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Prof. Dr. Giulio Busi is a distinguished C4 Professor of Jewish Studies at the Institute of Jewish Studies, part of the Department of History and Cultural Studies at the Free University of Berlin. Born in Italy, he earned his doctorate in Judaic Studies in 1989 and has held academic positions at the University of Venice (1992-1999) before joining the Free University of Berlin in 1999. He is a Fellow of the Accademia Nazionale Virgiliana in Mantua (since 2004) and serves on the Scientific Board of the Hanadiv Foundation in London (since 2003). Busi's research centers on the history of Jewish mysticism and Jewish culture in late antiquity and the early modern period. His scholarly work spans Kabbalah studies, Jewish manuscript traditions, Hebrew literature, and Jewish-Christian intellectual exchanges during the Renaissance. He has made significant contributions to understanding Jewish mystical traditions, particularly through his extensive work on Giovanni Pico della Mirandola's Kabbalistic Library and the transmission of Jewish esoteric knowledge in early modern Europe. His publications reveal a consistent focus on Jewish cultural history, with particular attention to the intersections between Jewish thought and broader European intellectual currents. Busi's research demonstrates how Jewish mystical traditions influenced and were influenced by Christian humanism, particularly through the study of Hebrew texts and Kabbalistic literature. His recent work has expanded into contemporary Jewish issues, including Shoah commemoration and modern Jewish identity. Busi has served as editor for 'The Kabbalistic Library of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola' and 'Berlin Studies in Judaism,' while also contributing to the advisory boards of Materia Giudaica (Bologna) and Studia Rosenthaliana (Amsterdam). His extensive publication record includes numerous scholarly books, edited volumes, and over two hundred articles in both academic journals and major newspapers like Il Sole 24 Ore, where he has regularly contributed cultural commentary since the early 2000s. Notably, a farewell conference for Prof. Busi is scheduled for June 19, 2025, suggesting an imminent conclusion to his tenure at the Free University of Berlin. Throughout his career, he has organized significant academic conferences on Jewish topics, including gatherings on Jewish travelers, strategies of cultural persistence, and the transmission of Hebrew knowledge between cultures.

• History of Jewish mysticism
• Jewish culture in late antiquity
• Early modern Jewish history
• +5 more

Christian Wieland is a Professor of History and Didactics at Pädagogische Hochschule Schwäbisch Gmünd, leading the History Department and serving as Deputy Head of the Institute of Social Sciences. His research spans European history from antiquity to the 20th century, focusing on cultural, legal, and gender history, early modern diplomacy, and the interplay between political culture and nobility. Studium in Tübingen, Trier, Oxford, and Freiburg (1988-1995) PhD, University of Freiburg (2001) Habilitation, University of Freiburg (2009) His scholarly work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, covering topics like historical myths, water management, and the evolution of statehood. He has held visiting fellowships at the University of Oxford and received a Heisenberg Fellowship from the DFG. Heisenberg Fellowship, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Fellow, Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS) Wieland’s publications reflect his expertise in early modern European history, nobility, and socio-political dynamics. He actively engages in academic editing and contributes to historiography and educational frameworks. Email: christian.wieland@ph-gmuend.de

• Early Modern European History
• Modern European History (19th and 20th Centuries)
• Roman Antiquity
• +11 more

Markus Krumm is a historian specializing in Medieval Historiography , with particular expertise in the history of Southern Italy , papal institutions , and heretical movements . Affiliated with the Department of Medieval History at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) , he has been a member of the Academic Council since 2020. His career includes significant roles as a research assistant in DFG projects like Turning Points of Power and Historiography and coordination of LMU's Medieval and Renaissance Studies doctoral program. Education: Magister Artium in Medieval History, History of Eastern/Southeastern Europe, and German Medieval Literature from LMU Munich (2009); Doctorate (Dr.) from LMU (2017) under Knut Görich. Research Focus spans medieval historiography, with a specific emphasis on texts like Alexander of Telese and Falco of Benevento as crisis management tools. He contributes extensively to Human-Animal Studies , analyzing how medieval animal representations intersect with political symbolism , cultural agency , and epistemological frameworks . His work also examines urban conflicts in Southern Italy and the role of material culture in Staufer-period governance. Publications include a 2021 monograph on Turning Power and Historiography , co-edited volumes on Italian 12th-century historiography (2024), and analyses of medieval animal studies (2023). He engages critically with texts like Galbert of Bruges' De multro through digital network analysis (2019) and explores the animal turn in medieval scholarship (2023). Collaborations feature partnerships with scholars like Alberto Cotza , Jan Glück , and Kerstin Majewski , often through interdisciplinary projects bridging history, philology, and cultural studies. His recent 2024 article on Pope Eugen III’s ceremonial missteps and 2025 chapter on Frederick II’s Capua Bridge Gate exemplify his engagement with material culture and political performance.

