28 July 2021
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Dunnottar Castle, Aberdeenshire
Find out how to explore a database of thousands of names, covering all known people of Scotland from 1093 to 1314, mentioned in over 8,000 medieval documents.
The People of Medieval Scotland website is an outcome of three projects: The Paradox of Medieval Scotland (2007-2010); The Breaking of Britain (2010-2013); and The Community of the Realm in Scotland (2017-2020), all funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), and the Transformation of Gaelic Scotland in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries (2013-2016), funded by the Leverhulme Trust.
How to search the POMS database
The tutorial page is a great place to start, with a number of worksheets that help you make the most of the many thousands of records on the site.
The search page centres around keyword and year – from 1093 to 1371. Simply type in a name or place, press ‘apply’ and the results will be presented as a list of all records.
Above the search box you’ll also see four categories to help you pinpoint your search:
- People and institutions
- Factoids
- Sources
- Places
You can also use the map facility to search for information relating to a particular location, whilst the networks section gives a fascinating insight into the connections and relationships between people of medieval Scotland.
The website is regularly updated and the most recent project is to extend the existing database to include all lands, peoples and relationships mentioned in royal charters between 1314 and 1371.
Image © Serenestarts, Pixabay
