Attendees of Leeds IMC looking for some post-conference relief, I’d heartily recommend checking out the recording of Thijs Porck’s paper (1603-a). His splendidly presented account of nineteenth-century philologists taking savage lumps out of each other will delight the drama lover in all of us.

I’m forced to concur with the student volunteer overheard guiding a group around Leeds University today who, when asked about the hundreds of medievalists milling about the campus, replied: ‘You get all sorts of strange people here in the summer. Don’t worry, they’ll soon go away.’

I reviewed a thing. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Leeds IMC may be half way through but there’s still plenty of time to check out The Carolingian South at the @manchesterup.bsky.social stall!

We had a blast at day one of #IMC2026 and we're ready to do it all again today! Pictured: Sam Ottewill-Soulsby with 'The Carolingian South', Hope Doherty-Harrison with 'Love and anti-Judaism in medieval English romance', Graham A. Loud with 'Monasticism and renewal in southern Italy'.

Bastiaan Waagmeester came by our #IMC2026 booth and was happy to find a copy of his 'Pastoral Works. Priests, Books, and Compilatory Practices in the #Carolingian Period' during @imc-leeds.bsky.social ! More Info: bit.ly/4vi3GyL #MedievalSky

This bit from the NYT Vance story describes basically all of ultra-right-wing chud classics and medievalism: it *feels* ancient or medieval - or what they think that should be - despite actually being very modern, because it fits their neo-fascist ideology.

With impeccable timing, on the first day of #IMC2026, the latest issue of Early Medieval Europe is out! Featuring articles by, amongst others, @katefalardeau.bsky.social and @medievaljon.bsky.social. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/14680254...

As in 1066 England will prevail against the Norwegians before tragically losing to the French a couple of weeks later.

Magister camelorum!

*David Attenborough‘s voice* As the sun rises on this early July morning hundreds of medievalists begin their annual migration to Leeds. Scientists have not fully understood this ritual but it seems to be crucial for the survival of the whole species. Intensive days of medievaling will follow.

Went to the Genghis Khan temporary exhibition at Leeds Royal Armouries Museum. A little thin on actual Mongol artefacts but a really terrific collection of earlier medieval items. #medievalsky

Another month, another round up of new publications for #medievalsky

Five classic English-language articles on medieval history translated into French: and a fine choice! (Southern, Reynolds, McKitterick, Geary, Dutton).

Today on the blog - we break out the cucumber sandwiches as I ask what was distinctive about Carolingian diplomacy? #medievalsky salutemmundo.wordpress.com/2026/07/02/w...

Survived the heatwave in France last week. The Merovingian (or maybe early Carolingian) relic labels from Vergy were certainly the highlight of the trip!

Today on the blog - we break out the cucumber sandwiches as I ask what was distinctive about Carolingian diplomacy? #medievalsky salutemmundo.wordpress.com/2026/07/02/w...

QUEER-FRIENDLY INDIE TTRPG #137: This world has no patriarchy or gender inequality, yet somehow evolved exactly the same cultural institutions as every other generically medieval fantasy milieu. ME: And we're not gonna delve into that even a little bit, huh?

So I went and wrote a thing, then talked a bit about charters and monasteries and now I got habilitated.

England hasn't attacked this ineffectually on 1st July since The Somme.

Very much looking forward to this book coming out: a silver lining to the arrival of autumn! manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526187185/

Trick question: in this house we're ride or die Franks Casket

PSA for Everyone Currently Preparing Their Trip To Leeds #IMC2026 If needed: do not forget to (re)apply for your Electronic Travel Authorisation! www.gov.uk/eta/apply

The annual @imc-leeds.bsky.social football match returns! In honour of Dr Rob Meens, who set up the game so long ago that nobody can remember it (how medieval) Please share and please come along to play! ⚽️🏆

@gzornetta.eurosky.social’s chapter is brilliant and essential reading for anyone wanting to think about Benevento and the Carolingians! #medievalsky

Sigh.

