Duncan Hardy

Duncan Hardy is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Central Florida, specializing in the political, social, cultural, and intellectual history of Central Europe, particularly the Holy Roman Empire, during the thirteenth to sixteenth centuries. His academic journey began with undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Oxford, culminating in a D.Phil. in History in 2015. Hardy has held prestigious research fellowships at the Institute of Historical Research, Université libre de Bruxelles, University of Cambridge, Universität Erfurt, and Universität Bielefeld. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

Hardy's research interests encompass Late Medieval Europe, Early Modern Europe, Reformation History, Political History, German History, Central Europe, the Holy Roman Empire, and Political Culture. His scholarly approach challenges conventional interpretations of the Holy Roman Empire, arguing that its political landscape is best understood as a nexus of intertwined networks formalized by leagues, alliances, and assemblies. He has made significant contributions to understanding imperial reform, the role of political assemblies, and the concept of Landfrieden (peace treaties) in shaping the Empire's political culture.

His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on the political structures of the Holy Roman Empire, with particular attention to how political actors used assemblies, leagues, and diplomatic practices to shape governance. Hardy's work demonstrates how the Empire functioned as a multilateral order where peacekeeping, justice, and defense of Christendom were interconnected concerns. His research shows how historical actors conceptualized territory, political authority, and imperial identity in ways that challenge traditional narratives of fragmented territorial states.

Selected Awards:

• Royal Historical Society Fellowship (2020)
• Royal Historical Society Gladstone Prize (2019)
• Multiple UCF Excellence Awards (2021-2022)
• Trinity College Research Fellowship (2016-2020)
• German History Society Prize (2016)

Hardy actively contributes to the academic community through teaching courses on Western Civilization, Medieval Society, Renaissance and Reformation, European Warfare, and Early Modern History. His current research projects include rethinking 'imperial reform' in the Holy Roman Empire and writing an accessible overview of late medieval Germany for the German History in Focus series. His interdisciplinary approach bridges political, religious, and cultural history to provide a more integrated understanding of medieval and early modern European political development.