Introducing a blog series on #historyinconflicts: the medieval edition

Justyna Wubs-Mrozewicz

On 25.06.2021, a group of medievalists discussed the question ‘What happens when history is evoked in conflicts’? Specifically: Did such discourse take place? – How did it happen? – Why did it happen? in medieval cases and sources, ranging from the Scottish Marches to Sardinia, and from lawsuits to references to burial mounds. What functions did such historical discourse have? Was it, for instance, a call for change or a call for preservation in a conflict? And who used the memory of a sometimes distant past in the heat of a clash? The historical argument in conflicts was not only an interpretation of the past. Various actors within such conflicts gave meaning to events and relations in the past, and made use of the historical discourse for specific ends.

It was a very thought-provoking online meeting, which we want to share here. Indeed, the goal of this blog series is to present summaries of the contributions by medievalists and to continue the discussion with early modernists and modernists. Some highlights by way of introduction.[....]

Continue reading

History as an argument in conflicts webinar 25.06

Justyna Wubs-Mrozewicz

What happens in a conflict when you use history as a powerful argument to reach your goal?...
On 25th of June, a group of medievalists will discuss captivating examples from their own sources and research. Jackson Armstrong, Flavio Miranda, Justine Firnhaber-Baker, Patrick Lantschner, Hans Jacob Orning, Jenny Benham, jembenham, Justyna Wubs-Mrozewicz, Dan Smail, Piotr Górecki.

If you want to join in, DM: spots are limited here! We will be, however, tweeting summaries of the presentations and discussions in the week of 28th of June, and longer posts on our website. And: we invite both #twitterstorians and #conflict scholars to comment.

Continue reading

Illustrations in the Secret of the Seven Ships

Justyna Wubs-Mrozewicz

cover: Krzysztof Krawiec, Justyna Wubs-Mrozewicz, based on Pieter Bruegel the Elder, The Met, New York
p. 11 fragment of view of Motława by Balthasar Friedrich Leizel, Friedrich Antona August Lohrmann, c. 1780, coloured engraving, National Maritime Museum in Gdańsk

p. 20 Jan van Eyck, the Arnolfini Portrait, the National gallery, London
p. 23 Gedanum from Civitates orbis Terrarum by Georg Braun, Franz Hogenberg), 1575, engraving, National Maritime Museum in Gdańsk
pp. 25, 31, 32, 48 Gdańsk during and after WW II, gedanopedia.pl
p. 37 Frederick II by Hans Knieper and Eric XVI by Steven van der Meulen, Nationalmuseum
p. 43 St George and the dragon by Bernt Notke, Storkyrkan in Stockholm
p. 45 fragment of an archival chest by Dariusz Kula, Museum of Gdańsk, Main Town Hall
p. 50 State Archives in Gdańsk
p. 52 Margaret of Parma by Anthonis Mor
p. 53 Sigismund II Augustus by Lucas Cranach
p. 56 Green Bridge and Gate by Aegidius Dickmann, 1617, gedanopedia.pl
p. 59 Green Gate, 1687, gedanopedia.pl
p. 58 Lastadia, Julius Gottheil, 1845 gedanopedia.pl
p. 60 The Long Market 1880, gedanopedia.pl
p. 61 Raised terrace by Johann Carl Schultz 1867 gedanopedia.pl
p. 62 Artus Court by August Lobegott Randt, 1823, gedanopedia.pl
p. 63 Konstantin Ferber by Nicolaus Andrea, 1586, gedanopedia.pl
p. 64 Town Hall by Michael Carl Gregorovius, 1832, gedanopedia.pl
p. 65 Figure on the pinnacle of the Town Hall, based on Jan Gumowski, 1928 (there incorrectly referenced to as  John II Casimir Vasa), National Maritime Museum in Gdańsk
p. 67 entrance to Great Christopher by Dariusz Kula, Museum of Gdańsk, Main Town Hall
p. 68 on the basis of Pieter Bruegel the Elder, The Met, New York, Justyna Wubs-Mrozewicz
p. 69 on the basis of the fresco in Great Christopher by Dariusz Kula, Gdańsk Historical Museum, Town Hall
p. 73 Henry VIII by Hans Holbein, 1540
p. 75 exterior of the National Museum and the Last Judgement by Hans Memling, 1467-1471, the National Museum in Gdańsk
pp. 76-77 fragments of the Last Judgement,  the National Museum in Gdańsk
p. 79 cellars and the Great Council Hall, by Dariusz Kula, Museum of Gdańsk, Main Town Hall
pp. 80-81 Apotheosis by Isaak van den Block, Museum of Gdańsk, Main Town Hall
pp. 82-83 fresco and archival chest in fresco in Great Christopher by Dariusz Kula, Museum of Gdańsk, Main Town Hall
p. 89 Georg Giese by Hans Holbein
p. 97 State Archives in Gdańsk
p. 96 fresco in Great Christopher by Dariusz Kula, Gdańsk Historical Museum, Town Hall
p. 104 Panorama of Gdańsk, by Bartholomaus Milwitz, 1620-1630, MNG/SD/281/M, the National Museum
p. 107 astronomical clock, St Mary’s, Gdańsk
p. 108 view of Motława by Balthasar Friedrich Leizel, Friedrich Antona August Lohrmann, c. 1780, coloured engraving, National Maritime Museum in Gdańsk

Continue reading