Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️ @deaconjh.bsky.social · 18d

23 September and I've been Wham'd. Only the good Wham young.

Reposted by Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️

John Gallagher @earlymodernjohn.bsky.social · Sep 3

A huge moment -- Melvyn Bragg steps down from In Our Time after over a quarter of a century. What a programme and what a legacy! Just a model for how to make great, clever, engaging radio, and a twenty-seven-year experiment that proves there's a huge global audience for smart, scholarly programming.

Melvyn Bragg decides to step down from presenting In Our Time

After 26 years on the programme, the legendary presenter bids farewell to the series

www.bbc.co.uk

38 200 700

Reposted by Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️

John Gallagher @earlymodernjohn.bsky.social · Aug 27

Seeing a lot of critical responses from medievalists about this BBC 1066 thing. As an early modernist, just to say that I'm happy to confirm that medieval people were indeed covered in dirt all the time and did all sound like they were in the Wurzels.

41 130 990

Reposted by Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️

Sophie Bacchus-Waterman @sophiebwaterman.bsky.social · Aug 26

Spending this morning doing a pre-digitization check for SJC A.2.7, St John's College Library's copy of Caxton's "Game and Play of the Chess". The whole book will be available on Digital Bodleian soon!

Woodcut from SJC A.2.7, depicting a knight riding a horse

7 23

Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️ @deaconjh.bsky.social · Aug 26

Looking forward to seeing you in Leeds next year!

1

Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️ @deaconjh.bsky.social · Aug 25

Call for papers! This year's sessions on Arms, Armour, and the Arts of Combat at the @imc-leeds.bsky.social demonstrated some excellent research and produced much brilliant discussion. Please do circulate to any interested parties. #imc2025 #imc2026

8 10

Reposted by Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️

Ted Vallance @tedvallance.bsky.social · Jul 18

FYA early
modernists: jobs.royalholloway.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx...

Job Opportunity at Royal Holloway University of London: Postdoctoral Research Associate (16th-18th century focus) - Inclusive Histories

Full-time, Fixed Term (12 months)Applications are invited for the post of Postdoctoral Research Associate in the School of Humanities.Inclusive Histories is a collaborative research and schools engage...

jobs.royalholloway.ac.uk

1 4 5

Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️ @deaconjh.bsky.social · Aug 15

Congrats, great progress.

1

Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️ @deaconjh.bsky.social · Aug 12

The 2019 edition of Freydal is a pleasure to work with. Partially because it's so heavy that just taking it off the shelf counts as a workout.

2

Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️ @deaconjh.bsky.social · Aug 11

This is the name of my alter-ego should I go out for breakfast on the weekend.

Dr Rory MacLellan @rorymaclellan.bsky.social · Aug 11

Brunchingus, another great medieval name. LFC Ch XVI 17. #medievalsky

3

Reposted by Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️

Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️ @deaconjh.bsky.social · Jul 11

Call for papers! This year's sessions on Arms, Armour, and the Arts of Combat at the @imc-leeds.bsky.social demonstrated some excellent research and produced much brilliant discussion. Please do circulate to any interested parties. #imc2025 #imc2026

2 5

Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️ @deaconjh.bsky.social · Aug 1

Excellent news, congratulations.

1

Reposted by Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️

Jenni Hyde @wallyberry.bsky.social · Jul 31

Goodbye to the history department at Lancaster University, where the @socialhistsoc.bsky.social was founded 49 years ago. From tomorrow we are
part of a School of Global Affairs. Next year, who knows what will be - please sign our petition against mass redundancies chng.it/PZfTFDjNcr

Sign the Petition

Stop Mass Redundancies at Lancaster University – Hold Senior Management Accountable

chng.it

7 83 140

Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️ @deaconjh.bsky.social · Jul 31

Come along tomorrow night to learn more about swordplay in medieval and early modern England!

Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️ @deaconjh.bsky.social · Jul 24

'Masters of Defence: Fencers and Fencing in England, c. 1400-1600'

Next Friday evening, at 7pm UK time, I’ll be talking about my research for the German Federation for Historical Fencing.
You can join the talk here:
(uni-trier.zoom-x.de/j/6650319538...)
Meeting-ID: 665 0319 5383
Password: 4w2v9GN6

A seventeenth-century illustration of two unarmoured fencers fighting with two-handed swords.

2 3

Reposted by Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️

Calum Cockburn @ccockburn.bsky.social · Jul 30

In June 1513, Henry VIII launched an invasion of France, attempting to reclaim lost English lands.

Today's blogpost by @rorymaclellan.bsky.social looks at three documents which shine a light on the preparations for this campaign and the supply of armour for Henry's troops.

t.co/rYaeYw6Jbq

A charter with two seals and featuring the autograph signatures of Henry VIII, Thomas Wolsey and John Daunce.

