27.01.2026 • 24 Min.

#middleages #history #society In this episode, Hendrik and Carmen show you the fascinating world of people on the margins of medieval society. Today we dive into the stories of executioners, beggars, Jewish communities, vagrants, and religious fringe groups. Discover how "dishonorable professions" like executioners and knackers were socially indispensable yet personally shunned. Learn about the medieval beggar's token system as an early "welfare ID" and the dramatic shifts in how poverty was treated. We shed light on the complex history of Jewish communities between protection and persecution, the colorful life of vagrants and traveling folk, and the courageous Beguine communities as an alternative for self-determined women. These forgotten stories vividly show how marginalized groups reflect the values and fears of their time – and reveal surprisingly many parallels to today. We'd love to hear your comments! ? #marginalizedgroups #executioner #beggars #vagrants #beguines #foodhistory #medieval Battle-Merchant: https://www.battlemerchant.com/en/ Battle-Merchant Blog: https://www.battlemerchant.com/en/blog/ Blog post for this episode: https://www.battlemerchant.com/en/blog/lepers-and-the-shunned-in-medieval-europe-dishonest-beggars-vagrants-and-more TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@battlemerchant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/battlemerchant Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/battlemerchant Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.de/battlemerchant/