Johann Martin Lappenberg
Encyclopedia
Johann Martin Lappenberg (July 30, 1794 - November 28, 1865), was a German
historian
.
, where his father, Valentin Anton Lappenberg (1759–1819), held an official position. He attended the Johanneum
and the Akademisches Gymnasium of Hamburg. Like his father he studied medicine
, but afterwards history
, at the University of Edinburgh
. He continued to study history in London
, at Frederick William University of Berlin and at Göttingen, where he graduated as doctor of laws in 1816. In 1820 he was sent by the Hamburg senate as minister resident to the Prussia
n court in Berlin
. In 1823 he became keeper of the Hamburg archives; an office in which he had the fullest opportunities for the laborious and critical research work upon which his reputation as an historian. rests. He retained this post until 1863, when a serious eye problem compelled him to resign. In 1850 he represented Hamburg in the German parliament at Frankfurt
, and he died at Hamburg.
Lappenberg's most important work is his Geschichte von England, which deals with the history of England from the earliest times to 1154, and was published in two volumes at Hamburg in 1834-1837. It has been translated into English by Benjamin Thorpe
as History of England under the Anglo-Saxon Kings (1845), and History of England under the Norman Kings (Oxford, 1857), and was continued in three additional volumes from 1154 to 1509 by R Pauli.
His other works deal mainly with the history of Hamburg, and include:
For the Monumenta Germaniae historica
he edited the Chronicon of Thietmar of Merseburg
, the Gesta Hammenburgensis ecclesiae pontificum of Adam of Bremen
and the Chronica Slavorum of Helmold
, with its continuation by Arnold of Lübeck
. Lappenberg, who was a member of numerous learned societies in Europe, wrote many other historical works.
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...
.
Biography
He was born at HamburgHamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, where his father, Valentin Anton Lappenberg (1759–1819), held an official position. He attended the Johanneum
Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums
The Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums is a Gymnasium in Hamburg, Germany. It is Hamburg's oldest school and was founded in 1529 by Johannes Bugenhagen. The school's motto is The Future needs a Heritage...
and the Akademisches Gymnasium of Hamburg. Like his father he studied medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, but afterwards history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
. He continued to study history in 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...
, at Frederick William University of Berlin and at Göttingen, where he graduated as doctor of laws in 1816. In 1820 he was sent by the Hamburg senate as minister resident to the 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...
n court in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. In 1823 he became keeper of the Hamburg archives; an office in which he had the fullest opportunities for the laborious and critical research work upon which his reputation as an historian. rests. He retained this post until 1863, when a serious eye problem compelled him to resign. In 1850 he represented Hamburg in the German parliament at Frankfurt
Frankfurt
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...
, and he died at Hamburg.
Lappenberg's most important work is his Geschichte von England, which deals with the history of England from the earliest times to 1154, and was published in two volumes at Hamburg in 1834-1837. It has been translated into English by Benjamin Thorpe
Benjamin Thorpe
Benjamin Thorpe was an English scholar of Anglo-Saxon.-Biography:After studying for four years at Copenhagen University, under the Danish philologist Rasmus Christian Rask, he returned to England in 1830, and in 1832 published an English version of Caedmon's metrical paraphrase of portions of the...
as History of England under the Anglo-Saxon Kings (1845), and History of England under the Norman Kings (Oxford, 1857), and was continued in three additional volumes from 1154 to 1509 by R Pauli.
His other works deal mainly with the history of Hamburg, and include:
- Hamburgische Chroniken in niedersächsischer Sprache (Hamburg: Perthes & Mauke, 1852–1861; reprint Niederwalluf: Sändig, 1971, ISBN 3-500-23100-4)
- Geschichtsquellen des Erzstiftes und der Stadt Bremen (Bremen: Heyse, 1841; reprint Aalen: Scientia-Verlag, 1967)
- Hamburgisches Urkundenbuch (Hamburg: Perthes, Besser & Mauke, 1842)
- Urkundliche Geschichte des Hansischen Stahlhofes zu London (Hamburg: Langhoff, 1851; reprint Osnabrück: Zeller, 1967)
- Hamburgische Rechtsalterthümer (Hamburg: Meissner, 1845)
- Urkundliche Geschichte des Ursprunges der deutschen Hanse (Hamburg, 1830), as editor, continuation of the work of GF Sartorius.
For 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...
he edited the Chronicon of Thietmar of Merseburg
Thietmar of Merseburg
Thietmar of Merseburg was a German chronicler who was also bishop of Merseburg.-Life:...
, the Gesta Hammenburgensis ecclesiae pontificum of Adam of Bremen
Adam of Bremen
Adam of Bremen was a German medieval chronicler. He lived and worked in the second half of the eleventh century. He is most famous for his chronicle Gesta Hammaburgensis Ecclesiae Pontificum .-Background:Little is known of his life other than hints from his own chronicles...
and the Chronica Slavorum of Helmold
Helmold
Helmold of Bosau was a Saxon historian of the 12th century and a priest at Bosau near Plön. He was a friend of the two bishops of Oldenburg in Holstein, Vicelinus and Gerold , who did much to Christianize the Polabian Slavs.Helmold was born near Goslar...
, with its continuation by Arnold of Lübeck
Arnold of Lübeck
Arnold of Lübeck was a Benedictine abbot, a chronicler, the author of the Chronica Slavorum.-References:...
. Lappenberg, who was a member of numerous learned societies in Europe, wrote many other historical works.