Kingship (Medieval History)

This article addresses how the newly established Islamic imperial power-with its new religious identity-adapted or rejected previous Late Antique rituals, insignia, and court representations in the Iberian Peninsula. The article focuses especially on sources that deal with these representations under the Umayyad Emirate and Caliphate (756-1031). It employs a comparative perspective with the Visigothic Kingdom of Toledo (mid-sixth century-711) to evaluate the adoption, reassessment, or rejection of previous models. It also considers exemplary cases that took place after the Islamic conquest of 711 through the so-called period of the governors (711-756). Based on written and material sources, such as pictorial representations, coins, ceramics, ivories, votive crowns, and textiles, the article evaluates the Peninsular context prior to the arrival of Islam and the development of these models throughout the Umayyad period.

La Red de investigación Nobility, family strategies and power systems between the Kingdom of Sicily and the Iberian Peninsula in the late Middle Age, coordinada por la Dra. Maria Antonietta Russo desde la Università degli Studi di Palermo, reúne a investigadores e investigadoras de seis Universidades españolas e italianas (Palermo, Salerno, Pública de Navarra, Gerona, Las Palmas y Zaragoza), y del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, con objeto de estudiar conjuntamente la historia de los grupos nobiliarios en los territorios ibéricos y el reino de Sicilia durante la Baja Edad Media. Si el primer encuentro de la Red (Palermo, 2023) estuvo dedicado a
las fuentes, la metodología y el estado actual de los estudios sobre la nobleza medieval en Sicilia y la península ibérica, en esta ocasión el objeto de estudio se centra en la transferencia de elites nobiliarias, esto es, la movilidad geográfica de los miembros de este grupo social y su influencia en los procesos de cambio social e institucional que tuvieron lugar en el Mediterráneo occidental durante la Baja Edad Media. Dentro de esta temática general, las diferentes sesiones abordarán fenómenos de movilidad derivados tanto de procesos de integración entre estados (uniones dinásticas, alianzas diplomáticas), como de contextos de enfrentamiento y ruptura (acciones de conquista y colonización, guerras civiles, destierros). En ellas, se explorará la implicación de los miembros de la aristocracia en los
diferentes sistemas de poder que operaron entre la península ibérica e Italia, a través del estudio de una serie de casos representativos protagonizados por hombres y mujeres con capacidad de acción más allá de sus territorios de origen.

This paper explores the problem of rural violence in medieval South India through a study of hero-stones collected from the districts of lower Karnataka between the 9 th and 13 th centuries. These documents reveal a world of everyday violence in which the countryside emerges as a space of potentially open-ended belligerence, and the peasant an armed agent. Furthermore, hero-stone inscriptions suggest that localized rural violence was continuous with, and only partly distinct from, what historians often characterized separately as 'state violence,' and in fact existed in a heuristically 'intermediate realm,' a point that has serious implications for understanding the nature of state, society and conflict in medieval South India more generally. *

This paper examines the life, works, and legacy of Abu’l Fazl ibn Mubarak (1551–1602), the eminent historian, statesman, and close confidant of Emperor Akbar. Moving beyond his role as court chronicler, the study highlights Abu’l Fazl’s unique companionship with Akbar, his steady rise in the mansabdari system, and his intellectual contributions to the ideology of Mughal sovereignty. Special attention is given to his two monumental works , the Akbarnama and the Ain-i Akbari, which not only documented Akbar’s reign but also articulated a vision of universal kingship rooted in tolerance (Sulh-i Kul), rational governance, and cultural inclusivity. By drawing upon Harbans Mukhia’s Historians and Historiography during the Reign of Akbar alongside primary sources, the paper argues that Abu’l Fazl’s writings were central to shaping the political theology of Akbar’s empire, ensuring his place as both historian and architect of imperial ideology

Using the example of a ministerial family of Fülme near Rinteln in Westphalia, which migrated to Moravia in the mid-thirteenth century, it is possible to identify the primary mechanisms characterizing the social mobility of the lower ranks of the knightly stratum from the German Reich who participated in knightly migrations and peregrinations. By juxtaposing biographical data concerning Herbord of Fülme and two generations of his descendants, and analysing them against the broader social and legal context, the article addresses the following issues: the significance of service and the feudo-vassalic relationship with Bruno of Schaumburg, Bishop of Olomouc; the status of ministerials within the changing legal and constitutional frameworks of the thirteenth century; the role of geographical mobility as a means of advancement; and, finally, the attributes of elevated status acquired through this process — including the possession of a castle, holding of an office, and entry to the landed elite in their new homeland.

