Christian Raffensperger Livres

A new, family-based history of the region known as Kyivan Rus'.

The book offers an in-depth analysis of the Volodimerovi i dynasty, focusing on their strategic marriages during the tenth to twelfth centuries. Christian Raffensperger utilizes a modern scholarly approach and a wide array of primary sources to construct a detailed portrayal of this ruling family. This work represents the first comprehensive scholarly examination of the Volodimerovi i in English, shedding light on their political and social dynamics.

Conflict resolution in medieval Eastern Europe often hinged on posturing, limited violence, and the dynamics of shifting alliances within kinship networks. The author highlights how these social structures influenced the outcomes of disputes, emphasizing that many conflicts were settled without extensive bloodshed or large-scale warfare. This study offers a nuanced understanding of the region's historical conflicts, revealing the complexities of relationships and strategies that shaped their resolutions.

Focusing on an Eastern European queen, this book provides a fresh perspective on medieval queenship, challenging the predominantly Western narratives in the field. It examines the unique roles and influences of queens in Eastern Europe, highlighting their significance and contributions to history. Through this lens, the book aims to enrich the understanding of queenship and expand the scope of medieval studies.

Challenging traditional notions of rulership, this book decenter narratives by exploring a diverse range of examples from medieval Europe. It examines various forms of leadership and the complexities of power dynamics, offering fresh insights into who rulers are and how they wield authority. By broadening the scope of analysis, it invites readers to reconsider established paradigms and engage with the multifaceted nature of governance in the medieval period.

Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has pushed both countries into the world’s spotlight. One aspect that is becoming particularly clear is the battle that is taking place, and has been ongoing for decades, if not longer, for the ownership of the idea of the history of the region we know as Rus. This book discusses the place of Rus in European history, and the ways that modern scholars have minimized that place; the latter fact being directly relevant to the Russian claim on the history of Rus. Perhaps if we can untangle the history of Rus from modern constructs of nationalism, we can see a new picture of Rus that helps us better understand Europe as a whole.