• Medieval Historiography
• History of Southern Italy
• Papacy
• +4 more

Hubert Wolf is a Full Professor of Medieval and Modern Church History at the Faculty of Catholic Theology, University of Münster. He is also a member of the Faculty of History and a Principal Investigator in the Cluster of Excellence 'Religion and Politics'. His research focuses on the history of the Roman Inquisition, Vatican archives, the Catholic Church’s engagement with modern totalitarian regimes (e.g., Nazi Germany), and 19th-20th century church history. He has led major projects, including the critical online edition of the diaries of Michael Cardinal Faulhaber and the opening of Vatican archives related to Pius XII. Education: PhD (1988), Habilitation (1991), University of Tübingen; ordained priest (1985). Positions: Previously held professorships at Goethe University Frankfurt and University of Tübingen. Research interests span religious censorship, modernism vs. anti-modernism in Catholicism, and the Vatican’s role in historical conflicts. His work bridges theology and history, emphasizing archival analysis. Awards: Leibniz Prize (2003), Gutenberg Prize (2006), Sigmund Freud Prize for Scientific Prose (2021). Grants: Alfred Landecker Foundation (since 2024), EVZ Foundation (2022). He heads the 'Belonging then and now' project and is involved in editorial roles for journals like Saeculum . His research also explores the Vatican’s responses to Jewish petitions during the Holocaust.

• Church History
• Religious Studies
• Modern European History
• +4 more

Matthias Kuhn is a researcher and lecturer in Medieval History at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU). He holds a doctorate from Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg (2023) and has been an Officer for International Funding Programs at LMU since October 2023. Previously, he served as a Research Associate at Heidelberg's Collaborative Research Center 933 Material Text Cultures (2019-2023) and taught at Heidelberg's History Department (Summer 2023). Research Focus: Genealogy/Heraldry, Material Culture (rotuli, clothing, arms), German Regional History, Papacy, Late Medieval England, Habsburg/Wittelsbach Dynasties Key Publications: 2024 monograph on noble genealogical roles, 2024 material approach to rulership texts, 2023 comparative study of genealogical rolls, 2023 archival materiality analysis Contact: ma.kuhn@lmu.de

• Genealogy and Heraldry
• Material Culture
• German Regional History
• +3 more

Dr. Hubertus Seibert is a Lecturer at the Department of Medieval History, Faculty of Historical Seminar, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. He has been a senior academic councilor since 2000 and previously served as managing director of the Department of History (1999–2001). His academic career began as an assistant at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (1983–1994). Research Focus: Papacy and Religious Orders (10th–13th centuries) Social History (Nobility, Ministeriality) Canon Studies Bohemian History (10th–14th centuries) Rhenish Regional History (17th–20th centuries) Key Publications Trends: His work spans monographs on Salian monastic succession, comparative studies of German-Bohemian relations, and analyses of papal authority. Articles focus on regional case studies (Lahnstein, Worms), ecclesiastical governance, and late medieval social structures. Collaborative projects highlight interdisciplinary approaches to medieval political theology and feudal dynamics. Advisory & Grants: No explicit student advisement details provided. Extensive editorial collaborations and contributions to historical exhibitions indicate significant institutional engagement. Labs/Teams: Affiliated with Munich City History Working Group and Collegium Carolinum, contributing to regional archival projects and comparative medieval research initiatives.

• Papacy and Religious Order History (10th-13th centuries)
• Social History (Nobility, Ministeriality)
• Canon Studies
• +2 more

Prof. Dr. Bernward Schmidt holds the Chair of Medieval and Modern Church History at the Faculty of Theology, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt. His academic work centers on the historical development of Catholic institutions, theological discourse, and ecclesiastical authority from the medieval period through early modernity. His research encompasses: Church History (medieval and modern periods) Reformation History and confessional dynamics History of Papal authority and governance Conciliar History across multiple centuries Historical development of religious censorship Early modern Christian thought and practice Analysis of Schmidt's recent publications reveals sustained engagement with transformative periods in Christian history, particularly the 16th-18th centuries. His work demonstrates how theological disputes, institutional responses, and cultural shifts shaped European Christianity, with special attention to mechanisms of religious control, the evolution of church unity concepts, and the interplay between theological doctrine and historical context. Notable patterns include critical examination of polemical rhetoric during the Reformation and nuanced studies of papal ceremonial during crises. Schmidt maintains active scholarly communication through consultation hours (Thursdays 9:00-10:00 a.m. by email appointment) and contributes significantly to academic discourse through extensive publications and editorial work.