The purpose of this article is to present the historical context of the narrative space of the literary series Saxon Stories (2004-2020), by British author Bernard Cornwell. After briefly summarizing the plot of the first three novels in the series, we aim to explore the historical backdrop by discussing the Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian peoples, as well as their interactions in the 9th century British lands. Notably, the cultural exchange between these groups is significant. Moreover, the relations between these two peoples led to cultural "hybridity", which influenced the formation of English society and identity. This aspect is particularly relevant to the historical novels comprising Saxon Stories, as the protagonist and narrator, Uhtred, embodies this hybridity. Throughout the narrative, Uhtred experiences a sense of division between the two cultures: he is not able to state whether he considers himself an Anglo-Saxon or a Dane.

Annotation. e article examines the components of the titulature system of the 17th century based on the book of the English jurist John Selden Titles of honor. As the result of the analysis, such semantic factors of the European titulature are proposed which enhance the interpretation of a certain title.

The figure of the king and the sacred and ideological dimensions of kingship have long been objects of scholarly inquiry. In this chapter, I decenter the king to show how expressions of political authority were tied to kinship. I focus on the Ikṣvāku dynasty (ca. 225–325 CE) and locate the beginnings of the tradition of royal eulogy as patrilineal genealogy in the early medieval Deccan.

La traducció constitueix un deis nivells més actius de l'anomenada recepció literária '. El lector-traductor no tan sois ha consumit el text en aquell «paradis solitaire des mots» -com deja Barthes-, sinó que ha objectivat la seva lectura, la seva crítica per mitjá de la traducció. Una traducció és una de les possibles alteritats potencials de l'original; una metonimia respecte a aquest. Una obra és, per definició, oberta, conté en si totes les possibles lectures i variacions, peró en estat larvari; la traducció representa, des d'aquest punt de vista, l'evidéncia de les infinites metamorfosis de l'original i, a més, el renovellament o l'actualització d'aquest. Des de róptica de la história de la recepció, el sentit d'una obra és definit per la successió histórica de les seves concrecions. La recepció, la comprensió i l'assimilació d'un text són el resultat de l'obra i deis condicionaments estétics per a la seva recepció. En suma, una relació dialógica entre producció i recepció. Amb tot, ens cal considerar el fenomen de la recepció literária com a una

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. Portugal, séc. XII-XIII Portugal, 12 th -13 th Centuries Maria Filomena COELHO * Resumo Os séculos XII e XIII, em Portugal, têm sido historiograficamente identificados como charneira dos forais, dada a abundância documental desses atos jurídicos, principalmente emitidos pela monarquia. Apesar de o teor dos diplomas refletir, frequentemente, "usos e costumes", tal aspecto não merece a devida atenção, preferindo-se sublinhar potenciais significados políticos atinentes às capacidades daquele que assina os forais: o rei. Para os medievais, que criaram e usaram o instrumento, ele tinha um sentido e uma potência que se conjugavam a vários outros do direito formal, do qual o costume -além da lei -era uma forma. De igual modo, contudo, é ainda possível observar na elaboração desse tipo de instrumento jurídico o peso de normas -ditas não formais. O entrelaçamento entre cartas forais e costume é o problema central deste artigo, por meio de uma perspectiva que pretende ressaltar modulações históricas de caráter multinormativo.

The 12 th and 13 th centuries, in Portugal, have been historiographically identified as the hinge of the forais [charters], given the abundance of documents of these legal acts, mainly issued by the monarchy. Although the content of the diplomas often reflects "uses and customs", this aspect does not merit due attention, preferring to underline potential political meanings concerning the capacities of the one who signs the forais: the king. For the medieval people, who created and used the instrument, it had a meaning and a power that went hand in hand with several others of formal law, of which custom -in addition to law -was a form. But, equally, it is still possible to observe in the elaboration of this type of legal instrument the weight of -so-called non-formal -norms. The intertwining of forais and custom is the central problem of this article, through a perspective that aims to highlight historical modulations of a multinormative character.

