Jonathan Riley-Smith | |
|---|---|
| Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History University of Cambridge | |
| In office 1994–2011 | |
| Preceded by | Christopher N. L. Brooke |
| Succeeded by | David Maxwell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jonathan Simon Christopher Riley-Smith 27 June 1938 Harrogate, England |
| Died | 13 September 2016(2016-09-13) (aged 78) |
| Citizenship | British |
| Parent(s) | William Henry Douglas Riley-Smith Elspeth Agnes Mary Craik Henderson |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Cambridge |
Jonathan Simon Christopher Riley-Smith (27 June 1938 – 13 September 2016) was a historian of theCrusades,[1] and, between 1994 and 2005,Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History atCambridge.[2] He was aFellow ofEmmanuel College, Cambridge.[3]
Riley-Smith was the eldest of four children born into a prosperous Yorkshirebrewing family. His maternal grandfather (to whose memory he later dedicated his bookWhat Were the Crusades?) was theBritish Conservative PartyMP,John Craik-Henderson (1890-1971).[4]
He attendedEton College andTrinity College, Cambridge, where he took his BA (1960), MA (1964), PhD (1964), and LittD (2001).[5]
Riley-Smith taught at theUniversity of St Andrews (1964–1972),Queens' College, Cambridge (1972-1978),Royal Holloway College, London (1978–1994) as well as atEmmanuel (1994–2005).[2][3] His many respected publications on the origins of the crusading movement and the motivations of the first crusaders have deeply influenced current historiography of the crusades:[6] in an appreciative obituary, a senior colleague described Riley-Smith as "quite simply the leading historian of the crusades anywhere in the world".[7]
He was appointed a Knight of Grace and Devotion of theSovereign Military Order of Malta and a Bailiff Grand Cross of theMost Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem.[8]
Riley-Smith appeared in the documentary seriesCrusades (1995) as an historical authority. However, the series adopted the views ofSteven Runciman, which were not held by Riley-Smith. The producers then edited the taped interviews so that the historians seemed to agree with Runciman. Riley-Smith said of the producers that "they made me appear to say things that I do not believe!"[9] In 2006, he delivered theGifford Lectures onThe Crusades and Christianity at theUniversity of Edinburgh.[10]
Riley-Smith was a convert to Catholicism.[5] He married Louise Field, a portrait artist, in 1968.[11][12] Their three children include the singer/songwriterPolly Paulusma.
Jonathan Riley-Smith died on 13 September 2016.[13]