• Church History
• Reformation History
• History of the Papacy
• +3 more

Birgit Emich is a Full Professor and Chair of Early Modern History at Goethe University Frankfurt am Main since January 2017, having previously held the same position at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg from April 2010 to December 2016. She serves as Vice Dean of Faculty 08 (October 2019-September 2021), member of the Faculty Council, and member of the Steering Committee of the Research Center for Historical Humanities since 2022. Her academic journey includes positions as Senior Lecturer at University of Münster, interim professorships at multiple institutions, and a Heisenberg Fellowship from the German Research Foundation. Her research interests focus on cultural history of early modern politics and administration, patronage systems, the Papacy and Papal States, Protestant Reformation and confessional cultures, polycentricity of premodern Christianities, and religion and de:toxification. Emich employs interdisciplinary approaches to examine power structures, administrative practices, and religious dynamics in early modern Europe, particularly within the Roman Curia and Catholic Church institutions. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on polycentric religious structures, particularly examining how early modern Catholicism functioned as a global yet locally adapted religious system. Her work increasingly explores canonization processes, saint-making, and the intersection of kinship networks with religious authority. A significant thread throughout her scholarship is the examination of administrative practices within the Papal States and how formal bureaucratic structures coexisted with informal patronage networks. Academy Prize of the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities 2003 Heisenberg-Fellowship of the German Research Foundation Annual Prize of the Scientific Society in Freiburg im Breisgau 2005 Senior Fellowship at the Alfried Krupp Institute for Advanced Study Greifswald Member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (since 2023) Professor Emich has secured substantial third-party funding through multiple DFG projects, including the research group "Polycentricity and Plurality of premodern Christianities" (as co-spokesperson since 2020) and the DFG-ANR project "Graceful 17: Global Governance, Local Dynamics" (since 2023). She currently leads the research group "Religion and De:Toxification" (starting January 2025). Her editorial work includes co-editing the book series "Kulturen des Christentums - Neue Zugänge zur Frühen Neuzeit | Cultures of Christianity - New Approaches to Early Modern History" since 2022. She serves on numerous academic advisory boards including the Leibniz Institute of European History Mainz, the Gerda Henkel Foundation (as Chair since 2025), and the German Historical Institute in Rome. Professor Emich is actively involved in international scholarly networks, serving as a reviewer for prestigious foundations including the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and Swiss National Science Foundation.

• Cultural history of early modern politics and administration
• Patronage, informality and formalization
• Papacy and the Papal States in the early modern period
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Thomas Wetzstein holds the Chair of Medieval History at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt within the Faculty of History and Social Sciences. His office is located in the University Allee/Central Library Building (Room UA-121) in Eichstätt, Germany, where he maintains regular consultation hours on Tuesdays from 9:00-10:00 a.m. and has scheduled holiday consultation hours for July 29, 2025 and September 17, 2025. Wetzstein's research focuses on communication and communication spaces in the European High Middle Ages, change of rule in the European Middle Ages, medieval piety and veneration of saints, history of the Church and the Papacy in the High and Late Middle Ages, and learned law and jurisprudence in the High and Late Middle Ages. His scholarly work demonstrates a particular interest in canonization processes, papal authority, spatial history, and the evolution of ecclesiastical law. His publication record shows consistent scholarly productivity from 2002 through 2021, with a concentration on medieval church politics, canon law, and spatial history. His articles reveal a methodological approach that combines microhistorical analysis with broader structural questions about medieval governance, communication networks, and religious authority. Wetzstein frequently examines how spatial organization, communication systems, and legal frameworks shaped medieval power structures, particularly within the Church. Wetzstein has contributed significantly to edited volumes and has published numerous reviews of scholarly works in his field, demonstrating active engagement with contemporary medieval scholarship. His review of Didier Lett's 'Un procès de canonisation au Moyen Âge' (2009) and Elmar Krüger's 'Der Traktat 'De ecclesiastica potestate' des Aegidius Romanus' (2009) exemplify his critical engagement with current research in medieval religious and legal history.