Vikings vs Elephants! This could be an emotionally complicated football match for me.

Today on the blog, I continue the propaganda push behind The Carolingian South (now out with @manchesterup.bsky.social) by talking about how and why @graemeyward.bsky.social and I came to edit it. Featuring last minute conference shenanigans! #medievalsky salutemmundo.wordpress.com/2026/06/30/e...

I’m looking forward to seeing as many people as possible at the #IMC next week. On Tuesday 7th, I’m acting as respondent to a really terrific pair of panels on ‘The Carolingian Empire in Context’, organised by @pseudo-isidore.bsky.social and Jennifer Davis (1/2)

I'll be posting at @historicivertellen.bsky.social a lot this week, and in Dutch no less! Feel free to subscribe there in general, it's an interesting feed with a rotating cast of all kinds of historians (last week they had @drdragases.bsky.social, so I have some big shoes to fill...).

New book coming from @boydellandbrewer.bsky.social , ed. by @marcusmeer.bsky.social and me: a starry international cast of contributors exploring image-breaking in medieval politics and society (as well as religion) - a big, neglected topic with much to tell us. boydellandbrewer.com/book/iconocl...

The false prophet, in the St-Sever Beatus (c. 1050) gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/b...

Looking forward to #IMC in the coming weeks: two panels on Frisia (143 and 243 on 6/7/26) organised by me and @history-w-hilbert.bsky.social, then speaking at a roundtable alongside @eddiemeehan99.bsky.social and @medievaljon.bsky.social et al IMC is a highlight of my year every year - say hello!

Do come say hello! If its your first Leeds it can be a bit overwhelming so don't feel afraid to stop me and introduce yourself!

"Charles, by the grace of God King of the Franks and the Romans and the Lombards": Charlemagne's first surviving act after his imperial coronation, March 801, revealing hesitations around the imperial title.

haven’t seen it this pride month yet so reposting rn, gm all

A useful thread of panels for specialists in the medieval Middle East going to Leeds IMC. #medievalsky

Can you really be a research institution (ie a university) if your staff only have 10% of their time earmarked for research?

Been thinking a lot recently about accusations of "Revisionist History" and how it reflects a disjuncture between academic historians and popular usage. They mean very different things! I talk a bit about the meaning of revisionism and whether it is actually a problem. #medievalsky #history

My latest project, a sourcebook on Vikings in Britain and Ireland, has just gone to the copy-editor. It's due out April next year. Always a bit nervous/exciting when that happens #medievalsky

The person who trained me in codicology told us that ‘none of the great libraries will insist on gloves, it is an Oxford habit.’

😭 💀

Friends, Romans, fellow late antiquity fans! The first issue of Essays in Long Late Antiquity, a new journal published fully in open access by Liverpool University Press is out! We have a stunning volume for you to read with amazing contributions. 1/ liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/toc/ella/cur...

I’m delighted to see that the latest episode of the Multicultural Middle Ages podcast on ‘The Global Gyrfalcon’, hosted by @medivalist.bsky.social and myself, is now out! #medievalsky @mmapod.bsky.social www.multiculturalmiddleages.com/post/the-glo...

It is also bullshit? The idea that Julius Caesar had a vision for a new Rome or a new world is this persistent thread in his reception and even in scholarship that really doesn't reflect the evidence. Caesar didn't have a single coherent program, but a collection of disjointed ad hoc decisions.

I’m delighted to see that the latest episode of the Multicultural Middle Ages podcast on ‘The Global Gyrfalcon’, hosted by @medivalist.bsky.social and myself, is now out! #medievalsky @mmapod.bsky.social www.multiculturalmiddleages.com/post/the-glo...

Here's the link to MMA podcast webpage: www.multiculturalmiddleages.com/post/the-glo.... I'm looking forward to listening to this, b/c the trade in & lore about hunting birds offers a super opportunity to explore #GlobalMiddleAges questions. #MedievalSky

Calling all birds and birders! 🦅 check out our latest episode on gyrfalcons! #medievalsky