I’m Benjamin, an independent medieval historian, and I’m asking for help to fund a research trip to Europe for the book I am writing. My project investigates the origins, development, and purpose of a tenth century legal text known as the Salzburg Codex. I argue that this text was created and used by archbishops in Salzburg who were part of a network of connected libraries in Europe that shared and produced legal knowledge. My research shows that the codex was not just a mysterious book, but a practical source of legal knowledge and authority. In my study, I examine how it helped archbishops administer the church, pursue church reform, and defend church rights and sovereignty. By tracing how this book was compiled and used, I hope to show the importance of written law and learned knowledge in a period often understood through personal authority and ritual alone.

I earned my Ph.D. later in life because studying medieval history is truly my passion, and I have stayed committed to this path because I believe this work matters. Right now, I need support to do more research for my book in the places where key sources are preserved.

This trip would allow me to examine manuscripts held at the Austrian National Library in Vienna, the library at St. Peter’s monastery in Salzburg, the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek in Munich, and the Dombibliothek in Cologne. I also need to visit local museums, such as the Salzburg Cathedral museum, to investigate artifacts that are relevant to my project. These materials are essential to my research, and seeing them in person will help me study details that cannot be fully understood from a distance. In addition, many of these manuscripts are not digitized and are not available online. Your support will help cover the travel needed to reach these libraries and museums so I can carry this project forward. If you’re able to give, thank you for helping me continue the work I have dedicated myself to.