Krisztina Ilko
@drkrisztinailko.bsky.social
Junior Research Fellow @queens.cam.ac.uk and Affiliated Lecturer @camhistory.bsky.social. ~> Chess & Global Middle Ages.
Pinned
Dragon-slaying saints performed green-fingered medieval miracles, new study reveals
Pope Leo XIV's Augustinian order once performed green-fingered, dragon-slaying miracles. Dr Krisztina Ilko rediscovers their lives and wild power base
www.cam.ac.uk
Wild medieval saints! 🔥🔥🔥 Dragons and miraculously sprouting cherry twigs. An evil walnut tree growing above the tomb of Nero. For these and much more in my book, 'The Sons of St Augustine' (OUP), I am delighted to share the wonderful media release that Cambridge published this morning:
Reposted by Krisztina Ilko
Very much looking forward to @imc-leeds.bsky.social next week where @drkrisztinailko.bsky.social and I have organised two panels on the Transformation of Political Culture in the High Middle Ages following on from the conference held in the @dependencybonn.de last year. We hope to see you there!
July 1, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Very much looking forward to @imc-leeds.bsky.social next week where @drkrisztinailko.bsky.social and I have organised two panels on the Transformation of Political Culture in the High Middle Ages following on from the conference held in the @dependencybonn.de last year. We hope to see you there!
Happening today! 👇
June 17, 2026 at 9:34 AM
Happening today! 👇
It is sad to hear that Carlo Ginzburg has passed away. He gave a talk last year in Cambridge, and I feel so lucky to have had the chance to meet him!
June 17, 2026 at 9:12 AM
It is sad to hear that Carlo Ginzburg has passed away. He gave a talk last year in Cambridge, and I feel so lucky to have had the chance to meet him!
I am thrilled to invite you to the book launch of The Sons of St Augustine taking place at 5pm on Wednesday 17th June in Old Hall at Queens', with a fantastic lineup of presenters! Followed by a drinks reception, too. All are welcome, and no registration is needed. Please share widely!
June 10, 2026 at 12:36 PM
I am thrilled to invite you to the book launch of The Sons of St Augustine taking place at 5pm on Wednesday 17th June in Old Hall at Queens', with a fantastic lineup of presenters! Followed by a drinks reception, too. All are welcome, and no registration is needed. Please share widely!
Pour mes amis français! theconversation.com/au-moyen-age...
Au Moyen Âge, les échecs ont créé un espace où la couleur de peau ne comptait pas
Dans l’imaginaire médiéval, la couleur de peau était souvent associée à des hiérarchies sociales ou religieuses. Mais les échecs offraient un cadre singulier : sur l’échiquier, la victoire dépendait d...
theconversation.com
May 7, 2026 at 10:59 AM
Pour mes amis français! theconversation.com/au-moyen-age...
Proofs! My next article, 'Jefferson's Chess Set' will be published in The American Historical Review later this year. Having an article in this journal is a thing now off from my bucket list.
May 3, 2026 at 9:23 AM
Proofs! My next article, 'Jefferson's Chess Set' will be published in The American Historical Review later this year. Having an article in this journal is a thing now off from my bucket list.
I had fun yesterday giving a paper at the 'Plant Lives: Sacred Interdependencies in the Arts of the Americas' conference at Yale.
April 12, 2026 at 11:29 AM
I had fun yesterday giving a paper at the 'Plant Lives: Sacred Interdependencies in the Arts of the Americas' conference at Yale.
It's great to see this article in The Conversation up now! Link in the first comment.
March 31, 2026 at 5:22 PM
It's great to see this article in The Conversation up now! Link in the first comment.
Reposted by Krisztina Ilko
Today's featured title:
"The Sons of St Augustine: Art and Memory in the Augustinian Churches of Central Italy, 1256–1370," by Kristztina Ilko, Oxford University Press, 2026
@academic.oup.com @drkrisztinailko.bsky.social
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
"The Sons of St Augustine: Art and Memory in the Augustinian Churches of Central Italy, 1256–1370," by Kristztina Ilko, Oxford University Press, 2026
@academic.oup.com @drkrisztinailko.bsky.social
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
March 22, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Today's featured title:
"The Sons of St Augustine: Art and Memory in the Augustinian Churches of Central Italy, 1256–1370," by Kristztina Ilko, Oxford University Press, 2026
@academic.oup.com @drkrisztinailko.bsky.social
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
"The Sons of St Augustine: Art and Memory in the Augustinian Churches of Central Italy, 1256–1370," by Kristztina Ilko, Oxford University Press, 2026
@academic.oup.com @drkrisztinailko.bsky.social
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Reposted by Krisztina Ilko
The medieval world was brutal. Fortunately, it had chess.
An award-winning study by @queens.cam.ac.uk Dr Krisztina Ilko reveals that chess promoted racial harmony in remarkable ways, celebrating intellectual prowess, irrespective of skin colour.
