Johann Friedrich Böhmer
Encyclopedia
Johann Friedrich Böhmer (22 April 1795 – 22 October 1863) was a German
historian
. His historical work was chiefly concerned with collecting and tabulating charters and other imperial documents of the Middle Ages
.
as the son of the Palatine official Karl Ludwig Böhmer. Educated at the universities of Heidelberg and Göttingen, he showed an interest in art and visited Italy
; but returning to Frankfurt he turned his attention to the study of history, and became secretary of the Gesellschaft für ältere deutsche Geschichtskunde. He was also archivist and then librarian of the city of Frankfurt.
Böhmer had a great dislike of Prussia
and the Protestant faith, and a corresponding affection for Austria
and the Roman Catholic Church
, to which, however, he did not belong. His critical sense was, perhaps, somewhat warped; but his researches are of great value to students. He died unmarried at Frankfurt.
, 1849). These collections contain introductions and explanatory passages by the author.
Very valuable also is the Fontes rerum Germanicarum (Stuttgart, 1843–1868), a collection of original authorities for German history during the 13th and 14th centuries. The fourth and last volume of this work was edited by A Huber after the author's death. Other collections edited by Böhmer are: Die Reichsgesetze 900-1400 (Frankfurt, 1832); Wittelsbachische Regesten von der Erwerbung des Herzogtums Bayern bis zu 1340 (Stuttgart, 1854) and Codex diplomaticus Moeno-Francofurtanus. Urkundenbuch der Reichsstadt Frankfurt (Frankfurt, 1836; new edition by F Law, 1901).
Other volumes and editions of the Regesta imperii, edited by Julius von Ficker
, Engelbert Mühlbacher
, Eduard Winkelmann
and others, are largely based on Böhmer's work. Böhmer left a great amount of unpublished material, and after his death two other works were published from his papers: Acta imperii selecta, edited by J Ficker (Innsbruck
, 1870); and Regesta archiepiscoporum Magunlinensium, edited by C Will (Innsbruck, 1877–1886).
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
historian
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...
. His historical work was chiefly concerned with collecting and tabulating charters and other imperial documents of the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
.
Biography
Böhmer was born in FrankfurtFrankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
as the son of the Palatine official Karl Ludwig Böhmer. Educated at the universities of Heidelberg and Göttingen, he showed an interest in art and visited Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
; but returning to Frankfurt he turned his attention to the study of history, and became secretary of the Gesellschaft für ältere deutsche Geschichtskunde. He was also archivist and then librarian of the city of Frankfurt.
Böhmer had a great dislike of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
and the Protestant faith, and a corresponding affection for Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, to which, however, he did not belong. His critical sense was, perhaps, somewhat warped; but his researches are of great value to students. He died unmarried at Frankfurt.
Historical work
Böhmer's historical work was chiefly concerned with collecting and tabulating charters and other imperial documents of the Middle Ages. First appeared an abstract, the Regesta chronologico-diplomatica regum atque imperatorum Romanorum 911-1313 (Frankfurt, 1831), which was followed by the Regesta chronologico-diplomatica Karolorum. Die Urkunden sämmtlicher Karolinger in kurzen Auszügen (Frankfurt, 1833), and a series of Regesta imperii. For the period 1314-1347 (Frankfurt, 1839) the Regesta was followed by three, and for the period 1246-1313 (Frankfurt, 1844) by two supplementary volumes. The remaining period of the Regesta, as edited by Böhmer, is 1198-1254 (StuttgartStuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, 1849). These collections contain introductions and explanatory passages by the author.
Very valuable also is the Fontes rerum Germanicarum (Stuttgart, 1843–1868), a collection of original authorities for German history during the 13th and 14th centuries. The fourth and last volume of this work was edited by A Huber after the author's death. Other collections edited by Böhmer are: Die Reichsgesetze 900-1400 (Frankfurt, 1832); Wittelsbachische Regesten von der Erwerbung des Herzogtums Bayern bis zu 1340 (Stuttgart, 1854) and Codex diplomaticus Moeno-Francofurtanus. Urkundenbuch der Reichsstadt Frankfurt (Frankfurt, 1836; new edition by F Law, 1901).
Other volumes and editions of the Regesta imperii, edited by Julius von Ficker
Julius von Ficker
Julius von Ficker was a Roman Catholic German historian.-Career:Born at Paderborn, Ficker studied history and law at Bonn, Münster, and Berlin, and during 1848-49 lived in Frankfurt, where he was closely associated with the noted historian, Johann Friedrich Böhmer, who proved himself a generous...
, Engelbert Mühlbacher
Engelbert Mühlbacher
Engelbert Mühlbacher was an Austrian historian.Born in Gresten, he received his classical education in Linz, Upper Austria being his family's home region. In 1862 he became a novice among the Austin Canons in Sankt Florian. After completing his theological studies there, he was ordained priest in...
, Eduard Winkelmann
Eduard Winkelmann
Eduard Winkelmann was a German historian from Danzig in the Province of Prussia.He studied at the universities of Berlin and Göttingen, worked at the Monumenta Germaniae historica, and in 1869 became professor of history at the University of Bern, and four years later at Heidelberg...
and others, are largely based on Böhmer's work. Böhmer left a great amount of unpublished material, and after his death two other works were published from his papers: Acta imperii selecta, edited by J Ficker (Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
, 1870); and Regesta archiepiscoporum Magunlinensium, edited by C Will (Innsbruck, 1877–1886).