Jinty Nelson, an Emerita Professor of Medieval History at King’s College London, has passed away at the age of 82.
Also known as Janet Nelson, Jinty was a leading historian of early medieval Europe. After earning her PhD at Newnham College of the University of Cambridge in 1967, she was appointed a lecturer at King’s College, London, in 1970. Jinty would spend the next 38 years at King’s College, retiring as a professor.
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She once explained, “my research has centred on early medieval European themes: politics and ritual, women’s history and gender, ecclesiastical, social and cultural history. As my publications suggest, I tend to stick to choices, once made. My preferred genres are articles rather than books, collaborative and interdisciplinary projects rather than solo ones.”
Her latest book, King and Emperor: A New Life of Charlemagne, published in 2019, was awarded the Book of the Year from BBC History Magazine. Other books by Jinty include Rulers and Ruling Families in Early Medieval Europe and Courts, Elites, and Gendered Power in the Early Middle Ages. She also had numerous articles include “Public Histories and Private History in the Work of Nithard,” in Speculum, “Alfred of Wessex at a cross-roads in the history of education,” in History of education, “Writing Early Medieval,” in History Workshop Journal, “Kingship, Law and Liturgy in the Political Thought of Hincmar of Rheims,” in The English Historical Review, and a four-part series on “England and the Continent in the Ninth Century,” which was published in Transactions of the Royal Historical Society.
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Jinty Nelson served in many high profile positions within the academic community, including President of the Ecclesiastical History Society, Vice-President of the British Academy and the first female President of the Royal Historical Society. In 2018, the Royal Historical Society created a Teaching Award, later changed to Teaching Fellowships, in her honour. Among her other honours, Jinty was named Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2006.
Many have commented on social media about her passing:
I'm told that Jinty Nelson died yesterday – a great loss to medievalists, to the historical profession more widely, and to her many, many friends and admirers – but a great life too.
Deeply sorry for the loss of Jinty Nelson — medievalist and scholar extraordinaire, but also friend, mentor, and example to me and to so many. I wish the end of her life had been better, and that she was still with us. pic.twitter.com/Co1VNDPb5D
Jinty Nelson is one of the three of an academic triumvirate that I have always looked to not just for her ability as a scholar, but her kindness and generosity to others. This is a great loss to academia and humanity. May her memory be a blessing.
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dame Jinty Nelson, a brilliant and pioneering historian of early medieval Europe. Her remarkable scholarship and contributions to the field will leave a lasting legacy. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and colleagues.
Jinty Nelson, an Emerita Professor of Medieval History at King’s College London, has passed away at the age of 82.
Also known as Janet Nelson, Jinty was a leading historian of early medieval Europe. After earning her PhD at Newnham College of the University of Cambridge in 1967, she was appointed a lecturer at King’s College, London, in 1970. Jinty would spend the next 38 years at King’s College, retiring as a professor.
She once explained, “my research has centred on early medieval European themes: politics and ritual, women’s history and gender, ecclesiastical, social and cultural history. As my publications suggest, I tend to stick to choices, once made. My preferred genres are articles rather than books, collaborative and interdisciplinary projects rather than solo ones.”
Her latest book, King and Emperor: A New Life of Charlemagne, published in 2019, was awarded the Book of the Year from BBC History Magazine. Other books by Jinty include Rulers and Ruling Families in Early Medieval Europe and Courts, Elites, and Gendered Power in the Early Middle Ages. She also had numerous articles include “Public Histories and Private History in the Work of Nithard,” in Speculum, “Alfred of Wessex at a cross-roads in the history of education,” in History of education, “Writing Early Medieval,” in History Workshop Journal, “Kingship, Law and Liturgy in the Political Thought of Hincmar of Rheims,” in The English Historical Review, and a four-part series on “England and the Continent in the Ninth Century,” which was published in Transactions of the Royal Historical Society.
Jinty Nelson served in many high profile positions within the academic community, including President of the Ecclesiastical History Society, Vice-President of the British Academy and the first female President of the Royal Historical Society. In 2018, the Royal Historical Society created a Teaching Award, later changed to Teaching Fellowships, in her honour. Among her other honours, Jinty was named Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2006.
Click here to read the announcement of her passing from the Royal Historical Society
Click here to read this interview with Jinty from 2008
Many have commented on social media about her passing:
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