This article presents comparative research on the role of towns and urban networks in the process of constructing space during conquest and colonization in selected ‘non-Roman’ regions of Europe in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. It focuses on Kulmerland in Prussia and Meath in Ireland. In both regions, the creation of urban networks and new regional spaces entailed the use of pre-existing settlement. However, reception intensity was determined by both the state of preservation of the earlier settlement and the needs of territorial authorities. This comparison shows ways of using symbolic potential (names, central places) and former settlement points for the construction of cities. In both territories, the functions of central places were particularized due to subinfeudation.

Abstract. The horror story writers of the early 20th century presented various views on the surrounding reality. Howard P. Lovecraft and Montague R. James, for their part, rejected the mere possibility of phenomena regarded as supernatural, contrary to other writers, such as Arthur C. Doyle, Arthur Machen or Algernon Blackwood, who were members of theosophical or occultist societies. The writers differed also in the level of their education. Lovecraft was an erudite interested in science, notwithstanding the fact that he did not receive formal education. James was a respected medievalist, a specialist in the history of Christianity. Blackwood, educated abroad (in Germany), explicitly differed in his artistic output from Machen, a Welshman, who left the United Kingdom only to pursue his journalistic career. The aim of the article is to present the haunted places in the literary works of the chosen authors and to juxtapose their narratives with their scholarly achievements and their views on the surrounding reality. Based on the New Historicist approach, the study shows that the roots of horror in the haunted places presented by the authors in their works were more "material" than "supernatural"-what accounted for their choices of haunted places, story characters and haunting horrors were personal attitudes and life experience of each of the writers.

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Among ancient petitions in the Special Collections (document class SC 8) of The National Archives, London, are municipal petitions sent by the Anglo-Norman boroughs of Ireland and Wales to the English king, his council and parliament. These petitions shed light on the relationship between Irish and Welsh towns, and their inhabitants, and the royal administrations of Edward I and his successors. This chapter finds that, despite Ireland and Wales’ lack of regular representation in parliament, Irish and Welsh municipalities made regular use of petitions to seek ‘justice’ or ‘favour’, which were as likely to be considered by the English parliament as other petitions. Irish and Welsh municipalities sought justice to counter the administrative misfeasance of royal officials, while they typically sought favour of a financial nature (e.g. murage or tax relief). Additionally, and distinct from English municipalities, they also regularly sought help against the native Irish and Welsh.