Alexander Bugge
Encyclopedia
Alexander Bugge was a Norwegian
historian. He was professor at the Royal Frederick University
from 1903–1912, and his main fields of interest were culture and society in the Viking
era and the development of trade and cities in Norway in mediaeval times.
and Karen Sophie, née Schreiner. On 16 December 1903 he married Marie Magdalene Graff.
, Claus Krag
described Bugge as having "an open and restlessly seeking mind", a trait he shared with his father who according to Krag was "one of the few genuinely genial scholars in Norwegian science". After passing his university exams in language and history in 1894, Bugge obtained a university scholarship the following year. In 1898, at the age of 28, he became a member of Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
. In 1899 he published his thesis Studier over de norske byers selvstyre og handel før Hanseaternes tid ("Studies Concerning the Norwegian Cities' Autonomy and Trade Before the Time of the Hanseatic League
"), and obtained his dr.philos. degree.
Bugge won an essay competition sponsored by the Nansen Foundation in 1903 on the question "How or to which extend have the Norse, and particularly the Norwegians, culture, way of living and society been influenced from the Western Countries [i.e. the British Isles]". During his work with this he learned the Irish language
and did extensive studies of archives in Dublin and London
.
Bugge succeeded Gustav Storm
as professor of history at the Royal Frederick University in the summer of 1903. He published numerous scientific articles, his main sources being the early development of Norwegian cities and trade as well the cultural relations in the time of the viking
s. He also edited and translated into English the complex Irish tract Caithréim Chellacháin Chaisil
(The Victorious Career of Cellachán of Cashel), published in 1905. In addition to these scholarly works, he also contributed several popularly adapted works on history, such as his two volume work Vikingerne ("The Vikings") from 1905–06 and part of Aschehoug
's Norges historie ("History of Norway"), published 1910–12 concerning the time before the Battle of Stiklestad
in 1030.
Despite recognition as an excellent scholar and popular author, Bugge was not comfortable with his work as professor. According to Halvdan Koht
, "being a teacher cost him [Bugge] unspeakable hardships... ...in the end making him sick"Full quote in Norwegian: "Det kosta han eit useieleg strev å vere lærar, han kunde ikkje sleppe seg laus og gje seg fritt og friskt inn i arbeide med studentane, katetre vart beint fram ein redsel for han, så han til slutt vart reint sjuk" According to Claus Krag, he also in suffered periods of serious problems related to alcohol. Bugge resigned his professorship in 1912.
He remained a scholar and writer, giving lectures and publishing popular works on Norwegian history. Among other works, he published Illustreret verdenshistorie for hjemmet ("Illustrated World History for the Home"), in 9 volumes with more than 4000 pages, in the period 1920–29.
Bugge was killed in an accident in Copenhagen on Christmas Eve
1929, at the age of 59 years.
Norwegians
Norwegians constitute both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway. They share a common culture and speak the Norwegian language. Norwegian people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in United States, Canada and Brazil.-History:Towards the end of the 3rd...
historian. He was professor at the Royal Frederick University
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
from 1903–1912, and his main fields of interest were culture and society in the Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
era and the development of trade and cities in Norway in mediaeval times.
Personal life
Alexander Bugge was son of the Norwegian philologist and historian Sophus BuggeSophus Bugge
Sophus Bugge was a noted Norwegian philologist and linguist. His scientific work was directed to the study of runic inscriptions and Norse philology. Bugge is best known for his theories and his work on the runic alphabet and the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda. -Background:Elseus Sophus Bugge was...
and Karen Sophie, née Schreiner. On 16 December 1903 he married Marie Magdalene Graff.
Career
In the biography written for Norsk biografisk leksikonNorsk biografisk leksikon
Norsk biografisk leksikon is the largest Norwegian biographical encyclopedia.The first edition was issued between 1921 and 1983, including 19 volumes and 5,100 articles...