5 11

Reposted by Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️

Medievalist.net @medievalists.bsky.social · Jul 29

We have two new online courses from @nicmorton.bsky.social

The Knights Templar 1120-1314 - medievalstudies.thinkific.com/courses/temp...

Medieval Europe 870 - 1300 - medievalstudies.thinkific.com/courses/medi...

Check them out!

#MedievalStudies

The Knights Templar 1120-1314

Explore the astonishing phenomenon of the Knights Templar. Trace the order’s development from the First Crusade’s aftermath, through its rise to enormous power, and then its dissolution, for a…

medievalstudies.thinkific.com

2 13

Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️ @deaconjh.bsky.social · Jul 25

Are we talking Hans Gruber or Sherriff of Nottingham here? ;) Or (more likely) Metatron?

1

Reposted by Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️

Ed Roberts @ecroberts.bsky.social · Jul 24

Delighted to say that I've been awarded a British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship for 2025-26, and we are hiring a 1-year full-time lecturer in early medieval history to replace me. Deadline 7 August. Please get in touch with me if you have any questions about the role! jobs.kent.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx...

Job Opportunity at the University of Kent: Lecturer in Early Medieval History (c.400-1100)

Are you an experienced Lecturer who can teach British and European Early Medieval History? Do you have a passion for Medieval History and are you available for a fixed term contract to start in Septe...

jobs.kent.ac.uk

12 54 84

Reposted by Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️

Charlotte Lydia Riley @lottelydia.bsky.social · Jul 24

All famines are man-made, all famines are political. Historians of empire and humanitarianism have known this forever. Gaza is not starving, Gaza is being starved, by Israel, and this starvation is enabled by our government and by every other government that does not step in to force food and aid.

34 1K 2.2K

Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️ @deaconjh.bsky.social · Jul 24

'Masters of Defence: Fencers and Fencing in England, c. 1400-1600'

Next Friday evening, at 7pm UK time, I’ll be talking about my research for the German Federation for Historical Fencing.
You can join the talk here:
(uni-trier.zoom-x.de/j/6650319538...)
Meeting-ID: 665 0319 5383
Password: 4w2v9GN6

1 7 25

Reposted by Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️

Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds @leedsims.bsky.social · Jul 23

Congratulations to all three of our PhD graduands yesterday: @deaconjh.bsky.social, Samuel Bradley and @florencehrscott.bsky.social standing with Karen Watts, Alan Murray, Charley Roe, Jonathan Jarrett and Melanie Brunner #leedsmedieval #medievalsky

Group of eight people three of whom are dressed in formal green and gold academic gowns and black hats with gold tassles

3 3 54

Reposted by Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️

Rose Schmits @roseschmits.bsky.social · Jun 19

“I asked chatgpt” well i asked your wife. She’s leaving you, Steve; for being such a massive loser

8 430 2.3K

Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️ @deaconjh.bsky.social · Jul 23

Cheers Rob! You'll look fantastic at yours.

1

Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️ @deaconjh.bsky.social · Jul 23

Yesterday I celebrated the greatest professional accomplishment of my career yet; I managed to find a tie that paired with a green, orange, black, and gold outfit. I also graduated with my PhD.

1 8

Reposted by Dr Jacob H. Deacon ⚔️

Society for Renaissance Studies @srsrensoc.bsky.social · Jul 21

#CfP: Conflict, War and Violence in the Early Modern World

Exeter, 30-31 October 31, 2025. Abstracts by September 5, 2025 @earlymodernwar.bsky.social #Skystorians #EarlyModernEvents #MiseryOfCivilWar

www.rensoc.org.uk/event/confli...

Conflict, War and Violence in the Early Modern World

University of Exeter, October 30, 2025 - October 31, 2025

Deadline for submission/application: September 5, 2025
Call for Papers

We are exploring early modern conflict in all its forms. We particularly seek to unpack the interactions between the more traditional aspects of conflict, such as the political, tactical and strategic, with the more human side of it, including sociocultural approaches that explore experiences, representations and impacts of violence. As such, we particularly welcome proposals that look beyond purely military history and break chronological, geographical and disciplinary boundaries.

We welcome proposals for individual papers of up to 20 minutes, or full panels of three to four papers, on any aspect of conflict, war and violence in the early modern period.

Speakers might consider, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• Physical, tactical, operational and strategic aspects of warfare.
• Martial identities, values and motivations.
• Notions of gender, race, class and religion.
• Remembering, (re)imagining and representing violence and/or conflict.
• The experience of violence, its impact and the everyday at war.
• Popular allegiance in early modern conflict.
• Maritime violence and naval warfare.
• The bureaucracy of conflict, finance and the law.

Abstracts of up to 300 words, along with a biographical note, should be sent to earlymodernwar@gmail.com by Friday 5th September.

1 15 18