"Middle Ages" in true crime? It's more than history. Discover how the term is used for raw brutality, torture, and cases that shock us to this day.

More than an era – how the term defines today's most brutal true crime

When Middle Ages mean more: Understanding true crime

The term "Middle Ages" within the true crime genre does not exclusively refer to crimes committed during the historical medieval period. It is more often used metaphorically to characterize particularly raw and brutal criminality or forms of punishment that evoke strong associations with the perceived dark and barbaric conditions of the past. Characteristic of cases described as "medieval" is extreme violence, the use of cruel methods, and a significant or apparent absence of the fundamental legal safeguards we consider self-evident today. This can make even modern criminal cases seem like an unsettling echo from a distant and more uncivilized time.

Torture and power: Defining 'medieval conditions' today

When the term "medieval conditions" is used in connection with criminal cases, it typically points to acts characterized by brutal torture, public humiliation, or a form of bestiality that completely denies the victim's humanity. Within historical true crime, this is seen in accounts of, for example, witch hunts, bloody power struggles, or painful and often spectacular forms of execution. In contemporary cases, the designation "medieval" can become relevant when the violence and execution of a crime are so shocking that they radically break with our norms for civilized behavior. This is especially true where the perpetrators' motives seem to spring from a raw, primitive urge for power or an all-consuming revenge, rather than from more complex, modern psychological or social causal links.

Why 'medieval' crimes still evoke disgust today

Understanding the "Middle Ages" concept in a true crime context offers an important perspective on the long lines of both criminal history and legal development, as well as on the darkest and most disturbing aspects of human nature. The use of the term underscores the eternal relevance of combating cruelty in all its forms and diligently ensuring justice. It also illuminates why certain crimes, whether they occurred in the past or the present, strike us with a particularly intense disgust and a deep bewilderment at humanity's potential for evil.

How do 'medieval conditions' play out in cases of extreme violence or historical barbarity? Delve into real-life cases related to the Middle Ages – find our harrowing cases below.