Crossing Borders in the Medieval Kingdom of Hungary: Enemies, Friends, and Immigrants - Nora Berend (Seminar 22)

Join us for the 22nd session of the Entangled Histories: Borders and Cultural Encounters from the Medieval to the Contemporary Era seminar series.

In this session, we are honoured to welcome Professor Nora Berend from the University of Cambridge. Her presentation will investigate how border-crossings were conceptualised and documented within the medieval Kingdom of Hungary. Drawing on a diverse range of textual and visual sources, Professor Berend will analyse the varying representations and terminology used to describe those crossing the frontier, from hostile incursions to peaceful embassies, merchants, and diverse groups of immigrants.

• Date: May 20, 2026
• Time: 17:00 (Italian time); 16.00 (UK time); 18.00 (Turkish time)
• Time Zone Converter: Check your local time here

The paper focuses on the multifaceted nature of border-crossings in medieval Hungary. By examining how different types of entries were envisioned and recorded, Professor Berend highlights the distinctions made between:

• Hostile Actors: Identifying attacks and incursions.
• Peaceful Entrants: The role of embassies, merchants, and diplomats.
• Immigrants: The integration and representation of diverse groups entering the kingdom.

The talk explores key examples of how these movements were represented, revealing the complex legal and cultural frameworks that defined the "Gate of Christendom" during the Middle Ages.

About the Speaker

Nora Berend is Professor of European History at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of St Catharine’s College. Her groundbreaking research explores frontiers, religious interaction, and identity formation in medieval Europe.

She is the author of the award-winning book At the Gate of Christendom: Jews, Muslims, and Pagans in Medieval Hungary c. 1000-c. 1300, which received the Royal Historical Society’s Gladstone Prize. Professor Berend has held visiting professorships at prestigious institutions worldwide, including Paris, Kyoto, and Budapest, and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Stockholm. Her work is central to understanding the interconnected histories of Central Europe.

--> Registration & Participation Rules

1. Full Name Consistency: You MUST register with your full name, and this name MUST match your Zoom display name exactly. If the name on our registration list does not match your name on Zoom, you will not be admitted to the session.
2. Institutional Affiliation: When registering, please provide your full institutional affiliation (University, Department, or Research Center). Incomplete affiliations or generic entries (e.g., "Student," "Self") will not be accepted for the issuance of the Zoom link.
3. Verified Emails: We strongly encourage the use of institutional email addresses when possible (@edu, @ac.uk, @univ-..., etc.).
4. Admittance Policy: The organisers reserve the right to vet registrations. Access is granted to scholars, students, and professionals in the field.

Organisers

• Dr Elisa Ramazzina (University of Insubria)
• Dr Ester Cristaldi (Üsküdar University)