Supernatural beliefs of medieval people – from elves and fairies to kidnappings and the undead

The Middle Ages have a reputation for superstition, and many of the supernatural phenomena found in medieval chronicles, tales of miracles, and romances are still alive in contemporary culture. Think ghosts, werewolves, demons, vampires, fairies and witches. But while (almost all) people today consider these beings to be completely fictional, many medieval people believed in them.

Christian theologians accepted the existence of the supernatural, classifying such beings broadly as “fallen angels” who viewed humanity as a battleground in an ongoing conflict with God. Their immense power meant that they could even appear as deities, including pagan gods and goddesses – taking on a monstrous appearance mainly when they gained the souls of the damned or were defeated by a Christian leader.

However, in the case of the smaller and weaker supernatural creatures known in Old and Middle English as “elves”, less straightforward explanations have been observed.

Elves, fairies and mermaids

Medieval elves were usually not as powerful as the wonderful beings imagined centuries later by JRR Tolkien. In some accounts they connected with demons and in others with fairies.

For a 13th century English priest Layamonthey were elves (eleven), who gave King Arthur magical gifts and who, in the form of attractive women, took him to the mythical island of Avalun to heal him. However, Layamon was careful to state that this was the belief of the “Britons” (Celtic people) which he was simply writing down.

Fairies first appeared in French-language accounts and quickly became mixed with other categories of supernatural beings. They were apparently more human in appearance than elves, although wings were added later.

They were one category of a immense group of tempting supernatural female creatures that lured human men into hazardous relationships. Perhaps the most renowned is the fortune teller Melusinewhich was strongly associated with water.

Melusine was half human, half snake, attractive and powerful. She brought prosperity and numerous sons to her human husband, but forbade him to see her at a certain time (Saturdays). When he broke his promise, Melusine's true form was revealed and she was gone forever.

It is unclear whether the chroniclers and readers who enjoyed such stories believed them entirely, but it seems likely that fairies were considered more real in the Middle Ages than they are today.

Medieval kidnappings and miracles

For medieval people, elves, fairies and mermaids inhabited an ambiguous territory between fact and fiction. The same can be said about the mysterious beings that they kidnapped unsuspecting peopleoften women, and took them to strange and terrifying places. Those who allegedly reported these experiences believed them to be real, although moralists condemned them as demonic illusions.

Soaring high above the Earth is a recurring theme in medieval writings, including stories about witches deliberately flying on the backs of animals. These abduction stories can be compared to contemporary accounts of alien abductions.

While tales of fairy abduction were sometimes dismissed as illusions, tales of miracles from saints and natural wonders were usually accepted as true. It might be tempting to compare the miracle-working powers of saints with those of contemporary superheroes, but miracles were considered blatant demonstrations of God's power, whereas superheroes usually result from scientific or technological extremes.

A particularly sensational example was recorded in Life of Saint Modwenny (an early Irish princess and abbess), written by Abbot Geoffrey of Burton around 1120-1150. According to his account, two tenants of Burton Abbey started a violent dispute between the abbot and Count Roger Poitevin. The trouble makers died suddenly and were buried hastily, but apparently reappeared at sunset carrying their own coffins before transforming into terrifying animals.

Apparently these ghosts (ghosts or reanimated corpses) brought death to the village – only three people remained alive. When the escapees' graves were opened, they were found to be bloody but intact. After a formal apology to the abbey and the saint, the bodies were ritually dismembered and their hearts burned. This apparently led to the expulsion of the evil spirit and the recovery of the surviving peasants.

Wonders of nature

“Natural wonders” were medieval phenomena that were believed to be part of God's creation but could not be explained scientifically. Many creatures found in bestiaries (medieval encyclopedias of animals, both real and mythological), such as dragons, unicorns, and basilisks, fit here.

Dragons and unicorns remain popular fantasy characters today, but basilisks are less renowned – although the giant specimen once proved to be a formidable opponent Harry Potter. It was said that basilisks were so poisonous that their scent, fiery breath and even their gaze could kill. They were confirmed not only by bestiaries, but also by the Roman philosopher and botanist Pliny in his book Nature (around 77 AD). They were found in the province of Cyrene, in modern-day Libya.

Similarly, various regions of the Earth were characterized by natural wonders recorded in works such as the book of the priest and historian Gerald of Wales, History and topography of Ireland (1185-88).

Gerald noted that some readers would find his stories “impossible or ridiculous”, but he attested to their truth. These include strange islands where no female creature can survive and no one can die a natural death, as well as strange creatures and people forced periodically to transform into wolves by the power of Saint. Natalis (Irish monk and saint).

Medieval people believed in a wide range of supernatural beings. Although today we view them mainly as nightmarish fiction, our enthusiasm for this diversity remains undiminished – just look at the wealth of supernatural costumes on display every Halloween.

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