La seigneurie de Longastre, ou Longatte, aujourd’hui sur la commune d’Ecoust-Saint-Mein, proche de Bapaume, relevait du château de ce lieu. Son histoire connue commence à la jonction des années 1100 autour d’une famille seigneuriale primitive. Puis son histoire est liée au seigneur de Saulty, relevant du château d’Avesnes-le-Comte dès 1167. Il s'agit ici, de produire un relevé exhaustif de cette seigneurie dans la période couverte par les deux premières familles qui ont possédées le domaine.

mości bibliograficzne i sygnatury archiwalne pozostałych znanych odcisków, ułatwiające prowadzenie dalszych badań. Korpus średniowiecznych pieczęci francuskich, czerpiąc z dziewiętnastowiecznego, a nieraz i starszego dorobku, pokazuje, jak ważną i ciągle aktualną potrzebą jest edycja źródeł historycznych w nowoczesnym wydaniu. Przewijającym się gdzieniegdzie życzeniem Wydawców była wysoka estetyka wydawnictwa i przyjemność, płynąca dla czytelnika z zapoznawania się za jego pośrednictwem ze średniowiecznymi pieczęciami. Mimo że życzenie to padło ofiarą kpin recenzenta, kończąc rozważania, trzeba przyznać bez cienia ironii, że cel ten jak najbardziej udało się osiągnąć.

‘Appendix 2: The bishop(s) of the diocese of Memphis appointed by Maximus (HEpA § 18.6.7–8)’, in Alberto Camplani, ‘The historical contribution of the episcopal lists transmitted by the History of the Episcopate of Alexandria’, in Marie-Laure Derat, Adam Łajtar, Robin Seignobos, and Alexandros Tsakos, eds, Grzegorz Ochała, contrib., Bishops and Bishoprics in Egypt, Nubia, and Ethiopia (Fourth-Fourteenth Centuries): Religious Authorities, Episcopal Seats, and Interactions in Local and Regional Perspectives, Leuven: Peeters Publishers, 2024 (pub. 2025) (The Journal of Juristic Papyrology, JJP Supplement, 45), pp. 95–96

Moederschap of moederschap -een van de meest bijzondere en spannende momenten voor elke nieuwe moeder of aanstaande moeder. En het kopen van een cadeau voor zo'n moeder is een beetje lastig. Je wilt immers iemand een perfect cadeau geven dat heel attent en uniek is en echt nuttig voor de aanstaande moeder. Veel artikelen kunnen worden gepersonaliseerd met de naam van de baby of de initialen van moeder en baby, wat een betekenisvolle boodschap achterlaat. Maar wat een blijvende indruk maakt die een leven lang meegaat, is een borduursel. Wil je weten waarom? Lees dan verder en ontdek het.

This paper analyses a metalworking area from the fortified site of A Cidá de Borneiro (Cabana de Bergantiños, Galicia, Spain). It is focused on a bronze and iron workshop (C9-12) where, in addition to abundant metallurgical evidence and production remains, a large number of thermally altered bone fragments have been documented. The present work proposes a multifactorial analysis to understand together these bones within the context of metalworking activities. For this purpose, an archaeological and functional analysis of the workshop is combined with a morphological study of the bone remains. First, a contextual analysis is defined, examining the archaeological evidence in order to define what kind of activities were developed in the area. Concurrently, a macroscopic analysis of the characteristics and conditions of the bones is carried out, with the aim of identifying thermal alteration processes. As will be demonstrated, this research will confirm that the bones were used as part of the operational production sequence, particularly during the hardening process of objects that require a strong and sharp edge. Finally, we will define and examine the characteristics of this technique from a point of view that encompasses both the technical and symbolic dimensions of metalworking.

This paper examines the visit by Sigismund of Luxemburg, King of the Romans and King of Hungary, to England in the spring and early summer of 1416 in the course his travels in western Europe in the cause of peace-making and Church reform. It examines the challenges and opportunities that a visit by the ruler of the Empire presented for Henry V of England and his government, and how they responded, including the detailed provisions made for the king and his retinue. It also explores the perspectives of the visitors, via accounts from Sigismund's circle, to gain insight into their understanding of key events during the visit (such as Sigismund's investiture as a companion of the Garter). The paper argues that neither side fully understood the implications and consequences of the visit at the time, and that the memory in England of Sigismund's stay tended to shift and to be reinscribed over the course of the fifteenth century.

