I suppose it isn't strictly post-Roman, as it was not previously Roman territory, but I was more so thinking of its place in the post-Roman Romanosphere (no contradiction there...); there was a good deal of Eastern Roman influence.

I'm not sure whether to be amused or offended by the salutation "Hi Rowe"...

@imc-leeds.bsky.social dear conference organisers, just wanted to warn you (and anyone else seeing it for the first time or searching it up) that the Global Travel phishing scam is back this year.

The Kingdom of Makouria is really one of the most fascinating post-Roman successor polities. Always a pleasure to find out something else about it, and I often wish I knew the necessary languages to work on it.

The Legacy of Medieval Scandinavian Encounters with England and the Insular World. Edited by Richard Dance, Sara M. Pons‐Sanz and Brittany Schorn. Studies in the Early Middle Ages 34. Turnhout: Brepols. 2025. 454 pp. + 11 b/w illustrations, 12 b/w tables, 5 b/w and 3 colour maps. €125. ISBN 978 2 503 60770 2 (hardback); ISBN 978 2 503 60771 9 (e‐book). Click on the article title to read more.

I'm pleased to be able to share this book review I wrote, now published in Early Medieval Europe – my first publication! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Four sessions are noted for the Lombard Panel on Tuesday 7th July 2026: 521. 9:00-10:30: The Lombards through Time, I: Historiography. 621. 9:00-10:30: The Lombards through Time, II: Gender. 721. 9:00-10:30: The Lombards through Time, III: Southern Italy. 821. 9:00-10:30: The Lombards through Time, IV: Networks.

The Lombards are travelling through Time (not via TARDIS) to @imc-leeds.bsky.social for 2026!

Especial thanks to @samdrowe.bsky.social and Kaiyue Zhang for their significant efforts in bringing this together. We can't wait to see you all!

A coin issued by Lombard king Ratchis; the obverse depicts a facing barbarian bust (bearded and with parted hair), the reverse an armoured Archangel Michael in profile. The coin reads D M RATCHIS and SE RE NO on the obverse; SCS MIHAIL on the reverse: "our lord Ratchis", "Sereno" (a moneyer?) and "Saint Michael" respectively.

Note that the time indicated in the first post is not set in stone yet. The entire strand (which I am helping organise and moderate) is dedicated to the #Lombards (also known as #Langobards or #Longobards), a gens well deserving of more attention in wider historiography. Attached, a coin of Ratchis!

I'm delighted to be presenting my research on the #Lombards once again at the next IMC. The focus this time is on the very specific and evolving strategies of identification of the eighth-century royal couple Ratchis and Tassia (r. 744–749 and 756–757). #medieval #medievalsky #IMC2026 #identity

Circulating this CfP for Leeds #IMC2026 on the evolution of the Lombards and Lombard identities through time. #MedievalSky #skystorians

Thank you! It would certainly have been nice to meet you, having read some of your work.

Screenshot of the recording of the session in question.

It was a pleasure to present at @imc-leeds.bsky.social this year on how Lombard queens navigated strategies of identification, part of the ongoing research for my thesis. Thanks again to the organisers, other speakers and the audience, who had some great questions. #medievalsky