Julius von Ficker
Encyclopedia
Julius von Ficker was a Roman Catholic German
historian
.
, Ficker studied history and law at Bonn
, Münster
, and Berlin
, and during 1848-49 lived in Frankfurt
, where he was closely associated with the noted historian, Johann Friedrich Böhmer
, who proved himself a generous friend and patron. In 1852 he proceeded to Bonn, but shortly afterwards accepted an invitation from Count Leopold Thun-Hohenstein, the reorganizer of the Austria
n system of education, to settle at Innsbruck
as professor of general history. In 1863, however, he joined the faculty of jurisprudence, and his lectures on political and legal history drew around him a large circle of devoted and admiring pupils. In 1866 he was elected member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences
, but retired, after being ennobled by the Emperor of Austria, Franz Joseph
, in 1879.
's Geschichte der deutschen Kaiserzeit, he was engaged in a literary controversy with the historian, Heinrich von Sybel
, on the significance of the Holy Roman Empire
. Ficker advocated and defended the theory that Austria, on account of its blending of races, was best fitted as successor of the old empire to secure the political advancement both of Central Europe and of Germany. In support of his theory, he wrote Das deutsche Kaiserreich in seinen universalen und nationalen Beziehungen (Innsbruck, 1871), and Deutsches Königtum und Kaisertum (Innsbruck, 1872). As legatee of Böhmer's literary estate, he published the Acta Imperii selecta (lnnsbruck, 1870) and directed the completion and revision of the Regesta Imperii.
Julius von Ficker died in Innsbruck.
His sons were also prominent. Ludwig von Ficker (1880-1967) was a publisher and essayist who promoted and published the work of his friend, Georg Trakl
. Heinrich von Ficker
(1881-1957) was a meteorologist, geophysicist and explorer. Rudolf von Ficker (1886-1954) was a musicologist.
. In each division he discovered new methods of investigation. Among his writings those of especial note are:
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
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...
.
Career
Born at PaderbornPaderborn
Paderborn is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, capital of the Paderborn district. The name of the city derives from the river Pader, which originates in more than 200 springs near Paderborn Cathedral, where St. Liborius is buried.-History:...
, Ficker studied history and law at Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
, Münster
University of Münster
The University of Münster is a public university located in the city of Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. The WWU is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, a society of Germany's leading research universities...
, and Berlin
Humboldt University of Berlin
The Humboldt University of Berlin is Berlin's oldest university, founded in 1810 as the University of Berlin by the liberal Prussian educational reformer and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt, whose university model has strongly influenced other European and Western universities...
, and during 1848-49 lived in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, where he was closely associated with the noted historian, Johann Friedrich Böhmer
Johann Friedrich Böhmer
Johann Friedrich Böhmer was a German historian. His historical work was chiefly concerned with collecting and tabulating charters and other imperial documents of the Middle Ages.-Biography:...
, who proved himself a generous friend and patron. In 1852 he proceeded to Bonn, but shortly afterwards accepted an invitation from Count Leopold Thun-Hohenstein, the reorganizer of the Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n system of education, to settle at Innsbruck
Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck
University of Innsbruck has been a university in Austria since 1669.It is currently the largest education facility in the Austrian Bundesland of Tirol and third largest in Austria according to student population, behind Vienna University and the University of Graz.-History:In 1562 a Jesuit grammar...
as professor of general history. In 1863, however, he joined the faculty of jurisprudence, and his lectures on political and legal history drew around him a large circle of devoted and admiring pupils. In 1866 he was elected member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences
Austrian Academy of Sciences
The Austrian Academy of Sciences is a legal entity under the special protection of the Federal Republic of Austria. According to the statutes of the Academy its mission is to promote the sciences and humanities in every respect and in every field, particularly in fundamental research...
, but retired, after being ennobled by the Emperor of Austria, Franz Joseph
Franz Joseph I of Austria
Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I was Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, King of Croatia, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Galicia and Lodomeria and Grand Duke of Cracow from 1848 until his death in 1916.In the December of 1848, Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria abdicated the throne as part of...
, in 1879.
