Marc Boone

Professor Marc Boone is a distinguished historian specializing in medieval urban history at Ghent University, where he serves as a full professor in the rank of ordinarius within the Department of History at the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy. His academic career spans over four decades, beginning with assistant positions in 1980 and progressing through various research and teaching roles to his current professorship. He has held significant administrative positions including Director of Education (2008-2012) and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy (2012-2018). Internationally, he has served as Visiting Professor at the University of Burgundy, Visiting Research Director at the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences in Paris, and held prestigious chairs at ULB and Paris-Sorbonne.

Professor Boone's research focuses on urban history of the late Middle Ages, particularly in the Burgundian Netherlands and Low Countries. His work examines comparative urban development, political history of medieval cities, financial systems of the Burgundian period, and the historiography of medieval Flanders. He has conducted extensive research on Ghent, Tournai, and other Flemish cities during the 14th-16th centuries, with particular attention to urban governance, municipal finances, and the relationship between cities and princely power. His research methodology incorporates comparative analysis, iconography, language and text analysis, and quantitative approaches.

Professor Boone's publication record shows a consistent output of scholarly work with numerous recent publications (2023-2025) including books, book chapters, and journal articles. His work demonstrates a strong focus on medieval urban history, particularly examining the political, financial, and social structures of cities in the Low Countries during the late Middle Ages. The research shows particular interest in comparative urban history, Burgundian governance, and the historical development of Flemish cities. His publications frequently address themes of urban identity, municipal governance, economic history, and the relationship between cities and centralizing princely power.

• Commander in the National Order of the Crown (2010)
• Member of the Academia Europaea (2007)
• Member of the Royal Flemish Academy for Sciences and the Arts of Belgium (2008)
• André Schaepdijver Award (1977)
• History Award from the Province of Eastern Flanders (1981)
• Laureate of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium (1989)
• Laureate of the 'prix Anton Bergmann' (1990)

Professor Boone has successfully supervised numerous PhD students, with 9 completed doctorates and 6 currently in progress. His research has been supported by substantial funding, including four successive Interuniversity Attraction Pole (IAP) programs from 1999-2017, each providing approximately 2.5 million euros for comparative urban history research. He currently serves as scientific editor of the 'Studies in European Urban History (1100-1800)' series, with 37 volumes published to date. His current research projects include 'Protecting oneself against the risk of failure in the middle ages' (2017-2025) as co-supervisor.

Professor Boone leads research through the Henri Pirenne Institute for Medieval Studies at Ghent University, focusing on comparative urban history with particular emphasis on the relationship between Flemish/Netherlandish and Italian cities. His research group has established significant international collaborations across European academic institutions, contributing to the advancement of medieval urban historical studies through both individual scholarship and collective research projects.