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Jan Machielsen

Dr Jan Machielsen

(he/him)

Reader in Early Modern History (Study Leave 2022/3)

School of History, Archaeology and Religion

Email
MachielsenJ@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 29208 76698
Campuses
John Percival Building, Room 5.16, Colum Drive, Cardiff, CF10 3EU
Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Overview

I am a historian of early modern religion, with a particular interest in reputations - how people came be to be seen as exceptionally wicked witches or as exceptionally devout, wonder-working saints. I have written widely on both Catholic Reform and the early modern witch-hunt, two subjects brought together by my first "love", the sixteenth-century Jesuit Martin Delrio who wrote an influential work of demonology. My next book The Basque Witch-Hunt: A Secret History examines one of Europe's most notorious witch-hunts and will appear later in 2024.

Publication

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

Articles

Book sections

Books

Teaching

I am primarily a historian of early modern religion. With my medieval colleague Paul Webster, I teach a new module on the History of the Supernatural which takes a long view on how Christians saw and engaged with supernatural events and creatures, from miracles to witches and werewolves. I also teach an advanced third-year module on the early modern witch-hunt.

Biography

I am Reader in Early Modern History at Cardiff University. I am very much an accidental transplant, both in the UK and in Wales but happy to call both places home. 

I first came to Britain as a visiting graduate student in the spring of 2006. I then stayed to complete a second masters, for which I gained a distinction, and a doctorate (supervised by Robin Briggs) at Oxford University. My graduate studies were supported by the AHRC, the Fullbright Commission, the Royal Historical Society, and a Scatcherd European Scholarship from Oxford University. During my doctorate I held visiting fellowships at Princeton and Cornell University in the United States.

After completing my PhD early 2011, I held a number of temporary teaching and research posts, before moving to Cardiff in January 2016.

Education and qualifications

  • 2011: DPhil in History, Oriel College, University of Oxford
  • 2007: MSt in Historical Research, Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford
  • 2006: MA in European History and Civilisation, Leiden University
  • 2005: BA in Humanities and Social Sciences, University College Maastricht

Honours and awards

  • 2022: Balsdon Fellow, British School at Rome 
  • 2020–2021: Humboldt Research Fellowship for experienced researchers
  • 2019–2020: Leverhulme Research Fellowship
  • 2019: British Academy/Leverhulme Small Grant
  • 2012–2013: British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship
  • 2006–2010: Scatcherd European Scholarship, International Office, University of Oxford
  • 2007–2010: Doctoral Award, Arts & Humanities Research Council
  • 2008–2009: Fulbright Scholarship

Professional memberships

  • Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS)
  • Fellow of Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
  • Member of the Renaissance Society of America
  • Member of the Society of Renaissance Studies

Academic positions

  • 2022--: Reader in Early Modern History, Cardiff University
  • 2019-2022: Senior Lecturer in Early Modern History, Cardiff University
  • 2016-2019: Lecturer in Early Modern History, Cardiff University
  • 2013-2015: Departmental Lecturer in Early Modern European History, New College, University of Oxford
  • 2012-2013: British Academy Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Balliol College, University of Oxford
  • 2011: Departmental Lecturer in Early Modern European History, Balliol College, University of Oxford

Committees and reviewing

  • Editor of the Transactions of the Royal Historical Society (2024–)
  • Council Member of the Society of Renaissance Studies (2021–2024)
  • Member of the AHRC Peer Review College (2017–)

Supervisions

Current supervision

Theo Riviere

Theo Riviere

Research student