The medieval era, often romanticized with images of knights, castles, and courtly love, was also a time filled with peculiar customs, questionable medical practices, and downright bizarre traditions. While some of these practices reflected the ingenuity of people trying to survive in a harsh world, others reveal just how different their understanding of health, justice, and spirituality was compared to modern times.
From unusual beauty rituals to shocking legal punishments, medieval life was a mixture of faith, fear, and creativity. Many of these customs seem almost unbelievable today, but they played a significant role in shaping daily life in Europe for centuries. Exploring these odd practices offers a fascinating window into the struggles, beliefs, and eccentricities of the Middle Ages.
1. Bloodletting as Medicine
One of the most infamous medieval medical practices was bloodletting, based on the belief that illness came from an imbalance in the body’s “four humors” – blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. Physicians or barbers would cut veins or use leeches to “drain excess blood” from patients. While this often weakened the sick even more, it was widely accepted as a cure-all for everything from fevers to headaches. The British Library notes that bloodletting was recommended for conditions ranging from indigestion to plague.
2. Trial by Ordeal
Justice in the Middle Ages was often determined by trial by ordeal, where the accused had to undergo a dangerous or painful test. They might walk barefoot over hot coals, hold a red-hot iron, or be thrown into water. Survival without injury was considered proof of innocence, while burns or drowning suggested guilt. This system reflected the belief that God would intervene to protect the righteous.
3. Dancing Plagues
Few phenomena were as strange as the dancing plagues of the 14th and 16th centuries. Entire groups of people would begin dancing uncontrollably for days or weeks, often collapsing from exhaustion. Modern scholars suggest mass hysteria or ergot poisoning (from moldy rye bread) as possible causes. Accounts of these events, particularly the Strasbourg outbreak of 1518, remain some of the most baffling episodes in medieval history.
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4. Animal Trials
In medieval Europe, animals could actually be put on trial. Pigs, rats, or even insects were accused of crimes such as theft or murder. These animals would sometimes be dressed in human clothes and brought before a judge. Records show that in 1386, a pig was executed in France for killing a child, proving how deeply symbolic justice was in the era.
5. Flagellation as Devotion
Religious devotion in the Middle Ages could take extreme forms, such as flagellation. Groups of penitents, known as flagellants, would march through towns whipping themselves to atone for humanity’s sins, particularly during outbreaks of plague. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, this practice spread rapidly during the 14th century as people desperately sought divine mercy.
6. Urine as Medicine
Medieval physicians often prescribed urine therapy, believing it contained healing properties. People drank their own urine or applied it to wounds, considering it a diagnostic tool as well. Medical texts from the period show elaborate charts linking urine color to different illnesses. While shocking today, urine-based remedies were once considered cutting-edge medicine.
7. Weird Beauty Standards
Beauty in the Middle Ages often meant plucked hairlines and pale skin. Women would shave or pluck their hairlines to create a high forehead, which was seen as elegant. Pale skin was achieved through mixtures containing lead, vinegar, or crushed pearls. These dangerous concoctions, described by the History Learning Site, often poisoned the wearer but reflected the extreme lengths people went to for fashion.
8. Astrology and Medicine
Doctors in the medieval period frequently relied on astrology to diagnose and treat illnesses. Charts of the stars determined the best time for surgeries, bloodletting, or childbirth. The alignment of planets was thought to influence health, and no serious medical treatment was undertaken without consulting an astrologer first.
9. The Scold’s Bridle
To silence women accused of gossiping or being “difficult,” medieval authorities sometimes used the scold’s bridle – a metal mask with an iron bit that fit into the mouth. This humiliating punishment symbolized society’s attempt to control female speech and behavior. Historical examples of the bridle remain preserved in European museums as reminders of this cruel practice.
10. Corpse Trials
One of the strangest episodes of medieval history was the Cadaver Synod of 897, where Pope Stephen VI put the corpse of his predecessor, Pope Formosus, on trial. The dead pope’s body was propped up in court, accused of perjury and other crimes, and then posthumously condemned. The bizarre trial highlighted the intense political and religious conflicts of the time.
11. Healing by Touch of the King
A widespread medieval belief held that monarchs had the divine ability to cure illnesses, especially scrofula (a form of tuberculosis). This was known as the “royal touch.” People would line up for kings and queens to lay hands on them, believing divine power flowed through royalty. This practice continued in parts of Europe into the 18th century.
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12. Public Executions as Entertainment
Public executions were not just punishments but also major social events. Thousands would gather to witness hangings, beheadings, or even burning at the stake. Vendors sold food, and musicians played while spectators cheered or jeered. These grim spectacles reflected both the severity of justice and the public’s hunger for entertainment.
13. Leech Therapy
Leeches were used extensively in medieval medicine as part of humor balancing. Physicians believed leeches could draw out “bad blood,” and they were prescribed for everything from headaches to infections. While modern medicine has found limited uses for leeches, their widespread application in the Middle Ages bordered on obsession.
14. Pilgrimages for Healing
When medical treatments failed, many sought cures through pilgrimages to holy sites. Shrines containing relics of saints, such as Canterbury Cathedral, attracted crowds seeking miraculous healing. Pilgrims believed physical journeys combined with spiritual devotion could cure ailments that no doctor could treat.
15. Trial by Combat
Another form of medieval justice was trial by combat. Disputes were sometimes settled by duels, where the victor was deemed to have God’s support. Combat could involve knights, peasants, or even women, and weapons ranged from swords to clubs. While brutal, trial by combat was seen as a divine method of revealing truth.
Conclusion
The medieval world was filled with practices that now seem shocking, strange, or even humorous. Yet, for those living through the era, these customs made perfect sense within their worldview. They reflected deep religious faith, limited scientific understanding, and social structures that governed every aspect of life.
By examining these bizarre medieval traditions, it becomes easier to appreciate the vast changes in medicine, justice, and culture over the centuries. What once seemed logical or necessary has become a curiosity of history, reminding us how human beliefs and practices evolve with knowledge and time.
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