Toby Osborne

Dr Toby Osborne is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at Durham University and a member of the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies. His academic focus centers on early modern European court history and diplomatic culture during the seventeenth century, with particular emphasis on Catholic Europe and the Italian peninsula.

His research interests include:

• Dynastic politics in early modern Europe
• The courts of Catholic Europe, particularly in the Mediterranean region
• Papal court diplomacy and sovereignty
• Competition for status among Italian dynastic powers
• Exile in the seventeenth century
• International diplomatic culture and ceremonial practices

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a dominant focus on diplomatic history, particularly ceremonial protocols, confessional divides, and the intersection of art and diplomacy. His work consistently examines the Thirty Years' War period, the Treaty of Westphalia, and the role of courts in shaping European international relations, with recurring emphasis on Savoyard diplomacy and papal influence.

He currently supervises doctoral research on early modern elite culture:

• Avril Taylor: investigating royal courts and households of Scottish kings James I-IV
• Marie Bigotte: analyzing spatial politics in French and English princely gardens