of Tom, son of Leofwin, from the year 1202 is one such case. 🧵1/5
Sometimes medieval criminal court records reveal instances in which localities and/or individuals took the punishment of crime into their own hands. The castration case of Tom, son of Leofwin, from the year 1202 is one such case. 🧵1/5
December 10, 2024 at 3:13 PM
Getting away with crime or getting justice?
Sometimes medieval criminal court records reveal instances in which localities and/or individuals took the punishment of crime into their own hands. The castration case of Tom, son of Leofwin, from the year 1202 is one such case. 🧵1/5
Sometimes medieval criminal court records reveal instances in which localities and/or individuals took the punishment of crime into their own hands. The castration case of Tom, son of Leofwin, from the year 1202 is one such case. 🧵1/5
Talked about coroners last week in my @viuniversity.bsky.social history of crime class. This week we’re talking about gaol (not “jail” autocorrect!) & bail. I find the topic fascinating a have been reworking a publication on this topic since 2017 (I can’t stop adding to it, but I’ll let it go soon).
a black and white photo of a man in a prison cell .
ALT: a black and white photo of a man in a prison cell .
media.tenor.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Talked about coroners last week in my @viuniversity.bsky.social history of crime class. This week we’re talking about gaol (not “jail” autocorrect!) & bail. I find the topic fascinating a have been reworking a publication on this topic since 2017 (I can’t stop adding to it, but I’ll let it go soon).
"Local Priests in the Latin West, 900-1050 is Open Access 😀.
I'm so excited to read this!
Link: www.cambridge.org/core/books/l...
I'm so excited to read this!
Link: www.cambridge.org/core/books/l...
November 3, 2025 at 10:24 AM
"Local Priests in the Latin West, 900-1050 is Open Access 😀.
I'm so excited to read this!
Link: www.cambridge.org/core/books/l...
I'm so excited to read this!
Link: www.cambridge.org/core/books/l...
Marginalia can be depressing. The marginalia next to this case from Nottinghamshire in 1280-81 has five esses, each of which has an abbreviation mark that looks like a nine. This is abbreviated Latin for "suspensus". In other words, five people were hanged.
October 30, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Marginalia can be depressing. The marginalia next to this case from Nottinghamshire in 1280-81 has five esses, each of which has an abbreviation mark that looks like a nine. This is abbreviated Latin for "suspensus". In other words, five people were hanged.
Reposted by Kenneth F. Duggan 🇨🇦
If you have a hard copy of the 3-vol (2018) "Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources" and are looking to pass it on to someone (such as a medievalist trying to produce critical editions of 13th-century texts), then please contact me!
November 27, 2024 at 7:53 PM
If you have a hard copy of the 3-vol (2018) "Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources" and are looking to pass it on to someone (such as a medievalist trying to produce critical editions of 13th-century texts), then please contact me!
I’m increasingly irritated with academics who’ve never studied the Middle Ages yet make claims about the period & tell me their “knowledge” is accurate because, well, they just think it is. They can’t support anything they say with evidence/research and claim “some academics think”. Infuriating! 😡
a man says thank you i 'm learning
ALT: a man says thank you i 'm learning
media.tenor.com
October 29, 2025 at 12:53 PM
I’m increasingly irritated with academics who’ve never studied the Middle Ages yet make claims about the period & tell me their “knowledge” is accurate because, well, they just think it is. They can’t support anything they say with evidence/research and claim “some academics think”. Infuriating! 😡
Super excited about this new arrival!
October 28, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Super excited about this new arrival!
I just had a Eureka (academic) moment. I’m not going to say what it is – you’ll have to wait some time for it – but it has only happened twice before and I’m damn happy, so I‘m advertising it.
a man and a woman are talking and the woman is saying it 's traditional
ALT: a man and a woman are talking and the woman is saying it 's traditional
media.tenor.com
October 25, 2025 at 8:48 PM
I just had a Eureka (academic) moment. I’m not going to say what it is – you’ll have to wait some time for it – but it has only happened twice before and I’m damn happy, so I‘m advertising it.
Very interesting post. Definitely worth a read.
How every state in the US teaches about feudalism. A New post from me and @profgabriele.com, along with access to a slideshow and spreadsheet with more info.
24 states REQUIRE feudalism.
8 suggest feudalism.
Feudalism, ICYMI, is not a real thing. Click, read, share, subscribe (it's free!).
24 states REQUIRE feudalism.
8 suggest feudalism.
Feudalism, ICYMI, is not a real thing. Click, read, share, subscribe (it's free!).
Revisiting the Medieval "F-Word" (Feudalism)
How Every State Teaches (or doesn't) about Feudalism
buttondown.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Very interesting post. Definitely worth a read.
Spare a thought for my poor, little Otto, who has hurt his paw badly (we don’t know how) and is now high on medication.
October 15, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Spare a thought for my poor, little Otto, who has hurt his paw badly (we don’t know how) and is now high on medication.
Excited to read this recent publication by @jennisifire.bsky.social (Dr. Jennifer Barry), “Gender Violence in Late Antiquity”.
