In an age where religion and warfare often went hand in hand, a new breed of military leaders emerged from the clergy. Armed with mitres and maces, these warrior bishops took to the battlefields, becoming heavily involved with military decision-making and sometimes even leading armies in full armour.

Theme: Warrior bishops in the Middle Ages

• Jon Sneddon, Introduction to the theme.
• Gregory Liebau, 'Bishops in the army of Frederik Barbarossa during the Italian campaigns'.
• Sidney Dean, 'Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, and the Norman conquest of England'.
• Jean-Claude Brunner, 'A special kind of warrior: Huldrych Zwingli'.
• Stephen Bennett, 'Philip of Dreux, bishop of Beauvais (1158-1217)'.
• The Source – Filippo Donvito, 'Dante at war. The bishop of Arezzo and the Battle of Campaldino (1289)'.

Features:

• The Castle – Konstantin Nossov, 'Moscow state artillery in the 14th-16th century'.
• Special – Partick Baker, 'The Battle of the River Berre'.
• The Warrior – Vassilis Pergalias, 'The Papal Swiss Guard'.