Lunch & Learn • Czechs in the German Civil War

This talk, part an ongoing book project, probes the alliance between the embattled King Henry IV of Germany (r. 1056-1106) and Vratislav II of Bohemia (r. 1061-92) during the protracted, brutal civil conflict famous for transforming the political landscape of Germany in the decades before and after 1100 CE. Vratislav led Czech forces against Henry’s internal enemies and thus had a decisive effect in maintaining Henry’s rule throughout the bloodiest phase of war. Even as they were outsiders to the central causes of the revolt, Vratislav and the Czechs shaped its course with consequences no less transformative — for Czech society, for German-Slav relations, and for the Central Europe on both sides of the Elbe.

Lisa Wolverton is a professor of history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has concentrated much of her published research on the Czech Lands in the early and central Middle Ages. Her current work engages Central Europe and Slav-German relations more broadly, and includes a study of Czech involvement in the German civil war of the late 11th century, a close analysis of Lampert of Hersfeld’s Annals and his modes of composition, and a comprehensive reconceptualization of Frankish eastward imperialism over the course of many centuries.

This event is open to the public. The CLE credit is provided. Light lunch will be served to those who register before March 19