Christian Raffensperger

Christian Raffensperger's academic goal has remained the same since the completion of his PhD at the University of Chicago (2006)—the integration of the medieval polity of Rus into the larger medieval European world. This theme is present throughout his research and teaching.

His first book, released by Harvard University Press in 2012, won the Ohio Academy of History Publication Award in 2013 and is titled, Reimagining Europe: Kievan Rus' in the Medieval World, 988–1146. It focuses on the multiplicity of connections between the ruling family of Rus and the other ruling families of medieval Europe; including dynastic marriages, religious ties, and trading relationships among other topics.

These themes have continued and been developed throughout his other books as well. The marital connections of the Rusian royal family were the subject of Ties of Kinship: Genealogy and Dynastic Marriage in Kyivan Rus' (Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute, 2016), which also provides a complete genealogy for the Volodimerovichi (often known as the Riurikids) through the mid–twelfth century. This project also has a parallel digital humanities component (developed with the assistance of David Birnbaum, U. Pittsburgh)—the Rusian Genealogy Database; and with the assistance and support of the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute— Rus' Genealogy Web Map

Ties with the neighbors of Rus is not just the subject of his 251 class at Wittenberg but was brought to life via Conflict, Bargaining, and Kinship Networks in Medieval Eastern Europe (Lexington Books, 2018) and more recently The Ruling Families of Rus' (Reaktion Books, 2023), with Donald Ostrowski (Harvard). These books situate Rus as part of medieval Europe and work to connect it into its proper place, without focusing on, or perpetuating a modern Russo-centric narrative.

Dr. Raffensperger's recent work has focused on the breadth of medieval Europe. His recent Rulers and Rulership in the Arc of Medieval Europe (Routledge 2023) suggests a rethinking of how we talk about rulers and their polities, their relationship with the church, and even such seemingly basic ideas as succession and titles by looking at areas spanning an arc stretching from Iberia to Ireland, and Scandinavia to Byzantium. That same broad focus is inherent in his new textbook, written with Florin Curta (U. Florida): Medieval Europe, 250-1453 (Routledge, 2025). The book integrates material on traditional topics (the Capetians of France) with discussions of steppe nomads, pagan Finns, and in depth coverage of the similarities across Europe, from Hungary to Portugal.

The production of the Medieval Europe textbook is an important component of Dr. Raffensperger's shift towards classroom-oriented content. This was seen already in some of the Digital Humanities projects, and has continued in edited collections such as his two Portraits volumes:Portraits of Medieval Eastern Europe, with Donald Ostrowski (Harvard) (Routledge, 2017) and Portraits of Medieval Europe, with E. T. Dailey (Leicester) (Routledge, 2023). It is essential when attempting to reshape medieval Europe that the audience for that shift is not just professional historians but students.

Similarly, Dr. Raffensperger has written numerous opinion pieces for local papers such as the Springfield News-Sun, Dayton Daily News, and Columbus Dispatch. He also serves on local boards including the board of the Clark County Public Library and that of the Clark County Historical Society.