Jonathan Spangler

Dr Jonathan Spangler is a Senior Lecturer in History at Manchester Metropolitan University, specializing in early modern European history with a focus on aristocratic culture, royal courts, and frontier identities. He holds degrees from the College of William & Mary, Oxford University (MSt), and a DPhil from Oxford, focusing on the Lorraine-Guise family’s role at Louis XIV’s court. His research explores elite identities in border regions like Lorraine, royal court dynamics, and the roles of secondary royal family members (e.g., second sons, widows).

His teaching emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to European history, integrating art, literature, and film. He has held visiting roles at the University of Lorraine, University of Lisbon, and the Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften. He serves on editorial boards for journals like The Court Historian and contributes to organizations such as the Society for Court Studies and the Centre de Recherche du Château de Versailles.

Key research interests include the Duchy of Lorraine’s history, the political roles of French kings’ brothers (Monsieur), and women’s agency in early modern nobility. His work bridges cultural, political, and social history, with publications analyzing court rituals, dynastic strategies, and trans-regional aristocratic networks.

• Education:
  • Bachelor’s: College of William & Mary
  • MSt: Oxford University
  • DPhil: Oxford University (Dissertation: Lorraine-Guise family at Louis XIV’s court)
• Recent Research Projects:
  • Completion of a history of Lorraine’s court nobility
  • Study of French kings’ brothers’ political roles
  • Analysis of noblewomen’s patronage and power

His articles often address themes like absolutism, court symbolism, and cross-border elite strategies. He has been awarded fellowships by the Royal Historical Society and the Higher Education Academy. Media engagements include BBC, Swedish Dagbladet, and Korean radio, discussing modern monarchy and historical parallels.

He supervises postgraduate research on topics like Lorraine’s Grand Tour, Elizabethan court culture, and noble identity in Edwardian Britain. His work frequently highlights marginalized figures (e.g., widows, second sons) and their contributions to early modern power structures.