La fundación del Monasterio de La Concepción se enmarca dentro del esplendor vivido por la Orden de Predicadores en el Reino de Jaén durante el siglo XVI, con la creación de un gran número de conventos y monasterios. Entre ellos, el fundado por doña Catalina de Berrio, que invertirá toda su hacienda en la materia-1 ización de un sueño, que ella misma modelará como una gran obra pía, suponiendo la tan ansiada fama para su linaje y un lugar en el que ella y las mujeres de su estirpe puedan encontrar un refugio para su honra.

Presentamos un estudio sobre las donaciones realizadas a Jaén a comienzos del siglo XVIII por el militar ibreño Pedro Pablo Sánchez López de los Arcos (1652-1719). Este acomodado personaje, sargento mayor de las milicias reales de Puebla de los Ángeles, envió a su tierra natal obras artísticas y dinero destinado a obras pías, a la construcción de la capilla mayor de la parroquia de Ibros y a la continuación de las obras en la Catedral de Jaén, en señal de su devoción y como signo de estatus. Se analizan estas donaciones a través de documentación en gran parte inédita. Se estudia por primera vez el retrato del indiano realizado por José Rodríguez Carnero y mandado a Ibros. También analizamos dos pinturas atribuidas a Cristóbal
de Villalpando conservadas en la Catedral de Jaén: los Desposorios de la Virgen y San José y la Aparición de Santa Leocadia a San Ildefonso, y establecemos la relación que pueden tener con el indiano.

We present a study on the donations made to Jaén at the beginning of the 18th century by the Ibreño soldier Pedro Pablo Sánchez López de los Arcos (1652-1719). This well-off man, sargento mayor de las milicias reales de Puebla de los Ángeles, sent artistic works and money destined to pious works, to the construction of the main chapel of the Ibros church and to the continuation of the works in the Jaén Cathedral, as a sign of his devotion and as a sign of status. These donations are analyzed through unpublished documentation. The portrait of the Indian made by José Rodríguez Carnero and sent to Ibros is studied for the first time. We also analyze two paintings attributed to Cristóbal de Villalpando preserved in the Jaén Cathedral: the Marriage of the Virgin and Saint Joseph, and the Apparition of Saint Leocadia to Saint Ildefonso, and we establish the relationship they may have with the Indian.

Saxo’s versions of Old Norse poetry represent a virtually untapped source to a material that has mostly been lost. This dissertation aims at examining all fifty of his poems, along with several prose passages that appear, wholly or partly, to be based on Old Norse compositions. The analysis has reinforced nearly all proposed links to Old Norse poems, while also disproving some. New interpretations and suggestions have also been formulated. By comparing Saxo’s work with the surviving sources, I attempt to identify the principles for his free translation and thereby distinguish the traits that characterize his own innovations and changes. In many cases, Saxo seems to retain certain stylistic features, likely intending for his Latin poetry to convey an impression of his sources’ poetic tradition. The translation method varies from poem to poem, which means that nearly every passage raises new questions. In the final chapter, I summarize my attempts at answering these, while drawing conclusions regarding Saxo’s selection of poems, the distribution of poetry within the work, the attributes and content of his source material, his translation methods, adaptation of Old Norse stylistic features, meter and fixed expressions, as well as affirming the likelihood that poems lacking direct parallels are in fact based on Old Norse sources.

Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia regum Britanniae occupies a unique position at the intersection of myth, medieval politics, and celestial spectacle. This study examines the ways in which Geoffrey deployed astronomical phenomena-most notably the auroral storm of December 1128-as narrative anchors to recalibrate and legitimize Arthurian legend in the context of Henry I's crisis-ridden England. Drawing on Zoltan Skoda's comparative approach to fictitious origins and astronomical dating, the article argues that these cosmic events were not mere backdrop, but instrumental in shaping national memory and collective psychological resilience. Comparative analysis shows that this synchronism set Geoffrey's narrative apart from continental chroniclers, transforming the legend of Arthur into a living allegory for social upheaval and hope.

