Jörg Oberste

Prof. Dr. Jörg Oberste is Professor of Medieval History and Historical Auxiliary Sciences at the University of Regensburg, where he has held his position since October 2004. He serves as spokesperson for the Forum for the Middle Ages at the University of Regensburg since 2006 and as spokesperson for the DFG Research Training Group 'Metropolitanism in Premodern Times' since April 2017. His academic career spans multiple prestigious institutions including TU Dresden, where he served as academic assistant from 1994 to 2004, and the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, where he was a research assistant during the 2001/2002 academic year.

Oberste's research focuses on the social and pious history of medieval cities, religious orders (particularly Cistercians, Premonstratensians, and Cluniacs), and medieval metropolitanism. His work examines urban elites, religious communities, and the development of metropolitan spaces in premodern Europe, with particular emphasis on Paris and Regensburg. He has pioneered interdisciplinary approaches to urban history through his leadership of multiple research groups and publication series.

His recent publications demonstrate a clear trend toward metropolitan studies, with particular focus on Paris as a medieval metropolis. The articles reveal sophisticated analysis of urban spaces, social networks, religious institutions, and economic structures that shaped medieval metropolitan development. His work bridges traditional medieval history with urban studies, architectural history, and social theory.

• Fellow at Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton (2001-2002)
• Fellow at German Historical Institute Paris (2016)
• Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the ROOTS Excellence Cluster at CAU Kiel since 2019
• Member of the Comité scientifique of the Bibliothèque Constable, Cluny since 2021

As spokesperson for the DFG Research Training Group 2337 'Metropolitanism in Premodern Times' (2017-2026), Oberste has secured significant funding for interdisciplinary medieval research. He has also led major editorial projects including the critical edition of Dresden's medieval city books (2006-2022), funded by the City of Dresden and Ostsächsische Sparkasse with approximately 550,000 EUR. Through his leadership of the Forum Mittelalter and various research networks, he has organized numerous international conferences that have shaped contemporary medieval studies.

Oberste directs the 'Forum Mittelalter' at the University of Regensburg and co-leads the interdisciplinary research network 'Urbane Zentren und europäische Kultur in der Vormoderne' (Urban Centers and European Culture in Premodernity). His collaborative work extends to multiple international institutions including the Institute for Comparative Urban History in Münster, the Historical-Cultural Research Center Mainz-Trier, and the École française de Rome.