• Medieval History
• European High Middle Ages
• Communication History
• +7 more

Eva-Bettina Krems is a Professor of Art History (Early Modern Period) at the University of Münster, leading the Department of Art History. She holds significant academic roles, including membership in the Cluster of Excellence's General Assembly and leadership of interdisciplinary research projects such as B3-47 (medialities in literature/art/religion), A3-14 (visual concepts of sacrality in dynastic Europe), and B2-23 (media figurations of religion and politics in early modern Europe). Education: PhD (1999) University of Würzburg: Raffaels römische Altarbilder Habilitation (2008) University of Marburg: Modellrezeption und Kulturtransfer bei den Wittelsbachern 1650–1740 Research Interests: Focuses on cultural transfer across Italy/France/Germany (15th–18th centuries), courtly representation, portrait culture, and the mediality of sacred spaces in early modern Europe. Her work bridges art history, architecture, and political history, with projects analyzing dynastic strategies, Baroque aesthetics, and transnational artistic networks. Publications: Authored monographs like Die Wittelsbacher und Europa (2012) and edited volumes such as Sakralisierungen des Herrschers (2019). Recent scholarship explores pandemic representation in art, Versailles' influence, and Baroque garden symbolism. Grants & Projects: Directed DFG-funded research (2005–2006) on cultural transfers in early modern Europe; held visiting professorships at Marburg and Bonn. Current projects examine sacred visuality, courtly baths, and political iconography. Labs/Teams: Leads the Cluster of Excellence's research on transcultural entanglement and the mediality theory platform. Collaborates across disciplines, including architecture, musicology, and religious studies.

• Cultural transfer between Italy, France, and the Holy Roman Empire (15th–18th century)
• Courtly representation and rituals
• Portrait culture in Europe (1500–1850)
• +7 more

Dr. Sebastian Becker is a Researcher in the Department of Modern History at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. He holds a doctorate from the same institution (2013) with a thesis on the Della Rovere dynasty of Urbino, supported by a scholarship from the German Historical Institute in Rome. His research focuses on knowledge and technology transfer in the Early Modern period, dynastic politics, and the history of the Papal States. He currently coordinates the early modern editorial team of the review journal Sehepunkte and serves as budget officer and academic advisor for integrated German-French degree programs. His research interests include the interplay between technology, economics, and politics in the 16th–18th centuries, with projects exploring economic espionage and the circulation of technical expertise. Recent publications analyze topics such as dynastic legitimacy in Italy, papal nepotism, and cross-border knowledge transfer between the Netherlands and Brandenburg. He has been awarded the German Historical Institute Rome Scholarship (2011) and actively contributes to academic governance, including roles in examination committees and interdisciplinary initiatives. His teaching spans seminars on the Holy Roman Empire, early modern diplomacy, and methodological training for history students.

• Early Modern European History
• History of the Holy Roman Empire
• Italian Dynasties in the Early Modern Period
• +3 more

Wilhelm Damberg is a Professor of Church History of the Middle Ages and Modern Times at the Faculty of Catholic Theology, Ruhr University Bochum. His research focuses on 19th/20th century church history, contemporary church history, and international comparative Catholic studies. He holds consultation hours every Thursday 3-4 pm. His extensive publications (over 100 entries from 2000–2021) include monographs, edited volumes, and articles in journals like Historisches Jahrbuch and Zeitschrift für Kirchengeschichte . Key themes include Vatican II’s impact on German Catholicism, post-war church governance, and transnational religious comparisons. He has co-edited projects on topics such as Child Sexual Abuse in the Churches (2016) and Die Theologie und „das Neue“ (2015). His work frequently bridges historical analysis with contemporary theological reflection, addressing issues like liturgical renewal, lay ministry professionalization, and church authority dynamics. Affiliations include the CERES Research Department and leadership roles in projects like the DFG-funded Transformation der Religion in der Moderne . His research often intersects with sociological and comparative religious studies, emphasizing institutional change and religious identity formation processes.