@ucpress.bsky.social
@ucpress.bsky.social
![The cover of a book with the title, author’s name, and an image. The title is “Gender violence in late antiquity: male fantasies and the Christian imagination”. The author is Jennifer Barry. The cover image is Henry Fuseli’s painting “The Nightmare” from 1781. Wikipedia describes the painting thusly: “The Nightmare is a 1781 oil painting by the Swiss artist Henry Fuseli. It shows a woman with her arms thrown below her, in deep sleep as she undergoes a nightmare as an almost hidden horse ([that is,] the "night-mare") looks on as a demonic and ape-like incubus crouches on her chest.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bun5773qn7csd4n7gmucdudp/bafkreid6uakdrxmd6lifwae3zdrebecbtpzllw7ths67pr2f7t67x2ttqa@jpeg)
October 14, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Excited to read this recent publication by @jennisifire.bsky.social (Dr. Jennifer Barry), “Gender Violence in Late Antiquity”.
@ucpress.bsky.social
@ucpress.bsky.social
I read your thesis.
In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand
I'll go first: Six page commercial lease.
I'll go first: Six page commercial lease.
October 12, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I read your thesis.
Students in my medieval crime class @viuniversity.bsky.social are learning about legal proofs and the ordeal this week. It’s going to be loads of fun! We may even learn about the importance of ducks when determining if a person is a witch.
a man with a beard wearing a chain mail helmet and a crown
ALT: a man with a beard wearing a chain mail helmet and a crown
media.tenor.com
October 12, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Students in my medieval crime class @viuniversity.bsky.social are learning about legal proofs and the ordeal this week. It’s going to be loads of fun! We may even learn about the importance of ducks when determining if a person is a witch.
Reposted by Kenneth F. Duggan 🇨🇦
Coroners in 13th-century England were supposed to view the body of every person who had died unexpectedly BEFORE that person was buried. However, the people of Kent frequently ignored this rule. In fact, between 1248 & 1255 they ignored it no less than 206 times!
🧵 1/3
🧵 1/3
October 22, 2024 at 1:39 PM
Coroners in 13th-century England were supposed to view the body of every person who had died unexpectedly BEFORE that person was buried. However, the people of Kent frequently ignored this rule. In fact, between 1248 & 1255 they ignored it no less than 206 times!
🧵 1/3
🧵 1/3
Reposted by Kenneth F. Duggan 🇨🇦
Could medieval people swim? Some could – if they were sober.
On 25 November 1120, Henry's only legitimate son (William Adelin) drowned in the White Ship Disaster when the vessel he was on struck a rock while crossing the English Channel. He and ~300 others on the ship had been drinking heavily.🧵1/4
On 25 November 1120, Henry's only legitimate son (William Adelin) drowned in the White Ship Disaster when the vessel he was on struck a rock while crossing the English Channel. He and ~300 others on the ship had been drinking heavily.🧵1/4
November 26, 2024 at 8:33 PM
Could medieval people swim? Some could – if they were sober.
On 25 November 1120, Henry's only legitimate son (William Adelin) drowned in the White Ship Disaster when the vessel he was on struck a rock while crossing the English Channel. He and ~300 others on the ship had been drinking heavily.🧵1/4
On 25 November 1120, Henry's only legitimate son (William Adelin) drowned in the White Ship Disaster when the vessel he was on struck a rock while crossing the English Channel. He and ~300 others on the ship had been drinking heavily.🧵1/4
Reposted by Kenneth F. Duggan 🇨🇦
What's that worth in the Middle Ages?
It's not always easy to identify what objects were worth in the Middle Ages, especially the sorts of objects peasants used. Fortunately, legal records provide us with a window into peasants' everyday lives and the objects they used, such as spades. 🧵1/10
It's not always easy to identify what objects were worth in the Middle Ages, especially the sorts of objects peasants used. Fortunately, legal records provide us with a window into peasants' everyday lives and the objects they used, such as spades. 🧵1/10
December 21, 2024 at 7:35 PM
What's that worth in the Middle Ages?
It's not always easy to identify what objects were worth in the Middle Ages, especially the sorts of objects peasants used. Fortunately, legal records provide us with a window into peasants' everyday lives and the objects they used, such as spades. 🧵1/10
It's not always easy to identify what objects were worth in the Middle Ages, especially the sorts of objects peasants used. Fortunately, legal records provide us with a window into peasants' everyday lives and the objects they used, such as spades. 🧵1/10
Reposted by Kenneth F. Duggan 🇨🇦
Horses appear often in medieval legal records, but seldom are they sketched in court records. This picture of a horse was drawn by a clerk at the court proceedings in Norfolk in 1250. 🧵1/5...
November 15, 2024 at 4:48 PM
Horses appear often in medieval legal records, but seldom are they sketched in court records. This picture of a horse was drawn by a clerk at the court proceedings in Norfolk in 1250. 🧵1/5...
Reposted by Kenneth F. Duggan 🇨🇦
Disney wasn’t too far off with its likeness of King John!
John’s effigy on this 13th-century coin looks strikingly similar to the John in Disney’s 1973 “Robin Hood”. 🙃
John’s effigy on this 13th-century coin looks strikingly similar to the John in Disney’s 1973 “Robin Hood”. 🙃
February 10, 2024 at 4:13 PM
Disney wasn’t too far off with its likeness of King John!
John’s effigy on this 13th-century coin looks strikingly similar to the John in Disney’s 1973 “Robin Hood”. 🙃
John’s effigy on this 13th-century coin looks strikingly similar to the John in Disney’s 1973 “Robin Hood”. 🙃