Leading the way in Medieval studies

Cardiff experts share expertise at International Medieval Congress

Experts from the University have led discussions at the 2019 International Medieval Congress this summer.

Once again scholars from the Schools of History, Archaeology and Religion and English, Communication and Philosophy presented throughout the four-day event, drawing on their collaborations from the Centre for Medieval Society and Culture, Medieval Europe Research Group, Cardiff Centre for the Crusades and Cardiff Medieval and Early Modern Research Initiative.

Ancient historian Dr Nic Baker-Brian organised a session under the banner of the Centre for Late Antique Religion and Culture, during which he also presented a paper on imperial portraits in the Constantinian Empire.

Historian Dr Jenny Benham chaired two sessions on War, Peace and Diplomacy, organised three sessions as part of her Voices of Law project, and presented a paper in the third of these on Treaties and the Materiality of Conflict Resolution.

Archaeologist Dr Ben Jervis chaired a session on The Materiality of Everyday Life, and organised and spoke in a second session on the same topic. Research Associate and alumna Dr Alice Forward also presented on status and material culture as seen through the Living Standards and Material Culture project.

Historian Dr Bronach Kane took part in a round table discussion on Foremothers, chaired by alumna Dr Victoria Leonard.

Professor of Medieval History Helen Nicholson organised and chaired four sessions on The Origins of the Military-Religious Orders under the banner of the Cardiff Centre for the Crusades and presented a paper on Queen Sybil of Jerusalem in New Approaches to the Third Crusade.

Language expert Dr Sara Ponz-Sanz presented a paper on Old and Middle English legal glosses and glossaries.

Reader in Ancient History Dr Shaun Tougher presented a paper on the Menalogion of the Byzantine emperor Basil II.

Emerita Professor Helen Phillips presented a paper on the ‘Nut Brown Maid’ (c.1502) and later Maid Marians.

Under the banner of the Exploring the Past Pathway, Dr Paul Webster organised five sessions on Thomas Becket and chaired a further session while tutor Charlotte Pickard presented at the Marriage Strategies and Noble Heiresses session.

Alumni and current PhD students were strongly represented with Lisa Backhouse, Mary Bateman, Greg Leighton, William Lewis, Ben Morris, Victoria Shirley, Ewan Short, and Mark Truesdale presenting papers. Current PhD student Mari-Liis Neubauer also presented a paper under the auspices of the Graduate Centre of Medieval Studies, University of Reading.

This year the International Medieval Congress (1-4 July, University of Leeds) featured more than 2,000 papers, drawing international scholars from over 60 countries to Europe’s largest forum for sharing ideas in medieval studies.