The 14th-century murder of priest John Forde sheds light on social class tensions and ecclesiastical authority in London. Professor Manuel Eisner's research suggests that the murder, committed in 1337, may have been a revenge killing orchestrated by aristocrat Ela Fitzpayne, following humiliation from the Church. Five years prior, Fitzpayne faced public penance imposed by Archbishop Simon Mepham for alleged adultery involving Forde. The incident accentuates the political dynamics and personal vendettas of the period, amplifying the narrative of class and power within medieval society.
"We are looking at a murder commissioned by a leading figure of the English aristocracy. It is planned and cold-blooded, with a family member and close associates carrying it out, all of which suggests a revenge motive."
"The archbishop imposed heavy, shameful public penance on Ela, which she seems not to have complied with, but may have sparked a thirst for vengeance that culminated in Forde's murder."
Collection
[
|
...
]