Paul Fredericq
Encyclopedia
Paul Fredericq, was a Belgian historian
at Ghent University
active in the promotion of the use of the Flemish language in Belgium.
, Belgium
. A student at the 'Koninklijk Atheneum' of Ghent, where Max Rooses
and Jacob Heremans influenced him. In 1871 he graduated as a high school teacher from the University of Liège
and started working as a teacher in Mechelen
and Arlon. In 1875, Fredericq got a special doctorate in Historical Sciences, with his study "Essai sur le rôle politique et social des ducs de Bourgogne dans les Pays-Bas".
After Jacob Heremans became Emeritus, Paul Fredericq gained a position at Ghent University
in 1883. His courses included Dutch literature and practical exercises about Belgian history. Characterizing his sociability: Fredericq also taught in the relaxed surroundings of his home, while drinking a good glass. It's probably during this period that he befriended the students of 't zal wel gaan
.
Fredericq was very active in the liberal
wing of the Flemish Movement. During the period of 1891-1895, he was a liberal member of the city council, and became president of the local Willemsfonds
organization and editor in chief of the liberal magazine "Het Volksbelang". Then founded the "Hooger Onderwijs voor het Volk" (higher education for the people) in 1894, an experiment to close the education-gap between the elites and the workforce. However, Fredericq was especially important during the struggle to include Dutch into the Belgian education system. His activism culminated with his "Schets eener Geschiedenis der Vlaamsche Beweging" (1906-1909), a short history of the Flemish Movement
.
During World War I
, Fredericq resisted the invader, causing his eventual arrest in 1916. Paul Fredericq and his colleague Henri Pirenne
were deported to Germany. The ordeal weakened him both physically and mentally.
After the war, he became Rector at the university in 1919. But quickly resigned after only a few weeks, disappointed by the aggressive anti-Flemish reactions. He died shortly thereafter.
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...
at Ghent University
Ghent University
Ghent University is a Dutch-speaking public university located in Ghent, Belgium. It is one of the larger Flemish universities, consisting of 32,000 students and 7,100 staff members. The current rector is Paul Van Cauwenberge.It was established in 1817 by King William I of the Netherlands...
active in the promotion of the use of the Flemish language in Belgium.
Biography
Paul Fredericq was born in the Sleepstraat in GhentGhent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. A student at the 'Koninklijk Atheneum' of Ghent, where Max Rooses
Max Rooses
Max Rooses was a Belgian writer, literature critic, and curator of the Plantin-Moretus Museum at Antwerp.Rooses was born in Antwerp, and went to school there up to 1858, after which he attended the University of Liège to study philosophy and literature...
and Jacob Heremans influenced him. In 1871 he graduated as a high school teacher from the University of Liège
University of Liège
The University of Liège , in Liège, Wallonia, Belgium, is a major public university in the French Community of Belgium. Its official language is French.-History:...
and started working as a teacher in Mechelen
Mechelen
Mechelen Footnote: Mechelen became known in English as 'Mechlin' from which the adjective 'Mechlinian' is derived...
and Arlon. In 1875, Fredericq got a special doctorate in Historical Sciences, with his study "Essai sur le rôle politique et social des ducs de Bourgogne dans les Pays-Bas".
After Jacob Heremans became Emeritus, Paul Fredericq gained a position at Ghent University
Ghent University
Ghent University is a Dutch-speaking public university located in Ghent, Belgium. It is one of the larger Flemish universities, consisting of 32,000 students and 7,100 staff members. The current rector is Paul Van Cauwenberge.It was established in 1817 by King William I of the Netherlands...
in 1883. His courses included Dutch literature and practical exercises about Belgian history. Characterizing his sociability: Fredericq also taught in the relaxed surroundings of his home, while drinking a good glass. It's probably during this period that he befriended the students of 't zal wel gaan
't zal wel gaan
TSG 't Zal wel gaan, is a non-profit student society founded in the 19th century to promote Flemish culture and liberalism in Flanders, based at Ghent University. Since its inception, the student fraternity was characterized by its progressive, Flemish, and libertarian nature. It supports the...
.
Fredericq was very active in the liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
wing of the Flemish Movement. During the period of 1891-1895, he was a liberal member of the city council, and became president of the local Willemsfonds
Willemsfonds
The Willemsfonds, named after Jan Frans Willems, is a non-profit cultural organization founded in the 19th century to promote Flemish culture and language in Belgium. In order to achieve this goal, the organization encouraged Flemish folk song, organized linguistic games and published inexpensive...
organization and editor in chief of the liberal magazine "Het Volksbelang". Then founded the "Hooger Onderwijs voor het Volk" (higher education for the people) in 1894, an experiment to close the education-gap between the elites and the workforce. However, Fredericq was especially important during the struggle to include Dutch into the Belgian education system. His activism culminated with his "Schets eener Geschiedenis der Vlaamsche Beweging" (1906-1909), a short history of the Flemish Movement
Flemish movement
The Flemish Movement is a popular term used to describe the political movement for emancipation and greater autonomy of the Belgian region of Flanders, for protection of the Dutch language, and for the over-all protection of Flemish culture and history....
.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Fredericq resisted the invader, causing his eventual arrest in 1916. Paul Fredericq and his colleague Henri Pirenne
Henri Pirenne
Henri Pirenne was a Belgian historian. A medievalist of Walloon descent, he wrote a multivolume history of Belgium in French and became a national hero....
were deported to Germany. The ordeal weakened him both physically and mentally.
After the war, he became Rector at the university in 1919. But quickly resigned after only a few weeks, disappointed by the aggressive anti-Flemish reactions. He died shortly thereafter.
Works
Besides the works mentioned above, he wrote:- De Nederlanden onder Keizer Karel, vol. i. (1885)
- Verzameling van stukken betreffende de pauselijke en bisschoppelijke Inquisitie in de Nederlanden (1889-96)
- Onze historische volksliederen van voor de zestiende eeuw (1894)
- Corpus documentorum inquisitionis haereticae pravitatis Neerlandicae : Verzameling van stukken betreffende de pauselijke en bisschoppelijke inquisitie in de Nederlanden. - Gent : Vuylstekes'Gravenhage : Nijhoff, 1889. Digital ed.