Il étudia à Rinteln et à Francfort sur Oder. Il passa sa licence en droit sur le thème "de femina illustri …" devant le professeur Edouard Goclenius et fut très remarqué par son érudition et la publication de certains ouvrages savants. Il entre en 1709 au service du duc de Wurtemberg [illustration : Eberhard-Louis de Wurtemberg (1676-1733)] qu'il servira pendant quatre années, d'abord comme conseiller, puis comme chancelier à Oele, comme ministre d'Etat à Stuttgart d'où il est envoyé à la Diète d'Empire à

This paper critically assesses Christopher Ferrard's (d. 2024) contributions to the study of nineteenth-century Ottoman rhetorical scholarship. In particular, it examines Ferrard's definition of rhetoric as necessarily grounded in national literary traditions and his assessment of the scholarly output based on its alignment with a nation-centric approach. We demonstrate how this conceptual framework results in favorable evaluations of scholars who advocated for a nation-centric approach while leading to negative assessments of those who upheld the universality of balāgha and sought to vernacularize it in the Ottoman context. We conclude by advocating for further research that offers more comprehensive accounts of Ottoman rhetorical thought, balancing universalist and particularist perspectives.

This article reinterprets Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regum Britanniae as a sophisticated act of dynastic mythmaking, designed to fortify Plantagenet legitimacy in twelfth-century England. Blending methods from literary analysis, medieval historiography, and political theology, the study traces how the Arthurian legend transforms historical memory into ideological narrative. Central to the analysis is the reframing of Merlin from Celtic seer to a construct rooted in the legendary figure of Cnut the Great; Arthur and Uther are similarly recast as echoes of Henry I and William the Conqueror. The narrative’s focus on hereditary right, dynastic symbolism—especially the dragon as a marker of Viking and Norman power—and the iconic test of the sword in the stone, are argued to encode pressing anxieties over succession, legitimacy, and civil disorder. By dissecting the ways Geoffrey’s text weaponizes myth to address contemporary traumas—most notably The Anarchy—this article reveals the Historia as a foundational instrument of royal legitimation and nation-building, where the politics of succession are refracted through the enduring lens of British myth.

Gudit (fl . tenth century) , also known as Yodit or Judith, or under her Ethiopian nickname “Esato” (“Fire”), was a legendary Ethiopian queen, who in the tenth century is claimed to have invaded Aksum with her army, burned and plundered the city, and overthrown the Aksumite king, thus causing the downfall of the Aksumite Empire. She is also said to be the founder of the Zagwe dynasty.

Situated in the modern-day Hooghly district on the banks of the Bhagirathi
(Hooghly River), Serampore is widely recognised for its colonial heritage,
especially as a Danish trading outpost and a centre of Christian missionary
activities during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. However,
long before the Danes set foot in 1755 CE, this area had the marks of
a complicated and multi-layered past, shaped by rural Brahmanical
settlements, Vaishnava religious institutions, and Mughal-era political
dynamics. The history of Serampore prior to its formal urbanisation
remains relatively underexplored, often overshadowed by its colonial
narrative.

This article reinterprets Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae as an audacious act of political myth-making amid the crisis of Henry I's succession. Through allegory and strategic appropriation of Celtic tradition, Geoffrey crafts legendary figures-Arthur, Guinevere, Merlin, Mordred-as coded mirrors for real dynastic tensions, loyalty, and the perils of broken oaths. The analysis uncovers how Geoffrey's use of legend as "masked counsel," inspired by Dantean allegory, offers both a veiled warning against civil war and a bid for reconciliation among king, church, and nobility. By exploring symbols like Excalibur and the Round Table, the study reveals the work's enduring legacy in shaping ideas of legitimacy, unity, and the complex interplay of power across centuries. Ultimately, the article demonstrates how Geoffrey's Arthurian vision, forged in the heart of political upheaval, became a timeless framework for understanding authority and the fragile bonds that hold societies together.

