Join us on the 23rd May as Dr Ruby Lal from Emory University discusses the methods she used to approach writing the biography of the sixteenth-century Princess Gulbadan, the only woman Mughal historian.

Oblivion and erasure are themes that have been at the core of Ruby Lal’s work since she began her career as an historian. She has explored not only what happened in the past, and why certain figures do not take center stage in Mughal history, but also how women, girls, ordinary people, ambiguous figures (eunuchs, concubines, wet nurses), spaces (harem, gardens, tents), and multiple forms of desire are made deviant, redundant, or obscure in history. At the heart of her new biography of the sixteenth century Princess Gulbadan, the only woman Mughal historian, rests the “question of evidence.”

In conversation with Irina Dumitrescu, she will explore what counts as a source? Who decides what is memorable and deserving of the name archive? How have the most important Mughal sources been preserved and become available to us? Who writes them, for what purpose? Since her previous and third work, Empress: The Astonishing Reign of Nur Jahan, Lal took on a new form of writing, i.e biography/non-fiction. She will also discuss why she turned to a new form and what about the Mughal era she found particularly intriguing.

Are you interested in creative writing and adaptation? Do you have a passion for medieval studies? If so, don’t miss this opportunity to take part in a workshop with Dr Laura Varnam on Friday 17th May, 10-12, Rabinstr. 8, r. 2.025!

We are thrilled to welcome Dr Varnam from the University of Oxford for this workshop: Laura will share her own experience of writing poetry inspired by medieval literature, as well as offering advice and tips on how you can write your own adaptations. There will be plenty of time for you practise writing adaptations under Laura’s guidance, and to chat with her and ask her questions.

Space is limited so if you’re interested please email Dr Niamh Kehoe to register at nkehoero@uni-bonn.de, or use the QR code on the posters around campus to add your name to the sign-up sheet.

Join Prof. Ruby Lal (Emory University), Prof. Julia Hillner (Bonn Üniversitat), and Dr Emma Kalb (Bonn Üniversitat) as they discuss the theoretical, philosophical, archival, and political questions that arise when researching and writing about historical women and other marginalised figures, on Monday 27th May, 10-12, Rabinstr. 8, Fachbib. Philologien Event Room.

We aim to generate lively discussion about the methods used by scholars of different historical periods to overcome the obstacle of limited, missing, or biased/prejudiced source material on the lives of women and other marginalised figures. How can we overcome such obstacles, and how can we learn from each other as scholars? Prof. Ruby Lal will consider how these issues relate to her research on women of the Mughal Empire, as set out in her most recent book, The Adventures of Gulbadan: Vagabond Princess (Yale University Press, 2024); Prof. Julia Hillner takes us further back in time to Late Antiquity and Helena Augusta, who is the subject of her most recent book, Helena Augusta: Mother of the Empire (Oxford University Press, 2023); and Dr Emma Kalb will discuss how she overcomes these obstacles in relation to her research on eunuchs in the Mughal Empire.

Prof. Rory Critten from the University of Lausanne joins us on the 23rd of November 2023. For more information on his lecture click below.

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Prof. Rory Critten from the University of Lausanne joins the medieval Colloquium on the 23rd of November. For more on his paper, see below. 

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Dr Mary Wellesley joins us in January 2024. She is speaking as part of the Bonn Lectures in Public Humanities about her recent trade book on medieval manuscripts.

Date TBC.