East-Central & Eastern Europe (c. 500-1500)

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.

This volume delves into the rich histories of the Jagiellon and Vasa dynasties shedding light on the profound interplay between jewellery and socio-political forces. Readers are invited into an era where jewellery bore multifaceted significance from symbolising power and piety to facilitating economic engagements. The royal perception of value extended beyond traditional treasures with a keen interest in animal-derived artefacts. These unconventional items such as elk hooves or eagle stones were highly esteemed reflecting both luxury’s diverse nature and the era’s cultural and mystical beliefs. Rather than merely cataloguing these artefacts this study animates them intertwining narratives of monarchs nobles craftsmen and the lands from which these treasures emerged. It delves into a world where a gem’s glint signifies might gold hints at empires’ expanse and a narwhal’s horn could determine kingdoms’ destinies. Jewellery has long held a central position in history particularly among the elite. These pieces were not simply decorative; they conveyed prestige societal position and authority. They symbolised both worldly and spiritual prominence enriched with a complex symbolism. Beyond showcasing wealth jewellery played crucial roles in diplomacy and politics. What meanings did these unique gems carry for their initial owners? This book uncovers the tales magnetism and mystery surrounding these jewellery collections. It paints a picture where jewellery transcends mere ornamentation serving as a powerful testament to influence devotion and grandeur.

Around the turn of the first millennium the political and religious landscape of Central Europe began to change dramatically. As the decentralized pagan societies along its borders became Christian the polity that later became the Holy Roman Empire began to expand significantly according to the principles of the Imperium Christianum — an idea that first originated with Charlemagne but that was consciously revived by Emperor Otto I and his predecessors as a way of extending power and authority into the Empire’s newly converted eastern fringes. This acculturation was effective and societies began to actively adopt the new ideology and social order on their own initiative.

Drawing on material first presented at conferences held in the Department of Archaeology at Charles University Prague this volume draws together researchers working on different yet connected events along the Empire’s eastern frontier and the often-overlooked part of society who nevertheless participated in these events in particular commoners and the rural population. The papers gathered here cover affairs of the early state and church networks of archaeological and historical heritage and archaeological historical and digital investigations to offer a blend of both synthetic archaeological and historical overviews and more focused geographical and thematic case studies that explore the role of Christianization in the centralization processes that occurred at the edge of the Ottonian-Salian world. The result is a forward-looking volume that seeks to explore new approaches to historical narratives in particular by emphasizing the importance of archaeological material in examining early state formation and religious change. Moreover it is the first synthetic study to directly compare the north-east and south-east peripheries of the later Holy Roman Empire making it possible to shed new light on these lands at the periphery of Western Christendom.

The volume offers a re-examination of the rise of the Jagiellon dynasty in medieval and early modern Central Europe. Originating in Lithuania and extending its dominion to Poland Hungary and Bohemia the Jagiellon dynasty has left an enduring legacy in European history. This collection of studies presents the Jagiellons as rulers with dynamic and negotiated authority. It begins with the dynasty’s origins and its dynastic union with Poland milestones that have shaped the political and cultural trajectory of the dynasty’s reign. The volume places significant emphasis on the role of royal consorts thereby broadening traditional gender-focused perspectives. Far from being mere accessories queens had a considerable influence on governance economic matters and diplomacy. The cultural impact of Jagiellon rule is analysed through interactions with humanists and the intellectual milieu of the court. The performative aspects of Jagiellon power including the use of words gestures and even intentional silences are examined as powerful tools of articulation. Emotional factors that influence governance and intricate dynastic relationships are explored revealing how political decisions especially constitutional reforms are made more rapidly when faced with perceived dynastic vulnerabilities. In Poland the rise of parliamentary institutions under the earlier Jagiellon monarchs epitomises the concept of negotiated authority underscoring the growing political role of the nobility. This volume thus provides a multi-faceted and nuanced understanding of the Jagiellon dynasty’s legacy in political cultural and gender-related spheres enhancing understanding of European history.