Dr Jernej Kotar
Academic and Professional Career
- Undergraduate study of history at the Faculty of Arts, University of
Ljubljana (2006–2011), completing the degree with a thesis on Srednjeveška
kolonizacija v Labotski dolini under the supervision of Acad. Prof. Dr
Peter Štih (university degree in history).
- Erasmus study exchange at the University of Leipzig's Social Science Centre
(2009/10).
- Postgraduate study in history at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
(2012–2016), completing the degree with a thesis titled The Territorial
Lordship and Administration in Carniola during the Reign of Frederick III of
Habsburg under the supervision of Acad. Prof. Dr Peter Štih and Dr Matjaž
Bizjak, earning a title Doctor of Science in History.
- Employed at the Bogenšperk Castle Public Institute in 2017.
- Since 2018, curator at the Department of History and Applied Arts, National
Museum of Slovenia.
- Since 2018, researcher in the Objects and Prestige: Taste, Status, and
Power research program (Research on Material Culture in Slovenia).
- Since 2018, project leader for the content overhaul at Bogenšperk Castle
Museum.
- 2018–2022, lecturer in Basic Historical Sciences at the Faculty of
Humanities, University of Nova Gorica.
- 2019, habilitated at the University of Nova Gorica as Assistant.
- 2023, appointed to the title of scientific associate at the National Museum
of Slovenia.
- Project leader for the research project J7-50216 The Material Culture of
Nobility in the Territory of Slovenia in the Late Middle Ages and Early Modern
Period (2023–2026).
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After completing his professional examination,
he took over the collection of seals and seal makers at the National Museum of
Slovenia.
Research Focus
Dr Kotar’s research primarily focuses on the
history of Slovenia in the late Middle Ages and early modern period,
particularly on the territorial administration of the Duchy of Carniola, the
history of the nobility, material culture of social elites, sigillography, and
heraldry.
Key Research Achievements
Seal of Ladislaus the Posthumous (National Museum of Slovenia, inv. no. N 2386)
- Study of the territorial lordship under
Frederick V in Carniola (original scholarly article Listina cesarja
Friderika III. o izboljšanju kranjskega deželnega grba iz leta 1463, 1463,
2016).
- Research on the genealogy and history of the Apfaltrer family (original
scholarly article The Apfaltrerji na Gamberku, 2018).
- Study of the seal collection at the National Museum of Slovenia (monograph Zbirka pečatov v
Narodnem muzeju Slovenije, 2019).
- Research on the history of Bogenšperk Castle (permanent exhibition Bogenšperk skozi čas (Bogenšperk Through
Time), 2020–).
- Research on the territorial administration in Carniola (original scholarly
article Deželni glavarji na Kranjskem v srednjem veku, 2021).
- Study of the National Museum of Slovenia’s archive and the history of the
Carniolan Provincial Museum (monograph National Museum of Slovenia – 200
Years, 2021).
- Research on the life and work of Janez Vajkard Valvasor (author of the
introductory study for the reprint of the book Popolna topografija
stare in sodobne nadvojvodine Koroške, 2023).
- Research on superstition and witchcraft in Slovenia during the late Middle
Ages and early modern period (permanent exhibition Vraževerje in
čarovništvo na Slovenskem, 2023).
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Involvement in Museum Projects and Exhibitions
Valvasoriana, permanent exhibition at Bogenšperk Castle
- Co-author of the major temporary exhibition Ko zapoje kovina. Tisočletja metalurgije na Slovenskem (2019–2020) and editor of the catalogue, in collaboration with the University of Ljubljana.
- Author of the permanent exhibition Bogenšperk skozi čas (Bogenšperk Through Time), 2020–).
- Author of the permanent exhibition Kranjska (2020–).
- Collaborator on the 200th Anniversary of the National Museum of Slovenia.
- Co-author of the temporary exhibition Muzej skozi zgodovino. Najstarejše pridobitve deželnega muzeja za Kranjsko (2021).
- Author of the permanent exhibition Valvasoriana (2021–), the most comprehensive museum display of the life and work of Janez Vajkard Valvasor.
- Author of the permanent exhibition Wagni – graditelji gradu (2022–); a tribute to the 500th anniversary of the death of the builder of Bogenšperk Castle.
- Organizer of the international scholarly symposium Janez Vajkard Valvasor – Kranjec po domovini, Evropejec po duhu. Mednarodni simpozij ob 350-letnici polihistorjevega prihoda na grad Bogenšperk (2022), editor of the proceedings.
- Co-author of the temporary exhibition and catalogue Trzin v luči srednjeveških zgodovinskih virov. 750. obletnica prve omembe kraja (2023).
- Author of the permanent exhibition Vraževerje in čarovništvo na Slovenskem (2023–), one of the most comprehensive displays of this theme in Slovenia.
- Co-author of the forthcoming major permanent exhibition on the history of Slovenian territory.
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Other Work
- Technical editor of the serial publication Viri. Gradivo za materialno kulturo Slovencev.
- Regular collaborator with the Milko Kos Institute of History, ZRC SAZU.
- Reviewer of original scholarly and professional articles.
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Bibliography