Lars Kjaer

Dr. Lars Kjaer is an Associate Professor in History at Northeastern University London, specializing in medieval European history with interdisciplinary approaches combining history and social anthropology. His research examines elite culture, gift economies, political rituals, and cross-cultural encounters between 1000-1300 CE. He holds a PhD in History from the University of Cambridge (2013), an MPhil in Medieval History (Cambridge, 2008), and a BA in History and Social Anthropology from Aarhus University (2007).

His research interests focus on medieval political culture, Scandinavian monarchy, crusade historiography, and the anthropology of gift-giving. Key projects include studies on saints/relics in Danish politics and Valdemarian-era Denmark. He was awarded Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (2019) and participated in the Swedish Research Academy project 'Ambiguities of Hospitality' (2021-2024).

Teaching areas include:

• World History: Global perspectives from antiquity to modernity
• Medieval Europe 1000-1300: Faith-power interconnections
• Crusades: Cultural encounters and expansion
• Anthropology: Theories of culture and society
• Royal Court Politics: Ritual and power dynamics

His publications demonstrate consistent focus on gift economies and political symbolism, with recent works exploring papal diplomacy, feasting rituals, and Scandinavian kingship.