Explore the full story 👇
https://bit.ly/4bPYU4X
An award-winning study by @queens.cam.ac.uk Dr Krisztina Ilko reveals that chess promoted racial harmony in remarkable ways, celebrating intellectual prowess, irrespective of skin colour.
Explore the full story 👇
https://bit.ly/4bPYU4X
March 19, 2026 at 3:00 PM
The medieval world was brutal. Fortunately, it had chess.
An award-winning study by @queens.cam.ac.uk Dr Krisztina Ilko reveals that chess promoted racial harmony in remarkable ways, celebrating intellectual prowess, irrespective of skin colour.
Explore the full story 👇
https://bit.ly/4bPYU4X
An award-winning study by @queens.cam.ac.uk Dr Krisztina Ilko reveals that chess promoted racial harmony in remarkable ways, celebrating intellectual prowess, irrespective of skin colour.
Explore the full story 👇
https://bit.ly/4bPYU4X
Check mates!
Check mates: analysis of medieval chess sets reveal vision of equality and mutual respect
Check mates: analysis of medieval chess sets reveal vision of equality and mutual respect
Far from being a metaphor for racial tension, chess reveals world where people could engage as equals
On the chessboard, black and white pieces are lined up against each other for an unrelenting battle.
But in the middle ages, the game was not a metaphor for racial tension – but often a vehicle for equality and mutual respect, research has found. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
March 19, 2026 at 11:39 AM
Check mates!
Pretty amazing to see The Guardian reporting on my article winning the Medieval Academy of America's Article Prize in Critical Race Studies and on medieval chess' potential to reveal a vision of equality and mutual respect! Link in the first comment.
March 19, 2026 at 11:15 AM
Pretty amazing to see The Guardian reporting on my article winning the Medieval Academy of America's Article Prize in Critical Race Studies and on medieval chess' potential to reveal a vision of equality and mutual respect! Link in the first comment.
I will be giving a paper at the History of Liturgy seminar at the IHR in London at 5.30pm on Monday, 16 Feb. Link for in-person and Zoom registration in the first comment. 👇
February 14, 2026 at 10:21 AM
I will be giving a paper at the History of Liturgy seminar at the IHR in London at 5.30pm on Monday, 16 Feb. Link for in-person and Zoom registration in the first comment. 👇
Reposted by Krisztina Ilko
The next History of Liturgy Seminar is in London @ihr.bsky.social on Monday 16 Feb 17.30.
The award-winning @drkrisztinailko.bsky.social on
The Augustinian Friars & their Liturgical Cult of Saint Augustine.
In-person (chat! drinks! people!) or online: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
#medievalsky
The award-winning @drkrisztinailko.bsky.social on
The Augustinian Friars & their Liturgical Cult of Saint Augustine.
In-person (chat! drinks! people!) or online: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
#medievalsky
February 10, 2026 at 10:26 AM
The next History of Liturgy Seminar is in London @ihr.bsky.social on Monday 16 Feb 17.30.
The award-winning @drkrisztinailko.bsky.social on
The Augustinian Friars & their Liturgical Cult of Saint Augustine.
In-person (chat! drinks! people!) or online: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
#medievalsky
The award-winning @drkrisztinailko.bsky.social on
The Augustinian Friars & their Liturgical Cult of Saint Augustine.
In-person (chat! drinks! people!) or online: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
#medievalsky
Reposted by Krisztina Ilko
Many congratulations to @drkrisztinailko.bsky.social for winning the @medievalacademy.bsky.social prize for best article in critical race studies!
MAA 2026 Publication Prizes
We are very pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 Medieval Academy of America Publication Prizes:
The Haskins Medal: Travis Zadeh, Wonders and Rarities: The Marvelous Book That Traveled the World and Mapped the
www.themedievalacademyblog.org/maa-2026-pub...
We are very pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 Medieval Academy of America Publication Prizes:
The Haskins Medal: Travis Zadeh, Wonders and Rarities: The Marvelous Book That Traveled the World and Mapped the
www.themedievalacademyblog.org/maa-2026-pub...
February 9, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Many congratulations to @drkrisztinailko.bsky.social for winning the @medievalacademy.bsky.social prize for best article in critical race studies!
Reposted by Krisztina Ilko
Lent 2026 Term Card for the Cambridge Medieval History Research Seminar. All sessions take place at 4pm in Sidgwick Lecture Block Room 5!
January 20, 2026 at 10:44 AM
Lent 2026 Term Card for the Cambridge Medieval History Research Seminar. All sessions take place at 4pm in Sidgwick Lecture Block Room 5!
With the first copy of The Sons of St Augustine!
January 2, 2026 at 12:24 PM
With the first copy of The Sons of St Augustine!
Reposted by Krisztina Ilko
Leo XIV is the 1st Augustinian Pope, but did you know that his order once performed green-fingered, dragon-slaying miracles?