The Urdu language, a product of centuries of cultural, linguistic, and social interaction in the Indo-Pak subcontinent, has been the subject of multiple and often conflicting origin theories. This study presents a critical, grassroots-focused analysis of Urdu's emergence, examining regional contributions from Delhi, Punjab, Sindh, and the Deccan, alongside the roles of military, commercial, and Sufi networks in shaping everyday speech. Drawing on historicalcomparative linguistics, primary sources such as poetry, chronicles, and colonial grammars, and evaluation of dialectal and oral traditions, the paper interrogates established hypotheses, including the Delhi, Punjab, Sindh, and Deccan theories, and engages with the literary culture perspective and sociopolitical analyses. Key debates concerning the "camp language" myth, the politics of Urdu versus Hindi, elite codification versus grassroots formation, and colonial standardization are critically examined. Findings indicate that Urdu's evolution was polycentric, hybrid, and socially negotiated, reflecting both vernacular innovation and literary refinement. The study further explores Urdu's modern relevance, highlighting its role in Pakistan's national identity, Indian cultural and educational systems, and diaspora communities worldwide. By foregrounding the grassroots dynamics of language formation, this research challenges monocentric narratives, emphasizing the interplay of social, linguistic, and cultural forces. The paper concludes that understanding Urdu's historical trajectory through a grassroots lens not only enriches the field of historical linguistics but also provides insights into the ongoing vitality and adaptive capacity of South Asia's shared linguistic heritage.

Massimo Moretti (a cura di), Gli animali e la caccia nell'immaginario di Francesco Maria II della Rovere, Roma: De Luca Editori d'Arte, 2024, 432 pp. ISBN: 9788865575772 Gli animali e la caccia nell'immaginario di Francesco Maria II della Rovere, a cura di Massimo Moretti, offre un'esaustiva ricostruzione dell'universo culturale e simbolico dell'ultimo duca d'Urbino, definito "principe filosofo" da Torquato Tasso. Questo volume, che inaugura la collana Immaginare i saperi, persegue l'obiettivo, come esplicitato dal curatore e da Giovanni Pacini, di "collegare dei saperi e delle immagini a un immaginario di nuovo eloquente, reso accessibile alla contemporaneità sia per l'esercizio della libera facoltà immaginativa, sia per la stesura di un nuovo discorso, quanto più aderente possibile alla storia" (p. 365). L'analisi dell'arte venatoria, la quale rappresenta il tema unificante dei numerosi contributi che compongono il volume, si dimostra uno strumento efficace per indagare l'iconografia dell'età moderna.

2017 nyarán kisebb vihart kavart, hogy Berend Nóra történész megkérdőjelezte Koppány létezését. Írásomban annak járok utána, hogy mennyiben támogatható ez az állítás. Vizsgálódásom tárgya, hogy a Cupan személynév az Árpád-korban milyen kontextusban és formában tűnik föl előttünk, s milyen időbeli eloszlást mutat.

This article examines the absence of a feminine equivalent to the suffix “Jr.” and its impact on gender representation and equity. The lack of such a suffix reinforces patriarchal hierarchies, limiting women’s visibility in the transmission of names, surnames, and family lineages. This omission creates confusion, particularly in cases of homonymy between mothers and daughters in official documents, a challenge men circumvent through the use of the “Jr.” suffix. Through a literature review, the article highlights how this gap perpetuates sociological and economic inequalities by excluding women from symbolic and legal systems. In response, the term “Juvenile” is proposed as a feminine equivalent to “Jr.” aiming to recognize the direct maternal-daughter affiliation and promote gender equity. The study evaluates the linguistic, cultural, and legal feasibility of this new suffix, suggesting that its adoption could transform societal and legal perceptions of inheritance and women’s symbolic rights. The article concludes that while this proposal represents an initial step toward equity, a multidisciplinary approach is essential to assess its long-term impact across diverse contexts. Furthermore, it encourages future research to explore the acceptance and implications of this change in various domains. This analysis underscores the need to reconsider linguistic and legal structures that perpetuate inequality and advocates for a shift toward a more equitable representation of women in naming systems.

Between the years 1000 and 1300, the two developing polities of Norway and Poland often followed similar trends. Both realms were located on what was considered the periphery of Europe, both joined Latin Christendom — and with it, the wider sphere of European cultural influence — at the turn of the first millennium, and both, by the end of the thirteenth century, had largely coalesced as stable kingdoms. Yet while the histories of these two countries have long been studied along national lines, it remains rarer for them to be considered outside of their traditional geographical context, and studied via comparison with events elsewhere.

This innovative volume seeks to explore the means and uses of symbolic power that were employed by religiopolitical elites in order to assert their legitimacy and dominance by taking an explicitly comparative approach and dual perspective on these two polities. What stories did elites tell themselves and others about their deservedness to rule, what spaces and objects did they utilize in order to project their elevated status, and how did struggle and rivalry form part of their societal dominance? Formed from chapters co-written by experts in Polish and Norwegian history, this unique volume not only reflects on the similarities and differences between events in these two polities, but also more broadly offers conceptual tools and comparative frameworks that can enhance our wider understanding of the conditions and factors that shaped religiopolitical behaviour on the peripheries.

