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The International Medieval Congress (IMC) is held annually in early July at the University of Leeds in England. It is the world’s largest gathering of specialists in medieval studies. Participants are carefully selected by the organisers. This year, a representative of Brno University of Technology was among more than 2,700 invited participants from around the world for the third consecutive year.
A taste of the “Making Leeds Medieval” side event, which traditionally closes the IMC conference. | Author: K. Maráz ArchivesKarel Maráz, a researcher at the BUT Archives and the BUT Faculty of Chemistry, also attended the congress in 2024 and 2025. On those occasions, he presented papers on interdisciplinary research into medieval seals (CZ only) and on the scholarly and teaching activities of the Piarists in Mikulov. This year’s congress took place from 6 to 9 July 2026 in a hybrid format. Participants delivered more than 2,000 papers, both in person and online.
Maráz spoke in a session focusing on representations of men, women and power relations in written sources. His paper was entitled Conflicting Encounters and Clashes. Women in the Mirror of Time: Women in the Light of Previously Unpublished Records of Libri citationum et sententiarum from Late Medieval Moravia.
His research drew on manuscripts of the Books of Summonses and Judgments (Libri citationum et sententiarum) that have yet to be published in a scholarly edition. These records are an important source for archival research, legal history and diplomatics, documenting disputes heard by the Brno and Olomouc divisions, known as cúdy, of the Moravian Land Court (cúda is a historical term for a land or provincial court – editor’s note).
Karel Maráz on the University of Leeds campus. | Author: K. Maráz ArchivesMedieval society was strongly patriarchal, making the information these sources provide about women’s position all the more valuable. Karel Maráz focused on women from the social elites and their involvement in disputes before the Land Court. He analysed their roles and representation in court, the content of the summonses and the various ways in which disputes were concluded. He also presented several intriguing individual cases. His analysis drew on previously unpublished records in late medieval manuscripts, for which he is currently preparing a critical edition.
IMC traditionally offers an extensive accompanying programme of workshops, excursions, exhibitions and public performances. Participants can explore current research trends, present research from their home institutions, and establish or strengthen professional and personal connections.This article was prepared using written materials provided by K. Maráz.