Neil Murphy

I joined Northumbria in 2012, after four years at the University of Winchester, and was made Professor of Medieval and Early Modern History in 2020. My PhD and my first two books were focused on the history of late medieval and early modern France. While retaining a key interest in the history of France between 1300 and 1700, I have developed interests in other areas particularly the reign of Henry VIII and especially his wars. My third monograph examined his conquest of France in the 1540s and I am currently finishing a book the Anglo-Scottish war of 1522-4. This research has also led me into Scottish history and I am particularly interested in the political and military history of the kingdom in decades following the battle of Flodden (1513) and I plan to produce a study career of Archibald Douglas, earl of Angus (1489-1557).

Before I can get to this project, I am completing three books. The first of these studies (under contrast with Cambridge University Press) focuses on the mechanisms used to combat plague in absolutist France. The second (under contract with Reaktion) focuses on Henry VIII’s European ambitions, while the third focuses on espionage during the reign of Henry VIII.

I have supervised doctoral students working on a range of late medieval and early modern topics in both English and French history – and I warmly welcome enquires from prospective students.