Did medieval kings really drink from the skulls of their enemies, or is this just one of history’s grisly exaggerations? Throughout the Middle Ages, tales of rulers turning skulls into drinking vessels captured imaginations, sparking debate over whether such macabre practices were actual customs or mere legends crafted by chroniclers to depict rivals as barbaric.
Despite their shocking nature, these stories lack archaeological backing. No skull chalices from medieval Europe have been uncovered, leaving historians to wonder whether these tales are exaggerations or symbolic fabrications. Yet, historical sources from the period suggest that at least some rulers engaged in this grisly custom. Was it a symbol of barbarism among the elite, or merely propaganda propagated by their enemies?
Advertisement
Historical Legends or Brutal Realities?
Throughout medieval history, several famous rulers were said to have drunk from the skulls of their enemies. These stories have become legendary, though whether they represent actual events or the medieval imagination is still debated. Here are six examples:
King Alboin of the Lombards (6th century): After defeating the Gepids, Alboin had his enemy, King Cunimond, decapitated. He reportedly fashioned a cup from Cunimond’s skull, later forcing his wife Rosemonde—Cunimond’s daughter—to drink from it in a macabre display of power and domination.
Krum, Khan of the Bulgars (811 AD): After defeating and killing Byzantine Emperor Nicephorus I, Krum supposedly had the emperor’s skull fashioned into a drinking vessel, which he used during a feast. This act symbolized his dominance over the Byzantine Empire.
Sviatoslav of Kiev (972): The Grand Duke of Kiev, Sviatoslav, met his end at the hands of Kurya, the Khan of the Pechenegs. It was said that Kurya had Sviatoslav’s skull transformed into a cup, a practice fitting with the nomadic Pechenegs’ traditions of displaying power through the remains of enemies.
Gervais de Bazoches (12th century): According to chronicler Guibert de Nogent, this French knight, executed by the Turks, had his skull turned into a cup after his death during the Crusades. This tale is steeped in the animosities of the Crusades, where such legends were often used to highlight the cruelty of the enemy.
Emperor Baldwin I of Constantinople (1205): The Byzantine historian George Acropolites recorded that Tsar Kaloyan of Bulgaria turned Baldwin’s skull into a goblet after capturing him during the Fourth Crusade.
The Mordvins (13th century): A Hungarian traveler reported that the Mordvins, a Finno-Ugric people, still practiced the tradition of making cups from the skulls of enemies. This suggests that the custom may have survived in certain nomadic or tribal societies long after it disappeared in the more “civilized” parts of medieval Europe.
A Symbolic Act of Power or Enemy Propaganda?
The notion of drinking from a human skull was far from an everyday custom in medieval Europe. Most of the historical accounts come from chroniclers describing the enemies of the figures involved, such as Byzantine sources detailing the actions of rulers like Krum and Kaloyan. These narratives often aimed to depict nomadic or foreign peoples, such as the Bulgars or Pechenegs, as barbaric in contrast to the more “civilized” Byzantines.
Advertisement
Medieval chroniclers often had political motives when describing their enemies. Depicting rival rulers or nomadic tribes as barbaric was a common tactic used to emphasize the supposed superiority of one people against their rivals. As a result, many accounts of skull chalices could have been exaggerated or entirely fabricated to reinforce these narratives.
Rosamund forced to drink from the skull of her father – painting by Pietro della Vecchia (1602/1603–1678)
There is no archaeological evidence to confirm the existence of skull chalices from this period, though similar practices have been observed in other cultures, such as Tibet. Historians argue over whether these stories were true accounts of ceremonial or elite power displays or simply politically motivated exaggerations. Some historians, such as Veselin Beshevliev, assert that the custom of using skulls as drinking vessels was indeed widespread among the Bulgars, citing well-regarded sources like Theophanes. However, even if Theophanes based his account on firsthand information, we must remain cautious, as the accuracy of his sources is uncertain.
A Fusion of Myth and Reality
The most plausible explanation for these skull chalice stories is that they represent a fusion of historical reality and ancient traditions, specifically associated with the Scythians, whose customs were exaggerated through a Byzantine lens. Krum’s victory over Nicephorus remains the most documented instance of the skull chalice, though even this may have been embellished over time. Interestingly, modern interpretations of this event have linked it to themes of temperance, with Krum ironically drinking wine from his enemy’s skull after enforcing sobriety on his people before the Byzantine attack.
