Theodor Mommsen

Date of Birth: November 30, 1817

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: November 1, 1903

Biography

Theodor Mommsen, born Christian Matthias Theodor Mommsen, was a German classical scholar, historian, jurist, journalist, politician, archaeologist, and recipient of the 1902 Nobel Prize in Literature. He is considered one of the greatest classicists of the 19th century. Born into a family of Protestant ministers in Garding, Schleswig, Mommsen showed early signs of brilliance, particularly in languages and history. Mommsen studied law at the University of Kiel and became deeply involved in the study of Roman law. His career was marked by numerous academic positions, including professorships at Leipzig, Zurich, and Breslau, before settling at the University of Berlin. His magnum opus, “Römische Geschichte” (Roman History), spanned three volumes and thoroughly examined the history of Rome until the fall of the Western Roman Empire. In addition to his academic work, Mommsen was politically active and served in the Prussian and German parliaments. He was a vocal advocate for liberal causes and used his historical insights to comment on contemporary political issues. His work earned him international acclaim and numerous accolades, notably the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1902 for his “monumental work.”

5 Interesting Facts about Theodor Mommsen

1. Theodor Mommsen won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1902, making him one of the few historians to receive this honor.

2. He published an extensive collection of ancient Roman inscriptions, known as the “Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum,” which remains a critical resource for scholars.

3. Mommsen was fluent in multiple languages, including Latin, Greek, and Hebrew.

4. His political career included serving as a member of the Prussian House of Representatives and the German Reichstag.

5. Despite his historical focus, Mommsen also contributed to the study of Roman law and was instrumental in the development of the German Civil Code.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Theodor Mommsen

1. “History has to be rewritten because history is the selection of those threads of causes or antecedents that we are interested in.”

2. “The Roman state was the most remarkable political institution which has ever existed.”

3. “In the end, Roman history is the history of a great people who lost their liberty.”

4. “To have a firm persuasion in our work – to feel that what we do is worth doing – to believe that our work is our duty and is good and right – is one of the greatest sources of strength and happiness in human life.”

5. “The study of history is the beginning of political wisdom.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Theodor Mommsen’s highest achieved net worth is not well-documented, as his era did not typically record such details. However, his influence and recognition were immense, particularly through his academic positions and Nobel Prize award.

Children

Theodor Mommsen had 16 children with his wife, Marie Reimer, whom he married in 1854. Among his children, his daughter Marie and son Wilhelm followed academic paths, contributing to the fields of history and philology.