معرفی
Dr. Michel Summer is a postdoctoral researcher and academic staff member at the Institute for Franconian-Palatinate History and Regional Studies at the University of Heidelberg, where he also serves as internship coordinator. He obtained his PhD in Medieval History from Trinity College Dublin in 2021, with his thesis funded by the Luxembourg National Research Fund. His academic background includes an MA and BA from the University of Freiburg, with an ERASMUS year at Trinity College Dublin.
- PhD, Medieval History, Trinity College Dublin (2021)
- MA, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, University of Freiburg (2017)
- BA, History and Archaeology, University of Freiburg (2014)
His research focuses on early medieval Europe, particularly Merovingian and Carolingian Francia, with expertise in the Christianization of Europe, political and military structures, clerical mobility, and the figure of Saint Willibrord. He critically examines concepts such as Gefolgschaft (retainership) and the interplay between religious and secular power. His monograph Willibrord between Ireland, Britain and Merovingian Francia (690–739): Beyond Mission (2024) exemplifies his interdisciplinary and transnational approach.
His recent publications span journals like Peritia and Mittelalter, and edited volumes on early medieval militarization and religious knowledge. The articles reflect a consistent trend in exploring political agency, cultural networks, and the historiography of early medieval mission and identity, often bridging Ireland, Britain, and continental Europe.
He is an active member of several scholarly communities including the International Society for the Study of Early Medieval England and the Mediävistikverband. He has served as a reviewer for journals such as Peritia and Le Moyen Âge.
Dr. Summer supervises undergraduate theses at Heidelberg and teaches seminars on topics ranging from early medieval queenship to warfare and Christianization. He also contributes to public scholarship through blogs (e.g., Liverpool University Press blog), media interviews (e.g., RTL Radio Luxembourg, KCLR96FM), and exhibition concepts, notably "Esou ginn Helde gebuer. Medieval pictures in Luxembourg (19th-21st century)". He has created illustrations for various academic projects and museums, demonstrating a strong commitment to public engagement and digital history.
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