Rafał Taubenschlag
Encyclopedia
Rafał Taubenschlag was a Polish
historian of law
, a specialist in Roman law
and papyrology
.
to a Jewish family which ran a brewery
for the Sanguszko family. His father's name was Baruch and his mother was Cecylia Cyrli née Goldhart. He finished high school in Przemyśl. In 1899 he began his studies in the Law School of the Jagiellonian University
(UJ) in Kraków
. In 1904 he was awarded a doctorate
and in 1913 he was habilitated
. In 1919 he became an assistant professor at the UJ and two years later a full professor. In 1927 he became a member of the Polish Academy of Learning
and in 1929 he was made dean
of the Law School at UJ.
Taubenschlag's son, Stanisław Taubenschlag was born in Kraków on January 30, 1920. He would move to the USA after World War II, where he assumed the name of Stanley Townsend. He published his memoirs under the title "To Be a Jew in Occupied Poland" (1996).
When World War II
broke out Rafał managed to escape, thanks to help from his former students, to Romania
. From there he made his way to France
where he became dean of Roman Law
at the Aix-Marseille University in Aix-en-Provence
until the surrender of France
to Nazi Germany
in 1940. Subsequently he made his way to the United States where with help from the Rockefeller Foundation
he obtained positions at the New School of Social Research (between 1940 and 1942) and Columbia
(until 1947). While in United States where he was a co-founder of the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America
. In 1947 he returned to Poland where he became the Chair of the Department of Ancient Law at the University of Warsaw (UW), as well, together with Jerzy Manteuffel (one of the first Polish Papyrologists) of the Papyrology Program in the History Department of UW.
In 1954 he was awarded the Commander's Cross with Star
.
In 1958, due to advanced glaucoma
he began to suddenly lose his eyesight. He died the same year and was buried at Kraków
's Rakowicki Cemetery
.
According to some former students, toward the end of his life Taubenschlag became quite eccentric, often talking to himself as if carrying on academic debates with imaginary scholars and opponents. At the same time, his reputation as a weird old eccentric enabled him to publicly express political opinions which, in communist Poland during the Stalinist 1950s, would have gotten anyone else fired from his academic position or arrested.
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
historian of law
Legal history
Legal history or the history of law is the study of how law has evolved and why it changed. Legal history is closely connected to the development of civilizations and is set in the wider context of social history...
, a specialist in Roman law
Roman law
Roman law is the legal system of ancient Rome, and the legal developments which occurred before the 7th century AD — when the Roman–Byzantine state adopted Greek as the language of government. The development of Roman law comprises more than a thousand years of jurisprudence — from the Twelve...
and papyrology
Papyrology
Papyrology is the study of ancient literature, correspondence, legal archives, etc., as preserved in manuscripts written on papyrus, the most common form of writing material in the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, and Rome...
.
Life
Taubenschlag was born in PrzemyślPrzemysl
Przemyśl is a city in south-eastern Poland with 66,756 inhabitants, as of June 2009. In 1999, it became part of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship; it was previously the capital of Przemyśl Voivodeship....
to a Jewish family which ran a brewery
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
for the Sanguszko family. His father's name was Baruch and his mother was Cecylia Cyrli née Goldhart. He finished high school in Przemyśl. In 1899 he began his studies in the Law School of the Jagiellonian University
Jagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University was established in 1364 by Casimir III the Great in Kazimierz . It is the oldest university in Poland, the second oldest university in Central Europe and one of the oldest universities in the world....
(UJ) in Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
. In 1904 he was awarded a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
and in 1913 he was habilitated
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
. In 1919 he became an assistant professor at the UJ and two years later a full professor. In 1927 he became a member of the Polish Academy of Learning
Polish Academy of Learning
The Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences or Polish Academy of Learning , headquartered in Kraków, is one of two institutions in contemporary Poland having the nature of an academy of sciences....
and in 1929 he was made dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the Law School at UJ.
Taubenschlag's son, Stanisław Taubenschlag was born in Kraków on January 30, 1920. He would move to the USA after World War II, where he assumed the name of Stanley Townsend. He published his memoirs under the title "To Be a Jew in Occupied Poland" (1996).
When World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke out Rafał managed to escape, thanks to help from his former students, to 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...
. From there he made his way to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
where he became dean of Roman Law
Roman law
Roman law is the legal system of ancient Rome, and the legal developments which occurred before the 7th century AD — when the Roman–Byzantine state adopted Greek as the language of government. The development of Roman law comprises more than a thousand years of jurisprudence — from the Twelve...
at the Aix-Marseille University in Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence
Aix , or Aix-en-Provence to distinguish it from other cities built over hot springs, is a city-commune in southern France, some north of Marseille. It is in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in the département of Bouches-du-Rhône, of which it is a subprefecture. The population of Aix is...
until the surrender of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
to Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
in 1940. Subsequently he made his way to the United States where with help from the Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
he obtained positions at the New School of Social Research (between 1940 and 1942) and Columbia
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
(until 1947). While in United States where he was a co-founder of the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America
Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America
The Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America is a Polish-American scholarly institution headquartered in Manhattan , at 208 East 30th Street.-History:...
. In 1947 he returned to Poland where he became the Chair of the Department of Ancient Law at the University of Warsaw (UW), as well, together with Jerzy Manteuffel (one of the first Polish Papyrologists) of the Papyrology Program in the History Department of UW.
In 1954 he was awarded the Commander's Cross with Star
Polonia Restituta
The Order of Polonia Restituta is one of Poland's highest Orders. The Order can be conferred for outstanding achievements in the fields of education, science, sport, culture, art, economics, defense of the country, social work, civil service, or for furthering good relations between countries...
.
In 1958, due to advanced glaucoma
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disorder in which the optic nerve suffers damage, permanently damaging vision in the affected eye and progressing to complete blindness if untreated. It is often, but not always, associated with increased pressure of the fluid in the eye...
he began to suddenly lose his eyesight. He died the same year and was buried at Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
's Rakowicki Cemetery
Rakowicki Cemetery
Rakowicki Cemetery is one of the best known cemeteries of Poland, located in the centre of Kraków. It lies within the Administrative District No. 1 Stare Miasto meaning "Old Town" – not to be confused with the historic Kraków Old Town further west...
.
According to some former students, toward the end of his life Taubenschlag became quite eccentric, often talking to himself as if carrying on academic debates with imaginary scholars and opponents. At the same time, his reputation as a weird old eccentric enabled him to publicly express political opinions which, in communist Poland during the Stalinist 1950s, would have gotten anyone else fired from his academic position or arrested.