@drkrisztinailko.bsky.social from @camhistory.bsky.social @queens.cam.ac.uk reveals the forgotten lives of these wild medieval saints 👇
https://bit.ly/4rP25Qj
#skystorians 🗃️
@drkrisztinailko.bsky.social from @camhistory.bsky.social @queens.cam.ac.uk reveals the forgotten lives of these wild medieval saints 👇
https://bit.ly/4rP25Qj
#skystorians 🗃️
Dragon-slaying saints performed green-fingered medieval miracles, new study reveals
Pope Leo XIV's Augustinian order once performed green-fingered, dragon-slaying miracles. Dr Krisztina Ilko rediscovers their lives and wild power base
bit.ly
December 15, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Leo XIV is the 1st Augustinian Pope, but did you know that his order once performed green-fingered, dragon-slaying miracles?
@drkrisztinailko.bsky.social from @camhistory.bsky.social @queens.cam.ac.uk reveals the forgotten lives of these wild medieval saints 👇
https://bit.ly/4rP25Qj
#skystorians 🗃️
@drkrisztinailko.bsky.social from @camhistory.bsky.social @queens.cam.ac.uk reveals the forgotten lives of these wild medieval saints 👇
https://bit.ly/4rP25Qj
#skystorians 🗃️
Forgotten Medieval Miracles of the Augustinians Revealed in New Study www.medievalists.net/2025/12/forg... research (and new book) by @drkrisztinailko.bsky.social #medieval
Forgotten Medieval Miracles of the Augustinians Revealed in New Study - Medievalists.net
New research reveals how Augustinian friars shaped medieval rural life through overlooked miracles—from healing livestock to restoring barren land—challenging long-held assumptions about the order’s…
www.medievalists.net
December 12, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Reposted by Krisztina Ilko
Queens' JRF (@camhistory.bsky.social) @drkrisztinailko.bsky.social's new book, The Sons of St Augustine, challenges major assumptions about the medieval Catholic Church and early Renaissance.
Read more about her publication on our website, and the Cambridge University press release.
Read more about her publication on our website, and the Cambridge University press release.
December 12, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Queens' JRF (@camhistory.bsky.social) @drkrisztinailko.bsky.social's new book, The Sons of St Augustine, challenges major assumptions about the medieval Catholic Church and early Renaissance.
Read more about her publication on our website, and the Cambridge University press release.
Read more about her publication on our website, and the Cambridge University press release.
👇
Medieval historian Dr Krisztina Ilko (@queens.cam.ac.uk) challenges major assumptions about the medieval Catholic Church and early Renaissance.
Forgotten medieval miracles are brought to light in her new book 'The Sons of St Augustine', published today by Oxford University Press ⬇️⬇️
Forgotten medieval miracles are brought to light in her new book 'The Sons of St Augustine', published today by Oxford University Press ⬇️⬇️
Wild medieval saints! 🔥🔥🔥 Dragons and miraculously sprouting cherry twigs. An evil walnut tree growing above the tomb of Nero. For these and much more in my book, 'The Sons of St Augustine' (OUP), I am delighted to share the wonderful media release that Cambridge published this morning:
December 11, 2025 at 10:58 AM
👇
Wild medieval saints! 🔥🔥🔥 Dragons and miraculously sprouting cherry twigs. An evil walnut tree growing above the tomb of Nero. For these and much more in my book, 'The Sons of St Augustine' (OUP), I am delighted to share the wonderful media release that Cambridge published this morning:
Dragon-slaying saints performed green-fingered medieval miracles, new study reveals
Pope Leo XIV's Augustinian order once performed green-fingered, dragon-slaying miracles. Dr Krisztina Ilko rediscovers their lives and wild power base
www.cam.ac.uk
December 11, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Wild medieval saints! 🔥🔥🔥 Dragons and miraculously sprouting cherry twigs. An evil walnut tree growing above the tomb of Nero. For these and much more in my book, 'The Sons of St Augustine' (OUP), I am delighted to share the wonderful media release that Cambridge published this morning:
Artist: what would you like on your coat of arms?
Lady: a giant skeleton fish.
Artist: say no more.
Lady: a giant skeleton fish.
Artist: say no more.
November 10, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Artist: what would you like on your coat of arms?
Lady: a giant skeleton fish.
Artist: say no more.
Lady: a giant skeleton fish.
Artist: say no more.
What is the point of an index if the page numbers "may, on occasion, appear on only one" of the pages listed? Apparently, this is for the benefit of the digital users. But what about the benefit of the readers of the actual physical book? #academicpublishing
November 5, 2025 at 11:28 AM
What is the point of an index if the page numbers "may, on occasion, appear on only one" of the pages listed? Apparently, this is for the benefit of the digital users. But what about the benefit of the readers of the actual physical book? #academicpublishing