Passing of Martin Aurell

It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing, in the night of February 7th to 8th, of our colleague Martin Aurell, an eminent medieval historian and Professor at the University of Poitiers. He was a member of the French branch of the International Arthurian Society.

The world of medieval studies has lost in Martin Aurell a talented and brilliant researcher, a modest and esteemed colleague, a warm and generous man.

Born in Barcelona on February 23rd, 1958, he dedicated his career to the study of the Middle Ages with a passion and rigor that made him one of the greatest specialists of his generation. Professor of medieval history at the University of Poitiers since 1994, he directed the Centre for Advanced Studies in Medieval Civilisation (CESCM) from 2015 to 2022, leaving a profound mark on this institution.

Author of a thesis on « The State and the Aristocracy in Catalonia and Provence: (9th-14th centuries) », defended in 1983 at the University of Provence under the direction of Noël Coulet, he was a specialist in political, social and cultural history. His work, which focused on the medieval aristocracy, power and kinship, is considerable, and among his many authoritative works, mention should be made of « The Plantagenet Empire (1154-1224) » in 2003, « The Legend of King Arthur (550-1250) » in 2007, « The Lettered Knight: knowledge and conduct of the aristocracy in the 12th and 13th centuries » in 2011, « Christians against the Crusades (12th-13th century) » in 2013, or even more recently the remarkable « Eleanor of Aquitaine, sovereign woman » in 2024.

Attentive to the dialogue of disciplines, Martin Aurell also had a taste for transmitting knowledge beyond the circle of academic institutions. He brought the voice of medieval studies to the general public with remarkable generosity and conviction, contributing in a thousand ways to what is now called the dissemination of knowledge. His interviews in the specialist and general press, his popular books (such as his « Ten received ideas about the Middle Ages » published in 2019) or his podcasts (on France Culture, for example) are countless, and will allow those who did not know him to discover the voice of a regretted researcher.

His funeral took place on Thursday, February 13th at 2 p.m. at the Saint-François-d’Assise church in Nantes.

The French branch of the International Arthurian Society sends its most sincere condolences to his family, loved ones, colleagues and students, and to all those who loved him.