New Visiting Fellow in the Institute for Medieval Studies

Hana Komarkova, a PhD student at Silesian University in Opava, Czech Republic, is a new Visiting Fellow in the IMS, and will be studying here at the University of Leeds for six months.

Hana Komarkova is a new Visiting Fellow in the Institute for Medieval Studies (IMS) for the next six months, and looks forward to continuing her doctoral research at the University of Leeds using the International Medieval Bibliography (IMB), as well as other library resources. She is a current PhD student at Silesian University in Opava (Czech Republic), in the Faculty of Philosophy and Science, Institute of Historical Sciences. Focusing mainly on Silesian history of the late medieval and early modern period, Komarkova relies on documents relating to city government, economics, guilds, and more. 

Komarkova's work focuses on the 'specific type of oath utilized within urban space...of late medieval and early modern towns, especially on its social climate and the functioning of mechanisms within its administrative structures'. In particular, Komarkova defines the core of her work as 'the analysis, development and transformation of strategies of several selected patrician families of Wroclaw (Banck, Borg, Dompnik)'. These families significantly shaped the social, political, and economic life of Wroclaw up to 1500. 

In addition to her research, Komarkova also works as a Junior Lecturer in Medieval Studies at Silesian University. She has also been involved in studying at other Polish universities (Torun and Wroclaw), and she serves as the Erasmus+ institutional coordinator at Silesian University. These experiences have made Komarkova 'very interested in working with students and in opportunities to study abroad'. 

While here, Komarkova will continue researching for her PhD project, and will 'work on the programme of seminars I'm preparing for the  next semester'. In particular, Komarkova chose Leeds because she attended the International Medieval Congress (IMC) a few years ago - and 'I fell in love the with the amazing atmosphere'. 

Welcome to the IMS!