Theodor von Sickel
Encyclopedia
Theodor von Sickel was a German-Austrian historian
who was born in Aken
, Saxony-Anhalt
. He specialized in early European medieval history, and is considered to be the founder of modern diplomatics
(critical document research).
In 1850 he obtained his doctorate from the University of Halle, and furthered his studies at the École Nationale des Chartes
in Paris
. In 1857 he was appointed professor at the University of Vienna
, and from 1869 to 1891 was director of the Institut für Österreichische Geschichtsforschung (Institute of Austrian Historical Research) which specialized in ancillary branches of historical study such as paleography, chronology
and diplomatics. In the latter field, Sickel is acclaimed for his meticulous and expert edition of medieval documents, including over 1300 royal documents of the 10th century (Diplomata regum et imperatorum Germaniae)
In 1875 he became a member of the Monumenta Germaniae Historica
, and from 1897 to 1908 was president of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences. In 1881 he established the Österreichisches Historisches Institut (Austrian Historical Institute) in Rome
, and was its director until 1901.
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...
who was born in Aken
Aken
-Places:*Aken , a town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany*Aachen, a city in Germany...
, Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt is a landlocked state of Germany. Its capital is Magdeburg and it is surrounded by the German states of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia.Saxony-Anhalt covers an area of...
. He specialized in early European medieval history, and is considered to be the founder of modern diplomatics
Diplomatics
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...
(critical document research).
In 1850 he obtained his doctorate from the University of Halle, and furthered his studies at the École Nationale des Chartes
École Nationale des Chartes
The École Nationale des Chartes is a grand établissement, an elite French university-level educational institution based in Paris. It provides education and training for archivists and librarians and forms part of the University of Paris.-History:...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. In 1857 he was appointed professor at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
, and from 1869 to 1891 was director of the Institut für Österreichische Geschichtsforschung (Institute of Austrian Historical Research) which specialized in ancillary branches of historical study such as paleography, chronology
Chronology
Chronology is the science of arranging events in their order of occurrence in time, such as the use of a timeline or sequence of events. It is also "the determination of the actual temporal sequence of past events".Chronology is part of periodization...
and diplomatics. In the latter field, Sickel is acclaimed for his meticulous and expert edition of medieval documents, including over 1300 royal documents of the 10th century (Diplomata regum et imperatorum Germaniae)
In 1875 he became a member of the Monumenta Germaniae Historica
Monumenta Germaniae Historica
The Monumenta Germaniae Historica is a comprehensive series of carefully edited and published sources for the study of German history from the end of the Roman Empire to 1500.The society sponsoring the series was established by the Prussian reformer Heinrich Friedrich Karl Freiherr vom...
, and from 1897 to 1908 was president of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences. In 1881 he established the Österreichisches Historisches Institut (Austrian Historical Institute) in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, and was its director until 1901.
Selected publications
- Beiträge zur Diplomatik, 8 volumes, 1861-1882
- Acta regum et imperatorum Karolinorum digesta et ennarata. Volume 1: Urkundenlehre (1867), Volume 2: Urkundenregesten.
- Diplomata regum et imperatorum Germaniae: 1. Conradi I., Heinrici I. et Ottonis I. Diplomata, 1879-1884; 2,1. Ottonis II.Diplomata, 1888; 2,2. Ottonis III. Diplomata.
- Kaiserurkunden in Abbildungen, 11 parts 1890/91 (with Heinrich von SybelHeinrich von SybelHeinrich Karl Ludolf von Sybel , German historian, came from a Protestant family which had long been established at Soest, in Westphalia....
1817-1895) - Römische Berichte, 5 volumes, 1895-1901.