David Marcel Renee Bregaint

David Marcel Renee Bregaint is Professor of Ancient History in the Department of Historical and Classical Studies at the Faculty of Humanities, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). He is a leading scholar in medieval Scandinavian history, with a focus on political culture, ideology, royal communication, and rituals.

• Position: Professor
• Institution: NTNU
• Department: Department of Historical and Classical Studies
• Email: david.bregaint@ntnu.no

His research centers on the formation of royal power in high medieval Norway, particularly through control of communication and ritual. His acclaimed PhD thesis, Vox regis: Royal Communication in High Medieval Norway (Brill, 2015), explores how the monarchy used sagas, laws, and ceremonies to assert authority. He leads the Norwegian Research Council-funded postdoctoral project The Politics of Rituals, examining political ceremonies in 12th and 13th century Norway. Additional research interests include environmental history, French history, Arthurian studies, and modern Norwegian industrial history, particularly during WWI and the interwar period.

His recent publications reflect a strong thematic trend in kingship, sainthood, court culture, and diplomatic rituals. Articles such as "The Missing Saint: Saint Olaf and King Hákon Hákonsson" and "Royal Patronage of Courtly Literature" illustrate his focus on symbolic power and cultural legitimacy. His work often draws on interdisciplinary methods, combining legal, literary, and archaeological sources.

Scientific Contributions and Recognition:

• Chief Editor for French History and the Middle Ages, Store Norske Leksikon (since 2017)
• Vice-President and Secretary, Nordic Branch of the International Arthurian Society
• Organizer of international conferences including "Food and Feast in the Arthurian World" (2022) and "Second Fiddles in Medieval Rituals" (2017)

As an educator, Bregaint teaches courses such as Climate, Culture and Catastrophes and Communities, Groups and Identities in the European Middle Ages. He has supervised academic activities and contributed to public dissemination through interviews, documentaries, and popular lectures. He is involved in several research projects including Transitions and Traditions: Ecclesia Nidrosiensis and the Northern World and is working on multiple books on medieval courts, feasting, and law.

Bregaint leads an active research agenda bridging medieval and modern history, with strong institutional affiliations at NTNU and international scholarly networks. His work continues to shape understanding of political and cultural dynamics in medieval Scandinavia.