Leonhard Ennen
Encyclopedia
Leonhard Ennen, also spelled Leonard Ennen, (5 March 1820 – 14 June 1880) was a German theologian, historian
and archivist
born in Schleiden
, in the Eifel
region of modern-day Germany. He is remembered for his writings on the history of Cologne
.
in German agricultural society. From 1841 to 1844 he studied theology
and philosophy
at the University of Münster
and the University of Bonn
. Following his ordination
, he served as vicar
and head of the upper Stadtschule, city school, in Königswinter am Rhein
, and he remained in this position from 1845 to 1857.
on the archdiocese of Cologne. He followed this with his Der spanische Erbfolgekrieg und der Churfürst Joseph Clemens von Köln, a study of the War of the Spanish Succession
and the role the Elector Joseph Clemens
played in this contest, published in 1851. His superiors at the education ministry sent him to Paris, to study archive development and management: the fruit of this study, Frankreich und der Niederrhein, oder Geschichte von Stadt und Kurstaat Köln seit dem 30jährigen Kriege bis zur französischen Occupation, appeared in two volumes in 1855 and 1856. This study of France's relationship with the states of the lower Rhine during the Thirty Years War attracted attention to his talents as an historian, and on 1 August 1857 he was appointed director of the Historisches Archiv der Stadt Köln (Historical Archive of the City of Cologne).
With other historians, notably Anton Fahne (1805–1883), he helped to found the Historischen Verein für den Niederrhein (Historical Society of the Lower Rhine) in 1854, and served as the society's first secretary. He continued to identify, categorize, and publish volumes on the sources and documents of the history of Cologne. He died in Cologne on July 14, 1880.
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...
and archivist
Archivist
An archivist is a professional who assesses, collects, organizes, preserves, maintains control over, and provides access to information determined to have long-term value. The information maintained by an archivist can be any form of media...
born in Schleiden
Schleiden
Schleiden is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It lies in the Eifel hills, in the district of Euskirchen, and has 13,957 inhabitants...
, in the Eifel
Eifel
The Eifel is a low mountain range in western Germany and eastern Belgium. It occupies parts of southwestern North Rhine-Westphalia, northwestern Rhineland-Palatinate and the south of the German-speaking Community of Belgium....
region of modern-day Germany. He is remembered for his writings on the history of Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
.
Family and education
Leonhard Ennen's parents were simple farmers, the equivalent of share-croppersSharecropping
Sharecropping is a system of agriculture in which a landowner allows a tenant to use the land in return for a share of the crop produced on the land . This should not be confused with a crop fixed rent contract, in which a landowner allows a tenant to use the land in return for a fixed amount of...
in German agricultural society. From 1841 to 1844 he studied theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at the University of 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 the University of 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...
. Following his ordination
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
, he served as vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
and head of the upper Stadtschule, city school, in Königswinter am Rhein
Königswinter
Königswinter is a town and summer resort in the Rhein-Sieg district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated on the right bank of the Rhine, opposite to Bonn, at the foot of the Siebengebirge.- Main sights :...
, and he remained in this position from 1845 to 1857.
Archive development
While teaching at the school, he became interested in the history of Cologne. In 1849 his Geschichte der Reformation im Bereiche der alten Erzdiözese Köln appeared, in which he examined the impact of the ReformationReformation
- Movements :* Protestant Reformation, an attempt by Martin Luther to reform the Roman Catholic Church that resulted in a schism, and grew into a wider movement...
on the archdiocese of Cologne. He followed this with his Der spanische Erbfolgekrieg und der Churfürst Joseph Clemens von Köln, a study of the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
and the role the Elector Joseph Clemens
Joseph Clemens
Joseph Clemens was an American Methodist Episcopalian chaplain, missionary and plant collector who served and worked in South East Asia and elsewhere. He was born in the rugged western English county of Cornwall. Later, his family migrated to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and then moved to...
played in this contest, published in 1851. His superiors at the education ministry sent him to Paris, to study archive development and management: the fruit of this study, Frankreich und der Niederrhein, oder Geschichte von Stadt und Kurstaat Köln seit dem 30jährigen Kriege bis zur französischen Occupation, appeared in two volumes in 1855 and 1856. This study of France's relationship with the states of the lower Rhine during the Thirty Years War attracted attention to his talents as an historian, and on 1 August 1857 he was appointed director of the Historisches Archiv der Stadt Köln (Historical Archive of the City of Cologne).
With other historians, notably Anton Fahne (1805–1883), he helped to found the Historischen Verein für den Niederrhein (Historical Society of the Lower Rhine) in 1854, and served as the society's first secretary. He continued to identify, categorize, and publish volumes on the sources and documents of the history of Cologne. He died in Cologne on July 14, 1880.
Selected publications
- Geschichte der Reformation im Bereich der alten Erzdiözese (History of the ReformationProtestant ReformationThe Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
in the Domain of the Ancient Archdiocese of Cologne), 1847 - Frankreich und der Niederrhein (France and the Lower Rhine); two volumes, 1856
- Zeitbilder aus der neuern Geschichte der Stadt Köln, mit besonderer Beziehung auf Ferdinand Franz Wallraf (Pictures from the Newer History of the City of Cologne, with special reference to Ferdinand Franz Wallraf), 1857
- Quellen zur Geschichte der Stadt Köln (Sources for the History of the City of Cologne); volumes 1-6, 1850–79
- Geschichte der Stadt Köln (History of the City of Cologne); five volumes, 1863–75
- Bilder vom alten Köln: Stadtansichten d. 15. bis 18. Jahrhundert u. Beschreibung d. Zustände vom Mittelalter bis nach d. Franzosenzeit (Pictures of old Cologne: City Views from the 15th to 18th century, etc.)
Sources
- Hermann Keussen. "Ennen, Leonhard." In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie. Herausgegeben von der Historischen Kommission bei der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Band 48 (1904), S. 380–382, Digitale Volltext-Ausgabe in Wikisource. (Version vom 26. Juni 2010, 00:21 Uhr UTC)
- Die Chronik Kölns, Chronik Verlag, Dortmund 1991, ISBN 3-611-00193-7
- Meyers Konversationslexikon, Bd. 5, Seite 665, Verlag des Bibliographischen Instituts, Leipzig und Wien, Vierte Auflage, 1885–1892
Further reading
- Toni Diederich: Ein Plädoyer für Leonard Ennen, in: Geschichte in Köln, Heft 44 (1998), S. 153–154.
- Stephan Laux: Leonard Ennen (1820-1880), ein biographisches Porträt (In preparation).