He is considered the most influential historian of the 19th century. His "History of Rome", for which he received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1902, is one of the masterpieces of historiography.
But Theodor Mommsen was not just a historian:as a politically minded citizen, he fought for unity and freedom, criticized Otto von Bismarck and fought against anti-Semitism. However, his vision of freeing up the German Reich internally was not fulfilled. Who was the person who celebrated such great success as an archaeologist?
Theodor Mommsen studies with Theodor Storm
Mommsen was born on November 30, 1817 in Garding, North Friesland. The eldest son of a pastor's family grew up with five siblings in Oldesloe (Stormarn district). From October 1834 he attended the classical language high school in Altona. In May 1838 he began studying law at the University of Kiel. A year later he met his fellow student Theodor Storm, who later became famous as a poet. Both shared an apartment for a time and in 1843, together with Mommsen's brother Tycho, published the collection of poems "Songbook of Three Friends". Theodor Mommsen completed his studies in the same year with a doctorate on Roman law.
Suspended for being democratic
Mommsen was often uncompromising in his views. As a result, he got into arguments with several of his contemporaries.In 1844, Mommsen received a travel grant for research into classical studies. On his journey he discovered his passion for history in Rome. There he creates the basis for the publication of the "Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum", a collection of all inscriptions in the Roman Empire. In the revolutionary year of 1848, the scholar returned to his homeland and initially worked as a journalist for the "Schleswig-Holsteinische-Zeitung". In the fall of the same year, Mommsen was appointed professor of Roman law at the University of Leipzig. A year later he takes part in the Dresden May Uprising, which aims to overthrow the Saxon king and set up a republic. After the uprising failed, Mommsen was sentenced to several months in prison, which he did not have to serve. In 1851 he was dismissed from university service because of his democratic views.
Research professorship at the Prussian Academy
Since he no longer received a teaching position in Germany, the historian went to Zurich in 1852. However, he does not really feel at home there and therefore throws himself into work. He begins to write down his multi-volume "History of Rome". Mommsen remains meticulous about the facts, but he formulates them in an entertaining and stylish manner like a writer. The work is a huge success, translated into eight languages, and inspires enthusiasm for ancient history.
"Without passion there is no genius", says Mommsen in his "Roman History". He was often dissatisfied with himself.In 1858 Mommsen managed to move to Berlin to the Prussian Academy of Sciences. Three years later he was given a chair in Roman archeology at the University of Berlin and held lectures there until 1885. Mommsen is not very popular with his students. He often rejects objections with wild polemics. "Razor" is his nickname among students.
Theodor Mommsen fights anti-Semitism
In addition to his scientific work, Mommsen is always politically active. He was a member of the Prussian state parliament from 1863 to 1866 and again from 1873 to 1879. From 1881 to 1884 he was a member of the Reichstag for the Liberal Association. He angrily criticizes Bismarck's policies as "worthless," and even calls his social policy a "swindle policy." Bismarck feels so insulted by Mommsen that he files a criminal complaint.
Mommsen campaigned vehemently against widespread anti-Semitism. In the so-called Berlin anti-Semitism dispute, he criticized the historian Heinrich von Treitschke for having "made hatred of Jews socially acceptable". Treitschke had coined the slogan:"The Jews are our misfortune." For Mommsen, on the other hand, anti-Semitism is "a horrible epidemic, like cholera". In 1890 he was one of the 535 personalities who signed the founding appeal of the "Association for the Defense of Anti-Semitism".
1902:Nobel Prize for "Roman History"
The historian, who has written more than 1,500 scientific studies and treatises, has little time for his private life. Nonetheless, he felt close ties to his wife Marie, whom he married in 1854. He wrote her love letters all his life. Marie gives birth to 16 children.
In old age, Mommsen suffers from depressive moods. He is dissatisfied and believes that he has not achieved much in his life. A year before his death, he was once again given great recognition. In 1902 he received the Nobel Prize in Literature for his "History of Rome" - as the first German and to this day the only historian. In addition to Mommsen, the nominees included Mark Twain, Émile Zola and Leo Tolstoy. On November 1, 1903, the great scientist died in Charlottenburg at the age of 85. He is buried in the Trinity Cemetery in Kreuzberg's Bergmannstraße.
Several descendants also historians
Mommsen apparently passed on his passion for history to his descendants:His grandchildren include the historians Wilhelm Mommsen and Theodor E. Mommsen as well as Wolfgang A. Mommsen, who later became President of the Federal Archives. The two great-grandchildren Hans and Wolfgang were important contemporary historians in post-war Germany. Mommsen's great-great-grandson Oliver Mommsen, on the other hand, chose a different career:The actor can regularly be seen as Bremen's "Tatort" commissioner alongside Sabine Postel.