Modern Fascination
Whether based in reality or fiction, the idea of drinking from an enemy’s skull continues to fascinate modern audiences. This macabre custom has found its way into popular culture through films, TV shows, and literature, perpetuating the notion of medieval rulers as larger-than-life figures who blended power and brutality.
Advertisement
Dr Lorris Chevalier, who has a Ph.D. in medieval literature, is a historical advisor for movies, including The Last Duel and Napoleon
Further Readings:
Beshevliev, Veselin, “On the Skulls-Made Chalices of the Proto-Bulgarians,” Archaeological Review 22:3 (1926)
Top Image: Krum feasts with his nobles as a servant (right) brings the skull of Nikephoros I, fashioned into a drinking cup, full of wine – Constantine Manasses Chronicle
By Lorris Chevalier
Did medieval kings really drink from the skulls of their enemies, or is this just one of history’s grisly exaggerations? Throughout the Middle Ages, tales of rulers turning skulls into drinking vessels captured imaginations, sparking debate over whether such macabre practices were actual customs or mere legends crafted by chroniclers to depict rivals as barbaric.
Despite their shocking nature, these stories lack archaeological backing. No skull chalices from medieval Europe have been uncovered, leaving historians to wonder whether these tales are exaggerations or symbolic fabrications. Yet, historical sources from the period suggest that at least some rulers engaged in this grisly custom. Was it a symbol of barbarism among the elite, or merely propaganda propagated by their enemies?
Historical Legends or Brutal Realities?
Throughout medieval history, several famous rulers were said to have drunk from the skulls of their enemies. These stories have become legendary, though whether they represent actual events or the medieval imagination is still debated. Here are six examples:
A Symbolic Act of Power or Enemy Propaganda?
The notion of drinking from a human skull was far from an everyday custom in medieval Europe. Most of the historical accounts come from chroniclers describing the enemies of the figures involved, such as Byzantine sources detailing the actions of rulers like Krum and Kaloyan. These narratives often aimed to depict nomadic or foreign peoples, such as the Bulgars or Pechenegs, as barbaric in contrast to the more “civilized” Byzantines.
Medieval chroniclers often had political motives when describing their enemies. Depicting rival rulers or nomadic tribes as barbaric was a common tactic used to emphasize the supposed superiority of one people against their rivals. As a result, many accounts of skull chalices could have been exaggerated or entirely fabricated to reinforce these narratives.
Rosamund forced to drink from the skull of her father – painting by Pietro della Vecchia (1602/1603–1678)
There is no archaeological evidence to confirm the existence of skull chalices from this period, though similar practices have been observed in other cultures, such as Tibet. Historians argue over whether these stories were true accounts of ceremonial or elite power displays or simply politically motivated exaggerations. Some historians, such as Veselin Beshevliev, assert that the custom of using skulls as drinking vessels was indeed widespread among the Bulgars, citing well-regarded sources like Theophanes. However, even if Theophanes based his account on firsthand information, we must remain cautious, as the accuracy of his sources is uncertain.
A Fusion of Myth and Reality
The most plausible explanation for these skull chalice stories is that they represent a fusion of historical reality and ancient traditions, specifically associated with the Scythians, whose customs were exaggerated through a Byzantine lens. Krum’s victory over Nicephorus remains the most documented instance of the skull chalice, though even this may have been embellished over time. Interestingly, modern interpretations of this event have linked it to themes of temperance, with Krum ironically drinking wine from his enemy’s skull after enforcing sobriety on his people before the Byzantine attack.
Modern Fascination
Whether based in reality or fiction, the idea of drinking from an enemy’s skull continues to fascinate modern audiences. This macabre custom has found its way into popular culture through films, TV shows, and literature, perpetuating the notion of medieval rulers as larger-than-life figures who blended power and brutality.
Dr Lorris Chevalier, who has a Ph.D. in medieval literature, is a historical advisor for movies, including The Last Duel and Napoleon
Further Readings:
Beshevliev, Veselin, “On the Skulls-Made Chalices of the Proto-Bulgarians,” Archaeological Review 22:3 (1926)
Top Image: Krum feasts with his nobles as a servant (right) brings the skull of Nikephoros I, fashioned into a drinking cup, full of wine – Constantine Manasses Chronicle
Related Posts
Subscribe to Medievalverse