How quickly did gossip spread in the Middle Ages – and how long could it survive? This is the question explored by Zuzana Bolerzká in the new special issue of The Court Historian.
Her study shows that scandalous stories could cross geographical boundaries and endure for centuries, shaping the reputation of ruling dynasties.
Using examples of stories about women associated with the House of Luxembourg, she traces how gossip about love affairs, controversial marriages, and mysterious deaths evolved as it spread across different cultural and political contexts. In some cases, these stories even found their way into historiography as seemingly reliable facts.
The study thus reminds us that some of history’s most enduring ‘truths’ may owe their longevity more to the power of a compelling story than to the historical sources themselves.