Theodor Mommsen

Christian Matthias Theodor Mommsen (30 November 1817 - 1 November, 1903) was a German classical scholar and historian, generally regarded as the greatest classicist of the 19th century. His work regarding Roman history is still of fundamental importance for contemporary research.

Life

He was born in Garding, Schleswig, at the time part of the Danish monarchy, grew up in Oldesloe and attended school in Altona.

Related Topics:
Garding - Schleswig - Danish - Oldesloe - Altona

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Mommsen studied jurisprudence in Kiel from 1838 to 1843. Thanks to a Danish grant, he was able to visit France and Italy to study classical history. During the revolution of 1848, Mommsen was a correspondent in Rendsburg and became professor of law in the same year at the University of Leipzig. Due to his liberal political views he had to resign in 1851, but already in 1852 obtained a professorship in Roman law at the University of Zürich, and then in 1854 at the University of Breslau.

Related Topics:
Jurisprudence - Kiel - 1838 - 1843 - France - Italy - History - 1848 - Rendsburg - Law - University of Leipzig - Roman law - University of Zürich - University of Breslau

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In 1858 Mommsen was called to the Academy of Sciences in Berlin and also became professor of Roman History at the University of Berlin in 1861, where he held lectures up to 1887. Mommsen received high recognition for his scientific achievements: the medal Pour le Mérite in 1868, honorary citizenship of Rome, and the Nobel prize for literature in 1902 for his main work Römische Geschichte (Roman History). He is one of the very few non-fiction writers to receive the literature Nobel. Mommsen had 16 children with his wife Marie (daughter of the editor Karl Reimer from Leipzig), some of whom died while still very young. Two of his grandsons, Hans and Wolfgang, are prominent German historians.

Related Topics:
1858 - University of Berlin - 1861 - 1887 - Pour le Mérite - 1868 - Rome - Nobel prize for literature - 1902 - Non-fiction - Karl Reimer - Hans - Wolfgang

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