Trial by Ordeal – God, Iron, and the Law in Medieval Britain

This episode traces how medieval justice could hinge on a divine test—fire or water—to confirm guilt or innocence. We explore the legal, religious, and social context that gave ordeals legitimacy, and we assess their actual effectiveness and decline. The discussion balances surviving evidence with later reinterpretations to show why the practice mattered for Britain’s evolving sense of law. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices