Middle Ages From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This article is about medieval Europe. For a global history of the period between the 5th and 15th centuries, see Postclassical Era. The Cross of Mathilde, a crux gemmata made forMathilde, Abbess of Essen (973–1011), who is shown kneeling before the Virgin and Child in theenamel plaque. The body of Christ is slightly later..