Janna Bianchini

Dr. Janna Bianchini is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Maryland's College of Arts and Humanities, with a secondary affiliation in Classics. Her office is located in Taliaferro Hall, where she holds weekly office hours by appointment. As a specialist in the European High Middle Ages, her work examines power structures through the lenses of gender, religious conflict, and royal authority in medieval Iberia.

Her research focuses on:

• The dynamics of royal women's political influence in León-Castile
• Religious tensions and cultural exchange in medieval Mediterranean societies
• Dynastic strategies and land tenure systems through charter evidence
• Reevaluations of queenship and female agency in medieval governance

Her publications predominantly explore thirteenth-century Iberian monarchy, with recurring themes of female authority in works like The Queen's Hand and infantas' roles in territorial governance. Current book research investigates the Infantazgo—royal women's domains in western Iberia—analyzing their evolution and political significance.

Honors include prestigious fellowships from:

• Fulbright Association
• Medieval Academy of America
• American Historical Association
• Program for Cultural Cooperation Between Spain and United States Universities
• Real Colegio Complutense

She teaches interdisciplinary courses like HIST 133/RELS 289D (Crusades), HIST 289A/RELS 289C (Jews/Christians/Muslims in medieval Spain), and specialized seminars on marginalized medieval communities and women's societal roles.