, Claus Krag
Claus Krag
Claus Krag is a Norwegian educator, historian, and writer. He is a noted specialist in Old Norse philology and medieval Norwegian history. Krag earned his Cand.philol. in 1969...
described Bugge as having "an open and restlessly seeking mind", a trait he shared with his father who according to Krag was "one of the few genuinely genial scholars in Norwegian science". After passing his university exams in language and history in 1894, Bugge obtained a university scholarship the following year. In 1898, at the age of 28, he became a member of Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
. In 1899 he published his thesis Studier over de norske byers selvstyre og handel før Hanseaternes tid ("Studies Concerning the Norwegian Cities' Autonomy and Trade Before the Time of the Hanseatic League
Hanseatic League
The Hanseatic League was an economic alliance of trading cities and their merchant guilds that dominated trade along the coast of Northern Europe...
"), and obtained his dr.philos. degree.
Bugge won an essay competition sponsored by the Nansen Foundation in 1903 on the question "How or to which extend have the Norse, and particularly the Norwegians, culture, way of living and society been influenced from the Western Countries [i.e. the British Isles]". During his work with this he learned the Irish language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
and did extensive studies of archives in Dublin and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Bugge succeeded Gustav Storm
Gustav Storm
Gustav Storm was a Norwegian historian, a professor at the University of Christiania from 1877. He was a driving force in the research of Scandinavian history and literature of the Middle Ages.-Personal life:...
as professor of history at the Royal Frederick University in the summer of 1903. He published numerous scientific articles, his main sources being the early development of Norwegian cities and trade as well the cultural relations in the time of the viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
s. He also edited and translated into English the complex Irish tract Caithréim Chellacháin Chaisil
Caithréim Chellacháin Chaisil
Caithréim Chellacháin ChaisilDonnchadh Ó Corráin writes that this title "was first given it by Eugene O'Curry in his transcript of the text. It has no title in the earliest copy, that in the Book of Lismore...
(The Victorious Career of Cellachán of Cashel), published in 1905. In addition to these scholarly works, he also contributed several popularly adapted works on history, such as his two volume work Vikingerne ("The Vikings") from 1905–06 and part of Aschehoug
Aschehoug
H. Aschehoug & Co , commonly known as Aschehoug, is one of the largest independent publishing companies in Norway. -History:...
's Norges historie ("History of Norway"), published 1910–12 concerning the time before the Battle of Stiklestad
Battle of Stiklestad
The Battle of Stiklestad in 1030 is one of the most famous battles in the history of Norway. In this battle, King Olaf II of Norway was killed. He was later canonized...
in 1030.
Despite recognition as an excellent scholar and popular author, Bugge was not comfortable with his work as professor. According to Halvdan Koht
Halvdan Koht
Halvdan Koht was a Norwegian historian and politician representing the Labour Party.As a politician he served as the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1935 to 1941. He was never elected as a member of the Parliament of Norway, but was a member of Bærum municipal council in 1917–1919 and...
, "being a teacher cost him [Bugge] unspeakable hardships... ...in the end making him sick"Full quote in Norwegian: "Det kosta han eit useieleg strev å vere lærar, han kunde ikkje sleppe seg laus og gje seg fritt og friskt inn i arbeide med studentane, katetre vart beint fram ein redsel for han, så han til slutt vart reint sjuk" According to Claus Krag, he also in suffered periods of serious problems related to alcohol. Bugge resigned his professorship in 1912.
He remained a scholar and writer, giving lectures and publishing popular works on Norwegian history. Among other works, he published Illustreret verdenshistorie for hjemmet ("Illustrated World History for the Home"), in 9 volumes with more than 4000 pages, in the period 1920–29.
Bugge was killed in an accident in Copenhagen on Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
1929, at the age of 59 years.
Selected works
- Vikingerne (1905)
- Alexander Bugge, "Bidrag til det sidste Afsnit af Nordboernes Historie i Irland", in Aarbøger for nordisk oldkyndighed og historie, II. (Kongelige Nordiske oldskrift-selskab). Copenhagen: H. H. Thirles Bogtrykkeri. 1904. pp. 248–315
- Alexander Bugge (ed. & tr.), of Duald Mac Firbis, On the Fomorians and the Norsemen. Christiania: J. Chr. Gundersens Bogtrykkeri. 1905.
- Alexander Bugge (ed. & tr.), Caithreim Cellachain Caisil. Christiania: J. Chr. Gundersens Bogtrykkeri. 1905.