About Paul Dawson
Paul is a historian and writer working as a software engineer in upstate New York. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from SUNY Albany (Go Great Danes!) with a degree in History. He has an interest is a wide range of areas and time periods, which caused many headaches for his advisors in school. He loves traveling to new places, learning new things, and spending time with his cat, Jane Pawsten.
Education
BA History
SUNY University at Albany, 2013
Areas of Expertise
Awards
Summa Cum Laude (SUNY at Albany)
About Paul Dawson
Paul is a historian and writer working as a software engineer in upstate New York. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from SUNY Albany (Go Great Danes!) with a degree in History. He has an interest is a wide range of areas and time periods, which caused many headaches for his advisors in school. He loves traveling to new places, learning new things, and spending time with his cat, Jane Pawsten.
Education
BA History
SUNY University at Albany, 2013
Awards
Summa Cum Laude (SUNY at Albany)
Areas of Expertise
How Catherine of Siena Forced the Pope Back to Rome
In 1376, an illiterate laywoman persuaded a pope to abandon the past 70 years of precedent and move the Papacy back to Rome.
The Tragic Fate of Louis the Pious Who Was Betrayed by His Own Sons
Louis the Pious inherited Charlemagne’s vast empire. During his troubled reign, his family tore itself and the empire apart at the seams.
The Most Brutal Medieval Execution Methods
Medieval execution methods could be grand spectacles designed to both inflict pain and send a message to those who witnessed them.
The 8 Most Controversial Medieval and Renaissance Popes
From murderers to adulterers to even one heretic, the medieval Papacy had no shortage of controversial popes.
The Pope Who Allegedly Made a Deal With the Devil
A curious legend surrounds Pope Sylvester II and his supposed deal with the devil. What does this legend say, and where did it come from?
Why the Catholic Church Tried to Erase the Scandalous Pope Benedict IX From History
Benedict IX was a scandalous pope who held the office three separate times. His pontificates were ones the Catholic Church would rather forget.
The History of the Magnificent Papal Tiara That Was Worn for Centuries
The crown of the pope, the Papal Tiara, evolved to become the most magnificent in Europe, and was worn for centuries before being given up.
Was “Bad” King John Really That Bad?
King John has gone down as one of the worst kings in English history. Does he deserve his reputation?