This morning, us in Sheffield’s East Asian Studies (and at least one other area) hear the outcomes from the sham “review” conducted by management, and likely how many jobs are at risk. The review promised openness, transparency and engagement with stakeholders. It delivered none of those things.

To be fair, I've seen worse. #ExtremeCataloguing

I try not to complain too much about the bleakness of postdoctoral life but having to have the 'thesis monograph' underway to be considered for a starting postdoc position versus needing a starting postdoc position to have the security to commit to writing the thesis monograph is such a catch-22.

Reading people. Body language. Knowing how to connect with people totally unlike you and with different backgrounds and beliefs. Defusing tense situations. Gaining trust. High endurance, pain tolerance, and work ethic. Reaction time. Prioritizing order of execution. Anticipating people’s needs. Tons

I’m so excited for you guys to read my new book

Applications are open for the Addison Wheeler Fellowship at Durham's Institute of Advanced Studies, a 36-month postdoctoral position – please get in touch with a potential department mentor asap if you're interested! www.dur.ac.uk/research/ins...

It's set to be a gloomy day tomorrow, so how about some medieval loyalties instead! We have a very promising selection of 20-minute papers and 5-minute presentations, with a general discussion for all to join at the end. Bring a hot drink and join us online 1.30-4.30pm GMT! (zoom link at request)

The 3rd Medieval Loyalty Research Workshop is taking place tomorrow, 1.30pm-4.30pm on Zoom - please get in touch with myself or @mediev-el.bsky.social for the Zoom link and see here for more details of the programme: medievalloyalty.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk/2026/01/06/t...

From the current issue: “Plague Correspondence, Trust, and Mistrust in the Late Medieval Crown of Aragon” by Abigail Agresta (George Washington University) doi.org/10.1093/past...

Our first RHS lecture of 2026 is '"Alike in Appearance but not in Scope": Queens and the Making of Medieval Europe', with Prof Charles West (Edinburgh) bit.ly/49GlmMR 6pm, Friday 6 February. In-person booking is now full but registration to attend this event online remains open #Skystorians

Delighted to bring you the programme for the third Medieval Loyalty Workshop, online on 24th January, under the command of the terrific @katybennett.bsky.social and @mediev-el.bsky.social All are very welcome! Details here: medievalloyalty.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk/2026/01/06/t...

We are pleased to launch today a new programme for early career researchers with @ihr.bsky.social & @chalkefestival.bsky.social 'Pitch my Project' is an opportunity for early career historians to present their research at the Chalke History Festival in 2026 bit.ly/44kfUMM Applications now invited.

'Skull of St. Thomas Aquinas being transported to Fossanova Abbey.' Photograph by Daniel Ibanez

The research group 'Loyalty in the Medieval World' is looking for papers for our online workshop on the 24 January 2026! Proposals can be on any topic relating to loyalty during the Middle Ages, abstracts due by 17 December to be sent to myself and @katybennett.bsky.social via email!

This month is UK Disability History Month. You can learn more about the history of disability in the UK and Ireland through the Bibliography of British and Irish History's (BBIH) free reading list, which includes more than 450 recent publications in the history of disability buff.ly/OK5HSbu

Attention creative medievalists! Eleanor Barraclough & I are co-editing a special issue of Public Humanities entitled CREATING THE MEDIEVAL NOW! See the cfp for details: essays of 2,000-3,000 words due 1 May 2026. (Amazing artwork by @hellomizk.bsky.social). 1/ www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Really pleased to have my short article out with @epoch-history.bsky.social on the experience of disability during the Hundred Years' War! The rest of the issue is a fantastic read and it was lovely to work with the editors and @joshcoulthard.bsky.social. www.epoch-magazine.com/post/the-exp...

A blast from my past - the Medieval Soldier database takes nearly 300,000 military service records from 1369-1453 and makes them available as a searchable database. An invaluable resource for understanding medieval warfare, society and the English medieval state. Learn more in the link. 🗃️

Also just released in @epoch-history.bsky.social Issue 22 are @mediev-el.bsky.social’s article on disability during the Hundred Years War and her companion tutorial on working with pardon letters. It was a pleasure to edit El’s work for publication! www.epoch-magazine.com/post/the-exp...

Enjoying the little postcards this year, can't wait for #IMC2026 next summer for more medieval loyalties! :)

Really looking forward to this in a couple weeks time! Pardon my unfunny title...

Parents, please check your kids’ candy this Halloween. I’ve just found an ancient metal whistle with the inscription “QUIS EST ISTE QUI VENIT" inside a Snickers bar. I blew it and heard a note of infinite distance, and now I’m haunted by a figure in pale, fluttering draperies. Be safe.

It was a real pleasure to read @lauracforster.bsky.social's fine new essay on "Befriending the Dead" in @historyworkshop.org.uk this morning. It contains deep wellsprings of optimism. academic.oup.com/hwj/advance-...

Boo!

Performatively reading in the cafe, but wearing white gloves so I'm still venerating the Book As Object, with a t-shirt saying "I know archivists don't wear gloves" so people know the gloves are performative.

So. Your landlord wants his eels, but you didn't catch enough. Will he take money? Sometimes! In 1250 there was a property in Lenchwick that paid the cook of Evesham 40 sticks of eels (1000 fish) yearly. If there weren't enough eels the cook accepted 1.5 pence per stick instead. 🗃️🧪

Enjoying the two guys on this year's Bake Off who look like they could be rival chieftains in Iron Age Gaul

We are delighted to announce our research seminars for this semester in Leeds. All will be hybrid. Keep an eye out for links to register for zoom nearer the time or come in person. All welcome! #medievalsky #medievalresearch

Call for Papers! @ihrhistorylab.bsky.social x @ihr.bsky.social Migration and Mobility Seminar special edition - we want papers on all types of migration and mobility history from ECRs and PGRs. Abstracts to kabcommons [@] gmail.com by 15th November. Pls spread the word & DM with any questions

How has paperwork served as a tool of empowerment for people who often find power elusive? In our latest podcast, a group of historians, archivists, and activists met at the Raphael Samuel History Centre (@rshc.bsky.social) to discuss the hidden history of paperwork 🗃️🎙️

Happy to share a call for papers for our PGR/ECR research showcase on Life and Landscape. The showcase is a fantastic opportunity to share environmental research with both the academic community and the wider public. Please share widely!

Newly published in Transactions, the @royalhistsoc.org journal: 'The Relativity of fides: Faith Language, Commerce and Interreligious Trust in the Crown of Aragon, c.1240–1350' by Annabel Hancock bit.ly/3II1OwB Annabel's article, available OA, explores trust relationships in medieval Aragon 1/2

More opportunities @dependencybonn.de ! We are also looking for research fellows to join us in 2026-7, with projects that develop and critically reflect on specific methodological approaches to the study of strong asymmetrical dependencies, to help us develop our newly minted Method Lab.

The Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies is hiring three postdoctoral researchers. We investigate the causes and mechanisms that contribute to the persistence of strong asymmetrical dependencies across historical and contemporary contexts. Pre-modern perspectives are very welcome!

Finally made the move over from the cesspit of X, hello everyone! I offer a nice rubricated 'H'enry from my research into the Trésor des Chartes as proof of identity!

Call for applications! 📣 The German Historical Institute London is seeking a Research Associate with a particular research interest in medieval history (with a focus on late medieval English history) for a part-time project position to start on 1 February 2026. 🤝 1/3