Allegra Geller
Allegra holds Master of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. A graduate of the UT School of Information, she studied Information Science with an emphasis on Museum Studies. As an undergraduate, she majored in both History and European Studies, and graduated in 2013 with Special Honours in History, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.
As an undergraduate, Allegra completed a history honours thesis in spring 2013 under the guidance of Dr Brian P Levack. She has thus far focused on sixteenth- and seventeenth-century European history, in particular, political witchcraft, demonological treatises, and the Stuart Dynasty. She completed a second undergraduate thesis under the guidance of Dr Sandra Straubhaur, on Freudian symbolism and erotic anthropomorphism in nineteenth-century folktale illustrations.
During summer 2012, Allegra received a European Union Centre of Excellence grant funded through the European Commission to study government in Brussels. She was awarded a Swedish Excellence Endowment by the Swedish Council of America that same year, and spent 2012-13 at Uppsala Universitet studying seventeenth-century Swedish history and researching Swedish witchcraft trials.
In April 2013, Allegra was awarded first place co-winner in an essay competition held by the UT history writing website, Not Even Past, for her review of Daniel Castros 'Another Face of Empire: Bartolomé de Las Casas, Indigenous Rights, and Ecclesiastical Imperialism.'
Allegra is from British Columbia, Canada. She currently resides in Austin, Texas.
Supervisors: Dr Brian P Levack and Dr Sandra Straubhaar
Address: Austin, Texas.
As an undergraduate, Allegra completed a history honours thesis in spring 2013 under the guidance of Dr Brian P Levack. She has thus far focused on sixteenth- and seventeenth-century European history, in particular, political witchcraft, demonological treatises, and the Stuart Dynasty. She completed a second undergraduate thesis under the guidance of Dr Sandra Straubhaur, on Freudian symbolism and erotic anthropomorphism in nineteenth-century folktale illustrations.
During summer 2012, Allegra received a European Union Centre of Excellence grant funded through the European Commission to study government in Brussels. She was awarded a Swedish Excellence Endowment by the Swedish Council of America that same year, and spent 2012-13 at Uppsala Universitet studying seventeenth-century Swedish history and researching Swedish witchcraft trials.
In April 2013, Allegra was awarded first place co-winner in an essay competition held by the UT history writing website, Not Even Past, for her review of Daniel Castros 'Another Face of Empire: Bartolomé de Las Casas, Indigenous Rights, and Ecclesiastical Imperialism.'
Allegra is from British Columbia, Canada. She currently resides in Austin, Texas.
Supervisors: Dr Brian P Levack and Dr Sandra Straubhaar
Address: Austin, Texas.
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King James believed in the theory of divine right, and that he was accountable only to God. This belief led to conflict between James and his Kirk, with the Presbyterian ministers overtly questioning his ability to rule effectively. The witch-hunts which occurred in 1590-1 reflect James’ reaction to this conflict, and illustrate his ability to manipulate the existing events in order to further his own aims; namely to reinforce his divine right to rule, as well as assert the legitimacy of his throne.
James’ treatise, Daemonologie, which is unique in that it is the only work of its kind written by an early modern European monarch, reflects both his involvement in the witch trials, as well as his views regarding kingship. Ultimately, James’ involvement in the trials and the writing of Daemonologie served to affirm his authority by underlining his belief in his God-given right to rule, and legitimized his unstable regime by reinforcing his authority over both the Kirk and his government.
During the course of this research, numerous sixteenth-century documents, including personal correspondence, trial records and contemporary accounts were examined in order to determine the many intricacies connecting James, the witch trials, and Daemonologie, as well as the complex nature of their relationship. This thesis is organized chronologically, with individual sections highlighting the events which gave rise to the witch panics, the political climate at the time, the trials, and Daemonologie itself.
King James believed in the theory of divine right, and that he was accountable only to God. This belief led to conflict between James and his Kirk, with the Presbyterian ministers overtly questioning his ability to rule effectively. The witch-hunts which occurred in 1590-1 reflect James’ reaction to this conflict, and illustrate his ability to manipulate the existing events in order to further his own aims; namely to reinforce his divine right to rule, as well as assert the legitimacy of his throne.
James’ treatise, Daemonologie, which is unique in that it is the only work of its kind written by an early modern European monarch, reflects both his involvement in the witch trials, as well as his views regarding kingship. Ultimately, James’ involvement in the trials and the writing of Daemonologie served to affirm his authority by underlining his belief in his God-given right to rule, and legitimized his unstable regime by reinforcing his authority over both the Kirk and his government.
During the course of this research, numerous sixteenth-century documents, including personal correspondence, trial records and contemporary accounts were examined in order to determine the many intricacies connecting James, the witch trials, and Daemonologie, as well as the complex nature of their relationship. This thesis is organized chronologically, with individual sections highlighting the events which gave rise to the witch panics, the political climate at the time, the trials, and Daemonologie itself.