Visual Culture and Politics in the Baltic Sea Region, 1100-1250

Kersti Markus , Ph.D. (2000), Stockholm University, is Professor of Art History at Tallinn University. She has published monographs and many articles on medieval art and politics in Scandinavia and the Baltic countries.

"Kersti Markus not only challenges the German domination in the Baltic crusade narrative, but also presents the argument in a visually pleasing and well-researched monograph." - Pål Berg Svenungsen, in: Forschungen zur baltischen Geschichte 17 (2022), p. 221

• Preface and AcknowledgmentsList of FiguresAbbreviations1 Visual Sources and the Danish Crusades1.1 The Development of Church Studies in Estonia, Latvia and Scandinavia1.2 Danish Historiography on the Crusades1.3 Prospects of Visual Sources in the Study of Baltic Crusades2 Visual Rhetoric in Denmark in the Period of the Baltic Crusades2.1 The Chapel at the Christian Ruler’s Residence2.2 Imitation of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre2.3 Round Churches of Eskil’s Era2.4 Jerusalem of the North2.5 The Theocratic Reign of the Valdemar Dynasty2.6 Warriors of Christ2.7 Foothold of the Crusaders in the Baltic Sea: the Island of Bornholm2.8 Conclusion3 Visual Performances of Power in Sweden3.1 The Holy City in Västergötland3.2 Self-Assertion of the Sverker Dynasty in Östergötland3.3 Warriors of Christ in the Valley of Lake Mälaren3.4 Gate to Livonia: the Kalmar Sound3.5 Conclusion4 From Trade to Crusade: Visby4.1 Merchant Churches4.2 Rus’ Trade of the Varangians: St. Olaf’s Churches4.3 German Merchants and Crusaders in Visby: the St. Mary’s Church4.4 The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Visby4.5 Conclusion5 Manifesting a Presence in Livonia and Estonia5.1 Fortified Outposts5.2 Founding a Town from the German Perspective: Riga5.3 Founding a Town from the Danish Perspective: Tallinn5.4 The Danish Mission and the Cistercians5.5 The German Mission and the Cistercians5.6 ConclusionAfterword: Art and Politics on the BorderlandBibliographyIndex