Gabriel Zeilinger

Prof. Dr. Gabriel Zeilinger is a Professor of Bavarian and Franconian Regional History at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg since April 2022. He holds a Chair in the Department of History and focuses on medieval and early modern urban history, comparative regional studies, and pre-modern socio-economic dynamics. Born in Freiburg im Breisgau in 1975, he studied History and Norse Philology in Kiel and Oslo, earning his PhD in 2006 with a thesis on the impact of war on urban life in 15th-century Southern Germany. His habilitation (2013) explored urbanization in Upper Alsace.

• Education:
  • 1996–2002: Studies in History and Norse Philology (Kiel/Oslo)
  • 2006: PhD, Kiel University
  • 2013: Habilitation, Kiel University

His research interests span Bavarian/Franconian regional history, comparative urbanization processes, and the interplay between nobility, cities, and political structures. Key themes include medieval disasters, economic resource management, and the role of violence in urban contexts.

Zeilinger has authored/co-edited over 30 books and numerous articles on topics like medieval festivals, city-state conflicts, and the socio-political dynamics of urban communities. His work often bridges archaeology, historical documentation, and interdisciplinary methodologies.

• Memberships:
  • Board Member, Society for Franconian History
  • Editor, Jahrbuch für fränkische Landesforschung
  • DSM Fellow/Senior Expert, Leibniz Institute for Maritime History
  • Member, German Historical Association and multiple regional history associations

His recent studies examine medieval water management, urban conflict strategies, and the legacy of the Protestant Reformation in Franconia. Zeilinger’s interdisciplinary approach integrates material culture analysis with textual evidence to illuminate medieval socio-political landscapes.