Scotland and the Flemish People Conference 2016

Claire Hawes
Friday 18 December 2015

Background

We are pleased to announce that registration is now open for the Conference on Scotland and the Flemish People that will take place at the University of St Andrews on 16 -17 June 2016. Details on how to register are set out at the end of this note.

This major inter-disciplinary conference will explore the important relationship between Scotland and Flanders in the medieval and early modern periods, and the influence of Flemish people and Flemish culture on Scotland through the centuries.

This conference is the culmination of an innovative three-year project based at the Institute of Scottish Historical Research at the University of St Andrews which has incorporated the research of leading scholars, local and family historians, as well as new doctoral research by students based in St Andrews.

The conference is being supported by generous grants from the PF Charitable Trust, the Wyfold Charitable Trust, and the Government of Flanders. 

Conference Structure and Speakers

The two-day Conference will have a combination of plenary lectures and parallel sessions that will give participants a choice of topics. The conference programme is being developed at present and will be posted on the conference website in due course. A number of speakers have already committed to the event, including:

  • Dr David Ditchburn, Trinity College, Dublin
  • Professor Jan Dumolyn, University of Ghent
  • Professor Richard Oram, University of Stirling
  • Dr Alasdair Macdonald, University of Strathclyde
  • Dr Maarten Larmaseau, University of Leuven and University of Leicester
  • Professor Michael Brown, University of St Andrews
  • Dr Joseph Morrow QC, The Lord Lyon
  • Professor Wim De Clercq, University of Ghent
  • Dr Katie Stevenson, University of St Andrews
  • Dr Lauran Tourians

Conference Themes

Drawing on research by leading scholars in history, art history, archaeology, material culture, and genetic genealogy, the conference will explore a wide range of themes, including:

  • The migration and settlement of Flemish people in Scotland
  • Commercial and economic ties between Scotland and Flanders
  • Artistic and cultural exchange between the two countries
  • Political and diplomatic relations between the two countries
  • Place names in Scotland and what they tell us about Flemish settlement
  • Items of Flemish origin that were brought to Scotland (material culture)
  • How a recent find of medieval charters is shedding new light on the Fleming family of Biggar and Cumbernauld
  • The relationship between heraldry and genealogical research
  • How DNA analysis is being used to help affirm the Flemish origins of some major Scottish families
  • Possible Flemish influences on recreation in Scotland (golf, curling, and jousting)

 Registration

For more information, and to register, please visit our website: www.eventsforce.net/scotflem

For all other queries please contact the Conference Secretary, Dr Claire Hawes, at: [email protected]

 

 

 

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