When FASHION was a CRIME: The Outlawed Shoes of the Middle Ages

Jason Kingsley, the Modern Knight, explores some very unusual medieval crimes from whale theft to wearing the wrong shoes.

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[MannyBrum]

"In the medieval justice system, some fashion-based offenses are considered especially heinous. In England, the dedicated watchmen who investigate these crimes are members of an elite squad known as the Special Fashion Unit. These are their stories."

[MesaperProductions]

"Let me tell you all about it."

YES PLEASE!

[billyskittles]

I could listen to Jason talk all day. I’ve learned so much by watching these videos.

[aj.j]

These laws tells us humans haven't really changed much in a very long time.

[emreyurtseven]

Jason getting more and more amused with each fact, to the point of sometimes pausing was gold 🤣

[jeremiaas]

Not sure if it applies to the British Isles, but on the continent all murders couldn't be fully legally classified until the perpetrator was found, because the actual legal name of the crime was dependant on the relationship between the murderer and murderee, so things like fratricide, infanticide, patricide, lesser treason (killing one's "betters"), regicide (killing one's "even betters") were considered to be fundamentally different crimes and carried different punishments. Well, different methodes of execution. And then there's the lovely issue of various sources of law which could lead to making one crime multiply- if a citizen of Kolberg killed a knight from Brandenburg in Stettin, that particular murder would be banditry in Stettin (an outsider killing an outsider), guest-killing in the Hanseatic League (a citizen killing an outsider), insulting ducal hospitality by guest-killing in the dukedom of Pommerania (a subject killing an esteemed outsider) and then lesser treason in the HRE.

[dantherpghero]

“Listen -- strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."

[stewrmo]

As a proud Scotsman, I am now going to believe that Hugh the Scot met a Friar in his church sanctuary, then a Maid, and finally escaped into the forest...Hugh Hood is born!

[bbbcid]

It's _always_ a crime to wear the wrong shoes

[metatronyt]

Love to see you post again! Watching this during coffee break

[drpx]

I can't quite put my finger on why every word of this is very interesting. I don't know if it's the way it's explained or presented, but I think it requires talent. This is very captivating.

[FlavourlessLife]

Medieval football is still "played" in Atherstone every shrove Tuesday to commemorate a game played in 1199 against Leicestershire (Warwickshire won). It's been played every year for 821 years, except in 2021 because of lockdowns.

[ogre]

It's like this guy teleported from the dark ages to tell us how it was. I love it.

[goofyfish]

Glad to see you back! This is STILL one of just a couple accounts I give a thumbs up as soon as I open a video with no worries that I'll change my mind. Thanks for your time making these.

[charliecharliewhiskey]

Fun fact, some of the fun medieval laws from England are technically retained in US law. When the US split away, the states used "reception statutes", which basically made all UK law US law, but with references to the King replaced with the US Government. That's why for instance the common law definition of murder in the US is the same as England, but without the "within the King's peace" bit.

So unless a specific statute has been passed in the US that changes it, or a specific repeal was made, then for example, a beached whale would automatically belong to the US Government, or one of the state governments, simply by virtue of the law not being repealed but edited to remove mention of the Crown. It would be the same mediaeval law, in situ, despite the law coming from before Brits even settled in America.

[Imperiused]

15:18 finally somebody is speaking out against the tennis hooligans!

[RedDeadSakharine]

Always happy to see one of your videos pop up on my feed. There's something so relaxing and magical about a man in simple medieval garb, hanging out in nature and giving history lessons 😄

[foxyfoxington]

I wasn’t aware that wearing the wrong shoes ever stopped being a crime.

[Cat-ewio]

In history class years ago, we learned that those pointed toes shoes had become a huge fashion trend amongst young men and a competition to see who could wear the longest pointed toes. It almost seemed like, a "college or frat boys" challenge.

[Bluecho]

One thing to understand is that "Football" (or "Soccer", as some know it) was much less standardized in the medieval period. And because it functioned basically however local people said it did, it could get very rowdy. In some places, a game of Football was more like a moving brawl, that sometimes involved a ball. When the state said you couldn't play Football in London, that's playing IN LONDON, like through busy streets and buildings. Kicking a ball through fruit stands and beating anyone who looks like an opposing player with sticks.