The University of Debrecen is one of the largest universities in Hungary, located in Debrecen, the center of the eastern region of the country, in Hajdú-Bihar County. The city, with its medieval origins, is an important agricultural and commercial hub that today boasts a dynamically developing industry.

Its oldest educational institution is the Reformed College of Debrecen, founded in 1538, which is regarded as the predecessor of the Royal Hungarian University of Debrecen, established in 1912. A historical seminar was organized from the very beginning. Today, the Department of History hosts a medieval studies research workshop (Memoria Hungariae), operational since 2009, which received support from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences’ “Lendület” program in 2014. In 2022, the group was further supported by the Hungarian Research Network for its project “Military History of Medieval Hungary and Central Europe.” Over the past decades, the research group has organized numerous international conferences, published thematic study volumes with international editorial boards, and plans to launch a journal in 2025.

The conference is hosted by the Déri Museum, which partners with the University of Debrecen on scientific and science outreach projects. The municipal museum, with county-wide impact, was established relatively late, in 1902, by the city’s science-supporting citizens. It received its current name and most significant collection from Frigyes Déri, a textile manufacturer from Vienna. Remembering his Hungarian roots, he donated his European-renowned collection of artifacts to the Kingdom of Hungary after it was mutilated during World War I. For the fledgling University of Debrecen in the 1920s, this donation provided a uniquely valuable collection of educational resources in close proximity. In line with the donor’s intentions, this conference strengthens the collaboration between the Museum and the University.

The Déri Museum is located in the heart of the city, 200 meters west of the Great Reformed Church, in a central yet green environment. Its impressive Neo-Baroque building houses the Ceremonial Hall on the ground floor, a fitting venue for the conference.