Timeline

Throughout Timeline, the difference between modern naming conventions and medieval ones is routinely highlighted. One of the earliest examples is the name of Professor Edward Johnston. In the faux excerpt from The Hundred Years War in France that follows the Introduction, he is referred to as “Edwardus de Johnes.” Edwardus is the Medieval Latin form of Edward. Following medieval conventions, one’s first name (or Christian name), would be followed by “de,” meaning “of,” and then the town of origin. As Johnston literally translates to “John’s Town,” in Medieval English, Edward Johnston’s name becomes Edwardus of John’s [town].

This motif highlights one of the humorous differences between the modern world and medieval world. When Christopher Hughes tells Lady Sophie his name, she hears it as Christopher de Hewes. She asks him if Hewes is in Ireland, and just to get out of the situation, he confirms this. The differences in naming conventions also obscure the fact that one of the knights in Lord Oliver’s service is from the modern world. He is the ITC employee who began acting erratically after too many transcription errors, Robert Deckard. He is referred to as Sir Robert de Kere by the people of 1357.