Jonathan Riley-Smith

Jonathan Riley-Smith was a renowned British historian specializing in the History of the Crusades and Medieval history, with a particular focus on the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Hospitaller Order. His work drew heavily from the studies of Carl Erdmann, Steven Runciman, and Joshua Prawer, and he was influenced by the ideas of Georges Duby and Jean Richard. Riley-Smith's research also explored the interactions between Christendom and the Islamic world, including the Crusade of Varna and the Battle of Nicopolis. He was a prominent figure in the field of Crusader studies, often collaborating with scholars such as Malcolm Lambert and Christopher Tyerman.

● Early life and education

Jonathan Riley-Smith was born in 1938 in London, England, and spent his early years in Sussex. He was educated at Eton College and later attended Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied under the supervision of David Knowles and Owen Chadwick. During his time at Cambridge University, Riley-Smith developed a strong interest in Medieval history and the History of the Crusades, inspired by the works of R.C. Smail and Hans Eberhard Mayer. He also drew inspiration from the research of Marshall Hodgson and Albert Hourani on the Islamic Golden Age and the Mamluk Sultanate.

● Academic career

Riley-Smith began his academic career as a lecturer at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, where he taught courses on Medieval history and the History of the Crusades. He later moved to Cambridge University, where he became a fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge and a lecturer in the Faculty of History. Riley-Smith's academic career was marked by collaborations with prominent scholars such as Peter Linehan and David Abulafia, and he was a frequent visitor to the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. He also participated in conferences organized by the Society for the Study of the Crusades and the Latin East and the Medieval Academy of America.

● Research and publications

Riley-Smith's research focused on the History of the Crusades and the Medieval history of the Mediterranean region, including the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the County of Tripoli. He published numerous books and articles on these topics, including The Crusades: A History and The Oxford Illustrated History of the Crusades, which drew on the work of scholars such as Thomas Asbridge and Susanna Throop. His research also explored the role of the Templar Order and the Hospitaller Order in the Crusades, as well as the interactions between Christendom and the Islamic world, including the Crusade of Varna and the Battle of Nicopolis. Riley-Smith's work was influenced by the ideas of Georges Duby and Jean Richard, and he often engaged with the research of scholars such as Malcolm Lambert and Christopher Tyerman.

● Awards and honours

Throughout his career, Riley-Smith received numerous awards and honours for his contributions to the field of Medieval history and the History of the Crusades. He was elected a fellow of the British Academy and a corresponding fellow of the Medieval Academy of America, and he received the Wolfson History Prize for his book The Crusades: A History. Riley-Smith was also awarded the Griffiths Prize by the University of Manchester and the Haskins Medal by the Medieval Academy of America. He was a frequent lecturer at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, and he participated in conferences organized by the Society for the Study of the Crusades and the Latin East and the Royal Historical Society.

● Personal life

Riley-Smith was a fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge and a lecturer in the Faculty of History at Cambridge University. He was married to Louise Riley-Smith, and they had two children together. Riley-Smith was a prominent figure in the academic community, known for his wit and his love of Medieval history and the History of the Crusades. He was a frequent visitor to the National Archives in Kew, London, and he often collaborated with scholars such as David Carpenter and Nicholas Vincent on projects related to the Magna Carta and the Domesday Book. Riley-Smith passed away in 2016, leaving behind a legacy of scholarship and a lasting impact on the field of Medieval history and the History of the Crusades. Category:Historians