Alexandru Dimitrie Xenopol
Encyclopedia
Alexandru Dimitrie Xenopol (alekˈsandru diˈmitri.e kseˈnopol; March 23, 1847, Iaşi
– February 27, 1920, Bucharest
) was a Romanian scholar, economist, philosopher, historian, professor, sociologist, and author. Among his many major accomplishments, he is credited with being the Romania
n historian
credited with authoring the first major synthesis of the history of the Romanian people.
Born in Iaşi, where he graduated from high school, he went on to Vienna
in 1870 to study law and then to Berlin
, where he studied philosophy. In 1868, he made his debut in Convorbiri Literare with a series of studies on Romanian traditions and on Romanian institutions.
At first, Xenopol served as a prosecutor in Iaşi, but he later decided to dedicate himself to the study of history. Starting in 1883, he was a professor of universal history at the University of Iaşi. He was named a member of the Romanian Academy
in 1895.
In his 1899 French-languague Les Principes fondamentaux de l'histoire ("The Fundamental Principles of History"), his work most well-known internationally, he argued for history being a true science which follows clearly defined laws and logic, through which the reasons for historical processes could be clearly defined.
His six-volume Istoria românilor din Dacia-Traiană ("The History of the Romanians in Trajan
's Dacia
"), completed between 1888 and 1893, strongly asserts that the Romanians are of predominantly Roman
origin - a position further elaborated by the historian Nicolae Iorga
, one of Xenopol's numerous pupils (see Origin of the Romanians).
Though concerning events nearly two millennia in the past, this was far from an abstract historical issue, having very concrete actual political implications - the Roman origin implying that Romanians are inherently different from - and in the minds of some Romanian nationalists, superior to - their Slavic and Magyar neighbors. This, unfortunately, also translated to Xenopol being a noted anti-Semite
and collaborator of A. C. Cuza
. Though he died before the formation of the Iron Guard
, Romania's notorious Fascist party, he is considered to be one of its sources of inspiration - according to the final report of the International Commission on the Holocaust in Romania .
Iasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
– February 27, 1920, Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
) was a Romanian scholar, economist, philosopher, historian, professor, sociologist, and author. Among his many major accomplishments, he is credited with being the Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
credited with authoring the first major synthesis of the history of the Romanian people.
Born in Iaşi, where he graduated from high school, he went on to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
in 1870 to study law and then to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, where he studied philosophy. In 1868, he made his debut in Convorbiri Literare with a series of studies on Romanian traditions and on Romanian institutions.
At first, Xenopol served as a prosecutor in Iaşi, but he later decided to dedicate himself to the study of history. Starting in 1883, he was a professor of universal history at the University of Iaşi. He was named a member of the Romanian Academy
Romanian Academy
The Romanian Academy is a cultural forum founded in Bucharest, Romania, in 1866. It covers the scientific, artistic and literary domains. The academy has 181 acting members who are elected for life....
in 1895.
In his 1899 French-languague Les Principes fondamentaux de l'histoire ("The Fundamental Principles of History"), his work most well-known internationally, he argued for history being a true science which follows clearly defined laws and logic, through which the reasons for historical processes could be clearly defined.
His six-volume Istoria românilor din Dacia-Traiană ("The History of the Romanians in Trajan
Trajan
Trajan , was Roman Emperor from 98 to 117 AD. Born into a non-patrician family in the province of Hispania Baetica, in Spain Trajan rose to prominence during the reign of emperor Domitian. Serving as a legatus legionis in Hispania Tarraconensis, in Spain, in 89 Trajan supported the emperor against...
's Dacia
Dacia
In ancient geography, especially in Roman sources, Dacia was the land inhabited by the Dacians or Getae as they were known by the Greeks—the branch of the Thracians north of the Haemus range...
"), completed between 1888 and 1893, strongly asserts that the Romanians are of predominantly Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
origin - a position further elaborated by the historian Nicolae Iorga
Nicolae Iorga
Nicolae Iorga was a Romanian historian, politician, literary critic, memoirist, poet and playwright. Co-founder of the Democratic Nationalist Party , he served as a member of Parliament, President of the Deputies' Assembly and Senate, cabinet minister and briefly as Prime Minister...
, one of Xenopol's numerous pupils (see Origin of the Romanians).
Though concerning events nearly two millennia in the past, this was far from an abstract historical issue, having very concrete actual political implications - the Roman origin implying that Romanians are inherently different from - and in the minds of some Romanian nationalists, superior to - their Slavic and Magyar neighbors. This, unfortunately, also translated to Xenopol being a noted anti-Semite
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
and collaborator of A. C. Cuza
A. C. Cuza
A. C. Cuza was a Romanian far right politician and theorist.-Early life:Born in Iaşi, after attending secondary school in his native city and in Dresden, Cuza studied law at the University of Paris, the Universität unter den Linden, and the Université Libre de Bruxelles...
. Though he died before the formation of the Iron Guard
Iron Guard
The Iron Guard is the name most commonly given to a far-right movement and political party in Romania in the period from 1927 into the early part of World War II. The Iron Guard was ultra-nationalist, fascist, anti-communist, and promoted the Orthodox Christian faith...
, Romania's notorious Fascist party, he is considered to be one of its sources of inspiration - according to the final report of the International Commission on the Holocaust in Romania .
Publications
- Despre învăţământul şcolar în genere şi în deosebi despre acel al istoriei, Studii economice (1879)
- Istoria românilor (1879)
- Războiul dintre Ruşi şi Turci, 2 vols. (1880)
- Teoria lui Rösler (1884)
- Memoriu asupra învăţământului superior în Moldova (1885)
- Edutes historiques sur les peuples roumains (1887)
- Istoria românilor din Dacia-Traiană, 6 vols. (1888–1893)
- Mihail Kogălniceanu (1895)
- Industria mătăsei (1896)
- Les Principes fondamentaux de l'histoire (1899) (in FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
)