Felix Dahn
Felix Dahn was a prominent German lawyer, author, and historian born in Hamburg, Germany, in the nineteenth century. As the eldest son in a family of German and French descent, he pursued studies in law and philosophy at prestigious universities in Berlin and Munich from 1849 to 1853. Dahn emerged as a fervent nationalist following the German Revolution, advocating for a unified Germany led by kings rather than a liberal constitution. He gained recognition for his historical works, including "Die Könige der Germanen," which celebrated Germany's monarchy. In addition to his historical writings, Dahn contributed to the literary genre known as the Professorenroman, which intertwined fiction with scholarly research, exemplified in his novel "Ein Kampf um Rom." His academic career included positions as an associate professor and later as a full professor at various universities, culminating in his role as rector of the University of Breslau in 1895. Dahn's legacy as a scholar and historian continued until his death in Breslau in 1912.
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Felix Dahn
Jurist
- Born: February 9, 1834
- Birthplace: Hamburg, Germany
- Died: January 2, 1912
- Place of death: Breslau, Germany
Biography
Felix Dahn, a lawyer, author, and historian, was born in the nineteenth century in Hamburg, Germany. Dahn was the oldest son in a family of German and French origin. His parents were actors.
From 1849 to 1853, Dahn studied law and philosophy at universities in Berlin and Munich. In the aftermath of the German Revolution, Dahn became a fervent nationalist. He was against a liberal constitution and supported a unified Germany under the rule of kings. In 1861, he published a history and glorification on the kings of Germany titled Die Könige der Germanen (1861-1809).
Some of his literary contributions also included a type of historical novel, the Professorenroman, which was briefly popular in the late half of the nineteenth century. This type of novel was a work of fiction based on the academic research by a scholar or professor. Dahn’s novel, Ein Kampf um Rom (1876; A Struggle for Rome, 1878), appealed to a wide audience, from teenagers to Pulitzer Prize winners.
In 1863, Dahn became an associate professor of law at the University of Wurzburg in Germany. In 1872, he received a professorship in Konigsberg, Germany, followed by a professorship in Breslau, Germany. In 1895, he was appointed rector of the University of Breslau. Felix Dahn, who made his greatest contributions as a German scholar and historian, died in Breslau, Germany, in 1912.