Mark J. Stoyle is a Tudor and Stuart British historian who specializes in the

English Civil War The English Civil War (1642–1651) was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Parliamentarians (" Roundheads") and Royalists led by Charles I ("Cavaliers"), mainly over the manner of England's governance and issues of re ...

, the nature of magic and

witchcraft Witchcraft traditionally means the use of magic or supernatural powers to harm others. A practitioner is a witch. In medieval and early modern Europe, where the term originated, accused witches were usually women who were believed to have ...

and the identity of key areas such as

Cornwall Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic ...

and

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

during the early modern period. He is Professor at the

University of Southampton , mottoeng = The Heights Yield to Endeavour , type = Public research university , established = 1862 – Hartley Institution1902 – Hartley University College1913 – Southampton University Coll ...

, and also does much work on the history and landscape of Exeter where he previously lived and taught.

Biography

Mark Stoyle was raised in Mid Devon and attended school in Crediton. Upon finishing school, he took part in archaeological excavations in Exeter for some years. He received a BA in history in 1988. In 1992, he earned his doctorate at

St Peter's College, Oxford St Peter's College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford and is located in New Inn Hall Street, Oxford, United Kingdom. It occupies the site of two of the university's medieval halls, dating back to at least the 14th ...

under the supervision of

Gerald Aylmer Gerald Edward Aylmer, (30 April 1926, Greete, Shropshire – 17 December 2000, Oxford) was an English historian of 17th century England. Gerald Aylmer was the only child of Edward Arthur Aylmer, from an Anglo-Irish naval family, and Phoebe ...

. After completing a Scouloudi Fellowship at the

Institute of Historical Research The Institute of Historical Research (IHR) is a British educational organisation providing resources and training for historical researchers. It is part of the School of Advanced Study in the University of London and is located at Senate Hou ...

and a British Academy Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the

University of Exeter , mottoeng = "We Follow the Light" , established = 1838 - St Luke's College1855 - Exeter School of Art1863 - Exeter School of Science 1955 - University of Exeter (received royal charter) , type = Public , ...

, he joined the

where he is presently a Professor of Early Modern History. In 2012, he won a Vice-Chancellor's Teaching Award from the University of Southampton. Stoyle is a fellow of the

Royal Historical Society The Royal Historical Society, founded in 1868, is a learned society of the United Kingdom which advances scholarly studies of history. Origins The society was founded and received its royal charter in 1868. Until 1872 it was known as the Histori ...

, Chair of its Research Support Committee, and served on the Council of the Royal Historical Society until November 2016. He is also a member of the editorial advisory panel of ''

BBC History ''BBC History Magazine'' is a British publication devoted to both British and world history and aimed at all levels of knowledge and interest. The publication releases thirteen editions a year, one per month and a Christmas special edition, an ...

''.

Major publications

*''Loyalty and Locality: Popular Allegiance in Devon During the English Civil War'' (1994) *''From Deliverance to Destruction: Civil War and Rebellion in an English City'' (1996) *''Devon and the Civil War'' (2001) *''West Britons: Cornish Identities and the Early Modern British State'' (2002) *''Soldiers and Strangers: An Ethnic History of the English Civil War'' (2005) *''The Black Legend of Prince Rupert's Dog: Witchcraft and Propaganda During the English Civil War'' (2011) *''Water in the City: The Aqueducts and Underground Passages of Exeter'' (2014) *''A Murderous Midsummer: The Western Rising of 1549 (2022)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stoyle, Mark Year of birth missing (living people) Living people 20th-century English historians 21st-century English historians Academics of the University of Southampton Alumni of St Peter's College, Oxford English military historians Fellows of the Royal Historical Society Pagan studies scholars People from Mid Devon District Place of birth missing (living people) Historians of Cornwall Historians of Wales Historians of Devon Historians of the early modern period