Christian Raffensperger Books

A new, family-based history of the region known as Kyivan Rus'.

Focusing on an Eastern European queen, this book provides a fresh perspective on medieval queenship, challenging the predominantly Western narratives in the field. It examines the unique roles and influences of queens in Eastern Europe, highlighting their significance and contributions to history. Through this lens, the book aims to enrich the understanding of queenship and expand the scope of medieval studies.

Challenging traditional notions of rulership, this book decenter narratives by exploring a diverse range of examples from medieval Europe. It examines various forms of leadership and the complexities of power dynamics, offering fresh insights into who rulers are and how they wield authority. By broadening the scope of analysis, it invites readers to reconsider established paradigms and engage with the multifaceted nature of governance in the medieval period.

Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has pushed both countries into the world’s spotlight. One aspect that is becoming particularly clear is the battle that is taking place, and has been ongoing for decades, if not longer, for the ownership of the idea of the history of the region we know as Rus. This book discusses the place of Rus in European history, and the ways that modern scholars have minimized that place; the latter fact being directly relevant to the Russian claim on the history of Rus. Perhaps if we can untangle the history of Rus from modern constructs of nationalism, we can see a new picture of Rus that helps us better understand Europe as a whole.