Medieval manners: social etiquette in the Middle Ages

Danièle Cybulskie cracks open the medieval rulebook to reveal the top dos and don'ts of the Middle Ages – including why you should never sneeze in the direction of a lord or lady

Published: December 6, 2023 at 10:40 AM

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Medieval people are often portrayed in popular culture as being grubby and smelly, with few manners to recommend them. However, in reality, such uncouth behaviour would certainly have been frowned upon. Speaking with Emily Briffett, Danièle Cybulskie delves into the historical handbook to pull out some of the top tips on social etiquette from the Middle Ages – and explores why these rules and ideals were so important at the time.

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Danièle Cybulskie is the author of Chivalry and Courtesy: Medieval Manners for Modern Life (Abbeville Press, 2023)

Authors

Emily BriffettSenior content producer (podcasts)

Emily Briffett is senior content producer (podcasts) at HistoryExtra

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