Murder by poison was the most common (and popular) form of assassination in Medieval times, as poison was easy to obtain and simple to administer! Best of all, it could be done covertly – it was much safer to kill one’s enemy under cover of a faceless poison, than with an ‘obvious’ dagger in the back! 

In the Middle Ages, deadly poison gardens showcased toxic plants with killing power – nature that could kill instead of heal! Medieval poisonous plants could be used as lethal weapons, with powerful recipes that could intoxicate and murder. Arsenic, Hemlock, Aconite, Mugwort, Mandrake and Henbane… all infamous Medieval poisons that could be administered effortlessly and stealthily! 

Hemlock is a plant from the parsley family whose leaves, root and seeds are used to make medicine for sedation, breathing problems and painful, swollen joints. But a larger dose could act as a paralytic that still keeps the mind awake, takes out the muscles while shutting down the respiratory system and causes death by asphyxiation. 

Aconite is a plant from the buttercup family. It was often used as poison in animal bait or on arrows when hunting wolves, hence also known as Wolfsbane. Aconite root contains chemicals that improve circulation and decrease pain, but it can also cause arrhythmic failure. 

Both of these poisons were ideal in Medieval times, since people could get hold of them… and with seemingly innocent reasons for using them, no one would be blamed for being in possession of them!

Poison was prepared by physicians, alchemists and pharmacists and was increasingly available from apothecaries (known today as pharmacies) as these were open to the public. These substances could act as both medicine and poison – there was a fine line between a dosage that healed or killed. It was certainly inevitable that substances and plants traditionally used as curative treatments would also be used for more ominous purposes! The ability to chemically detect human poisoning would only be available many centuries later, so suspicion and accusations of suspected poisoning were common in Medieval times and could subsequently not be proved or disproved in the majority of cases.   

The House of Medici and the Borgias, the most prominent families of the late Medieval and Renaissance eras, were both infamously linked to many poisonings. The families developed poisons from plants so that they could dispose of their enemies. Catherine de Medici was the one most commonly associated with poisoning – she was the wife of Henry II of France who mothered three French kings and was undoubtedly a ruthless and calculating ruler. The Borgias specialized in using arsenic, strychnine, cantharidin and aconite, which was incorporated in drinks, clothes, gloves, books and flowers. 

How appropriate then for me to create a Medieval Book of Poisons collection, illustrating how poisoning has always shocked and fascinated us! This authentically Medieval four-sheet DIY printable makes a complete set of 12 miniature books. It consists of poison book covers uniquely labelled with names of infamous Medieval poisons. There are also dark-themed end papers and double-sided book pages with intriguing period illustrations of toxic plants that were grown in poison gardens. This miniature collection is a lot of fun… perfect for mini murder / medicine dioramas, apothecaries and every dollhouse library! Available in Lady Miniac’s shop. 

For a free DIY video tutorial showing the step-by-step bookmaking process for these printables, please see my YouTube channel link https://youtu.be/BNDIeqR4M3E