Once upon a time in a land far, far away there was a king. He was not only a great king but also a committed Christian. His name was Prester John, and he reigned over 72 countries.
The lands that he ruled were rich with gold and silver and overflowing with fantastic creatures. King Prester wrote to many popes in Rome to declare his faithfulness to the Catholic Church. He also described, in his letters many beasts that were unknown in the Western world; men with three eyes and horns on their foreheads, unicorns, female warriors who fought on horseback and men who lived to be 200 years old.
Of course, it’s easy to dismiss the story as a fairy-tale but there is evidence to support the legend actually having its roots firmly planted in historical fact. And his name crops up again and again during the Middle Ages. So, just who was Prester John really and where did he come from? Welcome to Medieval Madness.
- 0:00 Introduction
- 1:07 Origins
- 3:42 The Man
- 5:29 The Myth
- 6:59 The Legend
- 8:50 There Be Dragons
- 10:23 Smoke and Mirrors
- 11:11 Wanting To Believe
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