Professor Catherine Fletcher
Professor
My profile
Biography
I’m a historian specialising in Renaissance and Early Modern European history, especially but not exclusively of the Italian peninsula. I’m interested in the communication of history to wider publics, via fiction and non-fiction, on radio and TV, at heritage sites and beyond.
My next book, The Roads to Rome: A History, looks at the Roman road network and travel on it over a long historical period, exploring its significance in European culture. It will be published in June 2024.
I’m also working on a research project exploring the early history of firearms in sixteenth-century Italy, for which I’ve been awarded the Balsdon Fellowship at the British School at Rome for the autumn term 2023.
I’m always happy to hear from students who’d be interested in postgraduate research on these and related topics, and in projects that explore connections between history and creative writing.
Academic and professional qualifications
I originally studied Politics & Communication studies at the University of Liverpool. I subsequently worked in politics and the media before returning to study full-time for a PhD in History at Royal Holloway, University of London.
Languages
I speak Italian, (rather rusty) French and can grasp enough to get by in the various related languages.
External examiner roles
- University of Huddersfield
- Royal Holloway, University of London.
Teaching
Why do I teach?
I enjoy sharing what I’ve learnt from my own studies with new people - whether formally in the classroom or through external events for the public.
How I’ll teach you
I’m keen for students to have a go at communicating history in ways beyond the standard essay and exam. That means you can expect to try designing exhibitions, guided walks, podcasts, TV shows and much more!
Why study…
The great thing about History is that it covers everything that happened in the past - which gives you huge scope to roam around the aspects of life that interest you. You can do the history of politics, or the history of sex, or put them together for the history of political sex scandals. In the course of my career, I’ve found myself writing about family, fashion and furniture, while my latest research looks at the early history of guns.
Postgraduate teaching
I contribute to postgraduate teaching on Early Modern and Public History themes.
Subject areas
History
Supervision
I supervise several PhD projects including on:
- ‘Refugees, Religion and Diplomacy in Early Modern Europe’, a Collaborative Doctoral Partnership with the National Archives.
- Women, warfare and the Tudor regimes.
- Gender and social order in seventeenth-century Italy.
- Reimagining the River Irk Valley: A creative and critical intervention exploring the past, present and future of metropolitan regeneration.
I’m also part of the supervisory team for projects on Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici, and on the contribution of migrants in the development of the Roman Empire.
Research outputs
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Books (authored/edited/special issues)
Fletcher, C. (2024) The Roads To Rome A History. Random House.
Fletcher, C. (2020) The Beauty and the Terror An Alternative History of the Italian Renaissance. Random House.
Matheson-Pollock, H., Paul, J., Fletcher, C. (2018) Queenship and Counsel in Early Modern Europe. Springer.
Fletcher, C. (2016) The Black Prince of Florence The Spectacular Life and Treacherous World of Alessandro De' Medici. Oxford University Press.
Fletcher, C. (2015) Diplomacy in Renaissance Rome The Rise of the Resident Ambassador. Cambridge University Press.
Fletcher, C. (2012) Our Man in Rome Henry VIII and his Italian Ambassador. Random House.
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Chapters in books
Fletcher, C. (2022) 'Agents of firearms supply in sixteenth-century Italy: rethinking the contractor state.' In Bowd, S., Cockram, S., Gagne, J. (ed.) Working in the Shadows of War in Renaissance Europe. Amsterdam University Press,
Fletcher, C. (2018) 'The Ladies’ Peace Revisited: Gender, counsel and diplomacy.' Queenship and Counsel in Early Modern Europe. Palgrave Macmillan,
Fletcher, C. (2014) 'Mere emulators of Italy: The Spanish in Italian diplomatic discourse, 1492-1550.' The Spanish Presence in Sixteenth-Century Italy: Images of Iberia. Ashgate,
Fletcher, C. (2013) 'Performing Henry at the court of Rome.' Henry VIII and the Court: Art, Politics and Performance. Ashgate,
Fletcher, C. (2013) 'The altar of Saint Maurice and the invention of tradition in Saint Peter’s.' Old Saint Peter’s. Cambridge University Press,
Fletcher, C. (2013) '“Uno palaço belissimo”: town and country living in Renaissance Bologna.' The Early Modern Italian Domestic Interior, 1400-1700. Ashgate,
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Journal articles
Fletcher, C. (2023) 'Firearms and the state in sixteenth-century Italy: gun proliferation and gun control.' Past and Present, 260(1) pp. 3-37.
Nelson, S., Fletcher, C. (2022) 'Mercenaries, migrants and the crew of the Mary Rose.' History, 107(378) pp. 836-860.
Fletcher, C. (2010) ''Furnished with gentlemen': the ambassador's house in sixteenth-century Italy.' RENAISSANCE STUDIES, 24(4) pp. 518-535.
Fletcher, C., DeSilva, J.M. (2010) 'Italian Ambassadorial Networks in Early Modern Europe—An Introduction.' Journal of Early Modern History, 14(6) pp. 505-512.
Fletcher, C. (2010) 'War, Diplomacy and Social Mobility: The Casali Family in the Service of Henry VIII.' Journal of Early Modern History, 14(6) pp. 559-578.
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Non-peer reviewed articles / reviews
Fletcher, C. (2023) Book review: Tra spezie e spie: Filippo Pigafetta nel Mediterraneo del Cinquecento.