A Renowned Historian

Léopold Genicot was born in Forville (Belgium) in 1914. After earning his BA in political economics, he worked as an archivist for 9 years (1935-1944) in the Namur branch of the Royal Archives from 1935 to 1944. During that time he obtained a PhD in history in 1937. His work at the archives also allowed him to hide escaping prisoners during the second World War.

In 1935, he was offered a position as professor at the Catholic University of Leuven and received tenure in 1947. He was teaching historical critics, methodology, Belgian history and Middle Age history. In his research, he was particularly interested in the Walloon history (Wallonia, Histoire de la Wallonie). He created and directed the Centre d'Histoire rurale et de l'Institut interfacultaire d'Etudes médiévales.

His contribution to the Middle-age history is wellknown. His books and articles are used today in any medieval history class (http://www.hps.cam.ac.uk/research/srwhms.html, http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~history/facdata/examreading/Medieval_History_3010.pdf).

In 1972, Léopold directed for the Belgian scholarly press Brepols a series of lengthy bibliographical essays/monographs, "Typologie des Sources du Moyen Age Occidental" to serve a scholarly base of medievalists ranging from graduate students to professors. This series of thin books has been one of the most successful collections of introductory and bibliographical aids ever introduced to the academic community. By publishing three to four titles a year, the series has steadily grown to seventy-eight volumes, covering everything from necrological documents to Latin treatises on the virtues and vices, from astronomy to arms and armor. http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/technology_and_culture/v041/41.1devries.html

In 1964 he received the "Guaillarde d'Argent"http://www.ville.namur.be/pericles/evenemen/wallonie01/08-2.htm. In 1982, he received an honorary degree from the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) http://www.kul.lublin.pl/art_158.html. In 1988 he received the prize "Personnalité Richelieu" http://www.dmnet.be/richelieu/main/fr/pgstfr/persofr.html

A Militant

He was a strong advocate of Wallonia and the "Rénovation wallonne" and affiliated with the "Rassemblement wallon". Candidate to the European elections, his position on the Walloon problems became more and more radical over time. http://www.wallonie-en-ligne.net/1995_Cent_Wallons/Genicot_Leopold.htm