• Church History
• Contemporary Church History
• 19th/20th Century Church Studies
• +3 more

Stephan Pongratz is a scientific employee at the Chair of Church History of the Middle Ages and the Modern Period, Faculty of Catholic Theology, University of Würzburg. His work focuses on the project The case "P. Josef Kentenich" in the Roman Congregatio Sancti Officii . Education : PhD in History (2018-2021) from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, funded by the Gerda Henkel Foundation; BA/MA in History, Political Science, and Philosophy (2011-2018) at LMU Munich. Pongratz specializes in medieval church history, particularly schism studies, papal historiography, and curial politics. His research bridges historical analysis and theological inquiry, examining narratives of crisis and legitimacy in the High and Late Middle Ages. His publications include a monograph on Cardinal Boso's treatment of the Alexandrian Schism, essays on curial participation in papal texts, and interdisciplinary studies on medieval papal succession. Key themes include the Liber Pontificalis, schism dynamics, and the role of cardinals in 12th-century church governance. Scientific awards: Gerda Henkel Foundation fellowship (2018-2021) . He has also lectured at LMU Munich's History Department (2020-2023). His affiliations include the Chair of Church History of the Middle Ages and Modern Times at the University of Würzburg, where he contributes to research on theological and ecclesiastical developments from the medieval to modern era.

• Church History
• Medieval History
• Theology
• +3 more

Étienne Doublier is a Professor of Medieval History at the University of Cologne, holding a chair focused on the High Middle Ages and Basic Historical Sciences. He is actively engaged in research, teaching, and academic leadership within the Historical Institute of the Faculty of Humanities. His scholarly profile is marked by a deep engagement with diplomatics, papal history, and regional medieval studies, particularly in Italy and the Lower Rhine. His research interests include: Documentary sources and diplomatics The papacy, Roman Curia, and indulgences Mendicant orders and their documentation Regnum Italicum and Regnum Siciliae The Archdiocese of Cologne and Westphalian history Latin palaeography and historical auxiliary sciences Doublier's recent publications reflect a strong trend in analyzing the material and symbolic dimensions of medieval authority, especially through papal and episcopal documents. His work often bridges institutional history with cultural and religious practices, focusing on how power was represented and negotiated in medieval Italy and Germany. He has contributed significantly to the study of indulgences, documentary cultures, and the interplay between local and imperial authority. His scientific contributions include major monographs and edited volumes such as Indulgences, Papacy and Mendicant Orders in the 13th Century (2017) and An Empire Without a King? (2024), as well as co-editing key collections on diplomatics and historical auxiliary sciences. He has also published extensively in leading journals and contributed numerous reviews to Deutsches Archiv and Medioevo Latino . Doublier has supervised various teaching activities, including seminars on medieval schisms, councils, royal courts, and documentary cultures. He regularly collaborates with colleagues such as Marita Blattmann, Karl Ubl, and Sabine von Heusinger. He previously held junior professorships at the University of Wuppertal and the University of Cologne, and completed his habilitation in 2023. He has also taught at the University of Pavia and the University of Chieti. He is involved in several academic networks and has contributed to collaborative research on topics such as the rotulus, archival sources, and the reception of imperial rule. His work is deeply interdisciplinary, combining philology, historiography, and material culture studies.

• Medieval History
• Diplomatics
• Papacy and Roman Curia
• +9 more

Prof. Günther Wassilowsky is a renowned scholar in Historical Theology at Humboldt University of Berlin, holding the Chair of Historical Theology since 2019. He has served as Director of the Central Institute for Catholic Theology (2023–2025) and currently as Deputy Director. He also holds a secondary affiliation with the Institute of History at Humboldt University. His academic journey includes professorships at Goethe University Frankfurt, University of Innsbruck, and the Catholic University of Linz, alongside significant research roles in collaborative projects on symbolic communication in early modern Europe. Wassilowsky earned his doctorate from the University of Freiburg (2001) and habilitation in Medieval and Modern Church History from the University of Münster (2007). He has received the Karl Rahner Prize for Theological Research (2001) and has been a fellow at the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin (2016–2020). His research focuses on early modern Catholic denominational culture, papal cultural history, the Councils of Trent and Vatican II, and methodological questions in historical theology. He has authored or edited over 100 works, including monographs on Vatican II’s ecclesiology and papal ceremonial reform. Key publications include *Die Konklavereform Gregors XV.* (2010) and *Gnade im Werk Michelangelos* (2023). He serves as a leading editor for several theological series and journals, including *Journal for Church History* and *Refo500 Academic Studies*. His memberships include the Society for the Publication of the Corpus Catholicorum (as chair since 2019) and the Reformation Research Consortium. Wassilowsky’s research emphasizes the interplay between theological discourse and symbolic practices in church history, particularly focusing on papal authority, council legacies, and confessional identity. His work bridges historical analysis with contemporary theological reflection, contributing significantly to understanding the Catholic Church’s evolution from early modern to modern eras.

• Catholic denominational culture in early modern and modern periods
• Cultural history of the papacy
• Historical-Theological Anthropology
• +4 more