Killing and Being Killed: Bodies in Battle

... with Jörg Rogge

1. Why a book on this subject?

It is commonly known, that »Killing and Being Killed« is the essence of and prerequisite for war, today as well as in the Middle Ages. The fact is taken for granted, but the questions of how, when or under which circumstances are raised rarely. The book wants to examine the practices and also the handling of the ubiquitous danger to life and limb developed by the fighters and their respective society. It was important to present a broad geographical and temporal scope, in order to detect similarities and differences in the practices of »Killing and Being Killed«.

2. What relevance does this subject have in the current research debates?

Corporeal practices have been widely debated in the Cultural Sciences. In recent years, the interest in conflict and violence research has increased, especially, but not only, in the management of injuries and the mental and physical condition of fighters, who put their live at risk. The time had come to gather several case studies and approaches to give a conspectus – at least for the medieval period.

3. What new perspectives does your book open up?

The contributions to the book provide insight into the practice of »Killing and Being Killed« beyond the traditional military history or the absolute numbers of those killed in action. We concentrate on the bodily experience of fighters and their depiction and perception in their contemporary culture. The focus is on the fighters, not on war and violence as a side effect of political history.

4. Who would you preferably like to discuss your book with?

I would like to discuss it with military historians, historical anthropologists and researchers with a focus on body and/or violence in the Middle Ages.

5. Your book in only one sentence:

»Killing and Being Killed« – New perspectives on an existential challenge during the Middle Ages.