Between Gnosis, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism: Symbolic Divergence in the Syriac and Greek Versions of The Hymn of the Pearl As a Reflection of the Religious Zeitgeist In the Early Near East The Hymn of the Pearl, preserved in Syriac and Greek versions, stands as a key apocryphal Christian text originating from the cultural crossroads of the ancient Near East. This paper explores how the symbolic divergences between the Syriac and Greek versions reflect not only linguistic variation but also broader differences in cultural-religious identity, particularly within the intersecting traditions of Gnosticism, Eastern Christianity, and Zoroastrianism. Applying comparative literary analysis, historical-contextual research, and cognitive-linguistic methods, this study seeks to uncover the shared symbolic heritage and divergent theological sensibilities encoded in these parallel versions.

Koning Enrique III van Castilië (1379-1406) staat bekend als iemand die zijn diplomatieke relaties wil uitbreiden tot alle uithoeken van de wereld. Dit om zich op de hoogte te stellen van gewoontes en gebruiken waarmee hij denkt zijn voordeel te kunnen doen. In 1402 zendt Enrique twee afgezanten naar het oosten die getuige waren van de slag van Ankara waar Timoer Lenk de Turken een nederlaag toebrengt. De twee Spanjaarden worden door Timoer hoffelijk bejegend en hij zendt hen naar hun vaderland in gezelschap van een eigen gezant die een brief meeneemt bestemd voor de Castiliaanse vorst. Ook brengt hij geschenken mee in de vorm van juwelen en twee christelijke vrouwen die Timoer bevrijd heeft uit de harem van sultan Beyazid. Beide vrouwen treden later in het huwelijk met vooraanstaande Spanjaarden. Na terugkeer van de afvaardiging in het Iberisch schiereiland, besluit koning Enrique een tweede gezantschap naar het hof van Timoer te sturen, bestaande uit de Madrileense ridder en kamerheer van de koning, Ruy González de Clavijo, diens lijfwacht Gómez de Salazar en de theoloog pater Alonzo Páez de Santa María. Deze afvaardiging wordt begeleid door de ambassadeur van Timoer, Mohammed al Cazi.

Het is Clavijo die in opdracht van de koning een nauwkeurig reisverslag optekent: Embajada a Tamorlán (Gezantschap naar Timoer Lenk). Het is de eerste reisbeschrijving van Spaanse bodem en is van dezelfde importantie als Il Milione, het verslag van Marco Polo van diens reizen in de dertiende eeuw. Embajada a Tamorlán wordt voor het eerst in druk uitgegeven in 1582.

De stad Durham in Noord-Engeland dankt zijn bestaan aan de rivier de Wear. Dertig kilometer ten zuiden van Newcastle meandert zij om een schiereiland dat een natuurlijke vesting vormt, aan drie kanten door water omsloten. Monniken beginnen in de elfde eeuw met de bouw van de kathedraal die hoog uittorent boven het omliggende landschap. Willem de Veroveraar maakt van deze plek een citadel die eeuwenlang een bolwerk vormt tegen opdringende Schotten. De kleine nederzettig wordt een stad waar machtige bisschoppen de scepter zwaaien. In de Middeleeuwen breidt Durham zich uit tot buiten het schiereiland en ontstaat de nu nog aanwezige infrastructuur. De zorg voor onderwijs groeit met als hoogtepunt de stichting van de Universiteit van Durham.

The article examines the relationship between the first Polish rulers and the German kings and emperors between the 10 th and the 12 th century, through the example of the court assemblies in Merseburg. The author discusses the relevance of fealties for shaping political relations in the High Middle Ages and tries to find an alternative explanation beyond feudal law.

This chapter examines German attitudes to the transregnal rule of the Roman kings and emperors during the thirteenth century. It argues that German observers were neither especially impressed by multi-regnal rule nor troubled by it in the manner of 19th-century nationalist scholarship, but thought mainly in categories of imperial hegemony in the hands of the Germans - whose own northern realm was understood as a composite of multiple, more ancient political communities.