Theodor Schieffer
Encyclopedia
Theodor Schieffer was a German historian
. He was professor of medieval history at the University of Mainz, then at the University of Cologne
, and since 1952 he was president of the Association for Middle Rhine Church History. He is the author of Winfried-Bonifatius und die christliche Grundlegung Europas, the authoritative biography of Saint Boniface
.
, Romance studies
, and classical philology
in Bonn
, Berlin
, and Paris
. A member of the Katholischer Studentenverein Arminia Bonn
, one of Germany's oldest Catholic student societies, he wrote his Ph.D. dissertation under the direction of Wilhelm Levison
, Die päpstlichen Legaten in Frankreich vom Vertrage von Meersen (870) bis zum Schisma von 1130 (1934). In 1935 he began to work for the Monumenta Germaniae Historica
, where he edited the Diplomata editions on Lothair I
, Lothair II of Lotharingia
, Zwentibold
, Louis the Child
, and the Burgundian kings. In 1936, he published an essay on Alexis de Toqueville in the Munich-based Catholic periodical Hochland
, founded by Carl Muth
. The essay, in its discussion of liberty, justice, and law, was a veiled critique of Nazi Germany; in the "remarkable" essay he cites de Toqueville, "I have always loved liberty; all my thoughts lead me to the conviction that without it there can be no moral or political greatness." During World War II
Schieffer worked as archivist in Paris
.
After the war was over, he returned to teaching and in 1946 accepted a position at the University of Mainz, where he became professor in 1951. In 1954 he left for Cologne, where he accepted an endowed chair. In that same year he published his biography of Saint Boniface
; Winfried-Bonifatius und die christliche Grundlegung Europas is still hailed by many as the single best book on Boniface. In 1956 he became a member of the central board for the Monumenta Germaniae Historica
in Munich, in 1957 he joined the historical committee of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and in 1964 likewise for the Rheinisch-Westfällischen Academy of Sciences. He died on 9 April 1992 in his birthplace. His son, Rudolf Schieffer, is president of the Monumenta Germaniae Historica.
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...
. He was professor of medieval history at the University of Mainz, then at the University of Cologne
University of Cologne
The University of Cologne is one of the oldest universities in Europe and, with over 44,000 students, one of the largest universities in Germany. The university is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, an association of Germany's leading research universities...
, and since 1952 he was president of the Association for Middle Rhine Church History. He is the author of Winfried-Bonifatius und die christliche Grundlegung Europas, the authoritative biography of Saint Boniface
Saint Boniface
Saint Boniface , the Apostle of the Germans, born Winfrid, Wynfrith, or Wynfryth in the kingdom of Wessex, probably at Crediton , was a missionary who propagated Christianity in the Frankish Empire during the 8th century. He is the patron saint of Germany and the first archbishop of Mainz...
.
Biography
Schieffer studied historyHistory
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...
, Romance studies
Romance studies
Romance studies is an umbrella academic discipline that covers the study of the languages, literatures, and cultures of areas that speak a Romance language. Romance studies departments usually include the study of Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese...
, and classical philology
Classical philology
Classical philology is the study of ancient Greek and classical Latin. Classical philology has been defined as "the careful study of the literary and philosophical texts of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds." Greek and Latin literature and civilization have traditionally been considered...
in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
, 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...
, and 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...
. A member of the Katholischer Studentenverein Arminia Bonn
Katholischer Studentenverein Arminia Bonn
The Katholischer Studentenverein Arminia is one of Germany's oldest Catholic male student societies.- History :Arminia is a student corporation founded on 6 November 1863 at the University of Bonn...
, one of Germany's oldest Catholic student societies, he wrote his Ph.D. dissertation under the direction of Wilhelm Levison
Wilhelm Levison
Wilhelm Levison was a German medievalist. He was well known as a contributor to Monumenta Germaniae Historica, especially for the vitae from the Merovingian era. He also edited Wilhelm Wattenbach's Deutschlands Geschichtsquellen im Mittelalter...
, Die päpstlichen Legaten in Frankreich vom Vertrage von Meersen (870) bis zum Schisma von 1130 (1934). In 1935 he began to work 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...
, where he edited the Diplomata editions on Lothair I
Lothair I
Lothair I or Lothar I was the Emperor of the Romans , co-ruling with his father until 840, and the King of Bavaria , Italy and Middle Francia...
, Lothair II of Lotharingia
Lothair II of Lotharingia
Lothair II was the second son of Emperor Lothair I and Ermengarde of Tours. He was married to Teutberga, daughter of Boso the Elder. He is the namesake of the Lothair Crystal, which he probably commissioned, and of the Cross of Lothair, which was made over a century after his death but...
, Zwentibold
Zwentibold
Zwentibold was the illegitimate son of the Carolingian Emperor Arnulf of Carinthia. In 895 his father, then king of East Francia, granted him the Kingdom of Lotharingia, which he ruled until his death.After his death he was declared a saint and martyr by the Catholic Church.- Life :Zwentibold...
, Louis the Child
Louis the Child
Louis the Child , sometimes called Louis IV or Louis III, was the last Carolingian ruler of East Francia....
, and the Burgundian kings. In 1936, he published an essay on Alexis de Toqueville in the Munich-based Catholic periodical Hochland
Hochland (magazine)
Hochland was a German Catholic magazine, published in Munich from 1903 to 1941 and again from 1946 to 1971. Founded by Carl Muth, it was regarded critically by the church, and published work by authors regardless of denomination on topics related to religion and culture.-History:Hochland was,...
, founded by Carl Muth
Carl Muth
Carl Borromäus Johann Baptist Muth was a German writer publisher, best known for founding and editing the religious and cultural magazine Hochland.-Biography:...
. The essay, in its discussion of liberty, justice, and law, was a veiled critique of Nazi Germany; in the "remarkable" essay he cites de Toqueville, "I have always loved liberty; all my thoughts lead me to the conviction that without it there can be no moral or political greatness." During 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...
Schieffer worked as archivist 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...
.
After the war was over, he returned to teaching and in 1946 accepted a position at the University of Mainz, where he became professor in 1951. In 1954 he left for Cologne, where he accepted an endowed chair. In that same year he published his biography of Saint Boniface
Saint Boniface
Saint Boniface , the Apostle of the Germans, born Winfrid, Wynfrith, or Wynfryth in the kingdom of Wessex, probably at Crediton , was a missionary who propagated Christianity in the Frankish Empire during the 8th century. He is the patron saint of Germany and the first archbishop of Mainz...
; Winfried-Bonifatius und die christliche Grundlegung Europas is still hailed by many as the single best book on Boniface. In 1956 he became a member of the central board 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...
in Munich, in 1957 he joined the historical committee of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and in 1964 likewise for the Rheinisch-Westfällischen Academy of Sciences. He died on 9 April 1992 in his birthplace. His son, Rudolf Schieffer, is president of the Monumenta Germaniae Historica.