Wir begrüßen einen neuen Gast aus China in Köln, der sich und sein Forschungsprojekt selbst vorstellt:

My name is Xuke Wang, a PhD student from the Department of History at the Peking University. My research topic is “The Epistolary Culture in Early Medieval Europe: A Study on the Epistolae Sancti Bonifatii et Lulli.” Using the letters and letter collection of St. Boniface as a case study, I aim to explore the epistolary culture of the early Middle Ages. Beyond the basic communicative function of letters, I am particularly interested in uncovering and explaining their broader potential uses. How were these letters utilized? In what ways did epistolary practices interact with the social and political environment of the time? For example, how did certain bishops, abbots or nobles use letters and letter collections to build consensus and achieve specific aims? In the case of St. Boniface’s letters, I also plan to review the relationship between England and the Continent, as well as the social networks of the Anglo-Saxons, focusing on their impact on policy in continental politics.

Starting in August 2024, I will continue my doctoral research at the Department of History at the University of Cologne for 24 months, with the assistance of the Capitularia Team and supervised by Prof. Dr. Karl Ubl.