The Sybel-Ficker controversy
During the period 1859-1866, triggered by the publication of GiesebrechtWilhelm von Giesebrecht
Friedrich Wilhelm von Giesebrecht was a German historian.-Biography:He was born in Berlin, the son of Karl Giesebrecht , and a nephew of the poet Ludwig Giesebrecht ....
's Geschichte der deutschen Kaiserzeit, he was engaged in a literary controversy with the historian, Heinrich von Sybel
Heinrich von Sybel
Heinrich Karl Ludolf von Sybel , German historian, came from a Protestant family which had long been established at Soest, in Westphalia....
, on the significance of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
. Ficker advocated and defended the theory that Austria, on account of its blending of races, was best fitted as successor of the old empire to secure the political advancement both of Central Europe and of Germany. In support of his theory, he wrote Das deutsche Kaiserreich in seinen universalen und nationalen Beziehungen (Innsbruck, 1871), and Deutsches Königtum und Kaisertum (Innsbruck, 1872). As legatee of Böhmer's literary estate, he published the Acta Imperii selecta (lnnsbruck, 1870) and directed the completion and revision of the Regesta Imperii.
Julius von Ficker died in Innsbruck.
His sons were also prominent. Ludwig von Ficker (1880-1967) was a publisher and essayist who promoted and published the work of his friend, Georg Trakl
Georg Trakl
Georg Trakl was an Austrian poet. He is considered one of the most important Austrian Expressionists.- Life and work :Trakl was born and lived the first 18 years of his life in Salzburg, Austria...
. Heinrich von Ficker
Heinrich von Ficker
Heinrich von Ficker was a German-Austrian meteorologist and geophysicist who was a native of Munich. He was the son of historian Julius von Ficker .-Career:...
(1881-1957) was a meteorologist, geophysicist and explorer. Rudolf von Ficker (1886-1954) was a musicologist.
Works
Ficker's numerous and important works extend over three branches of scientific history: political and legal history and the science of diplomaticsDiplomatics
Diplomatics , or Diplomatic , is the study that revolves around documentation. It is a study that focuses on the analysis of document creation, its inner constitutions and form, the means of transmitting information, and the relationship documented facts have with their creator...
. In each division he discovered new methods of investigation. Among his writings those of especial note are:
Political history
- Rainald von DasselRainald of DasselRainald of Dassel was archbishop of Cologne from 1159 to 1167 and archchancellor of Italy. He was preceded as archbishop by Friedrich II of Berg and succeeded by Philip I von Heinsberg....
, Reichskanzler und Erzbischof von KölnArchbishopric of CologneThe Electorate of Cologne was an ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire and existed from the 10th to the early 19th century. It consisted of the temporal possessions of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cologne . It was ruled by the Archbishop in his function as prince-elector of...
(Cologne, 1850) - Münsterische Chroniken des Mittelalters (Münster, 1851)
- Engelbert der HeiligeEngelbert II of BergCount Engelbert II of Berg, also known as Saint Engelbert, Engelbert of Cologne, Engelbert I, Archbishop of Cologne or Engelbert I of Berg, Archbishop of Cologne was Archbishop of Cologne and a saint; he was the victim of a notorious murder by a member of his own family.-Early life:Engelbert was...
, Erzbischof von Köln (Cologne, 1853) - Die Überreste des deutschen Reichsarchivs in PisaPisaPisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa...
(Vienna, 1855).
Legal history
- Über einen Spiegel deutscher Leute (Vienna, 1857)
- Über die Entstehungszeit des SachsenspiegelSachsenspiegelThe Sachsenspiegel is the most important law book and legal code of the German Middle Ages. Written ca...
s (Innsbruck 1859) - Vom Reichsfürstenstande (Innsbruck, 1861)
- Forschungen zur Reichs- und Rechtsgeschichte ItaliensItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
(4 vols., Innsbruck, 1868-74) - Untersuchungen zur Rechtsgeschichte (3 vols., Innsbruck, 1891-97).
External links
- Julius von Ficker at the aeiou EncyclopediaAeiou EncyclopediaAEIOU is a free online collection of reference works in both German and English about Austria-related topics.-Background:...