Georg Waitz (9 October 1813 – 24 May 1886) was a German medieval historian and politician. Waitz is often spoken of as the leading disciple ofLeopold von Ranke, though perhaps he had more affinity withGeorg Heinrich Pertz orFriedrich Christoph Dahlmann. He concentrated on medieval German history.[1]
He was born atFlensburg, in theduchy of Schleswig, and educated at the Flensburg gymnasium and the universities ofKiel andBerlin. The influence of Ranke early diverted him from his original purpose of studying law, and while still a student he began researches in German medieval history, his life's work.[1]
On graduating at Berlin in August 1836, Waitz went toHanover to assist Pertz in publishing theMonumenta Germaniae historica; and it led to the chair of history atKiel in 1842. Waitz began to take an interest in politics, and in 1846 entered the provincial diet as representative of his university. His leanings were strongly German, so that he annoyed the Danish government, and he accepted an invitation in 1847 to become professor of history at theUniversity of Göttingen peculiarly acceptable.[1]
TheRevolutions of 1848 delayed Waitz in taking up his new chair. When the German party in Schleswig and theduchy of Holstein rose against the Danish government during theFirst Schleswig War, Waitz placed himself at the service of the provisional government. He was sent to Berlin to represent the interests of the duchies there, and during his absence he was elected by Kiel as a delegate to theFrankfurt Parliament. He was supported German unification; and when KingFrederick William IV of Prussia declined the imperial crown Waitz withdrew from the assembly in disappointment, and left public life.[1]
In the autumn of 1849 Waitz began lecturing at Göttingen, and the reputation of the Göttingen historical school grew. In 1875 he moved to Berlin to succeed Pertz as principal editor of theMonumenta Germaniae historica. He travelled to England, France and Italy to collate works preserved there. He died at Berlin on 24 May 1886. He was twice married—in 1842 to a daughter ofFriedrich Wilhelm Joseph von Schelling the philosopher, and in 1858 to a daughter ofJakob von Hartmann.[1]
The violinistJoseph Joachim attended Waitz's lectures in 1853.
Waitz's main works, apart from his contributions to theMonumenta, are:[1]
Other works include:[1]
With other scholars, Waitz took a leading part in the publication of theForschungen zur deutschen Geschichte (Munich, 1862 seq.), and in theNordalbingische Studien, published in theProceedings of the Schleswig-Holstein Historical Society (Kiel, 1844–1851). ABibliographische Übersicht über Waitz's Werke was published byErnst Steindorff at Göttingen in 1886.[1]
Obituary notices of Waitz are in theHistorische Zeitschrift, new series, vol. xx.; in the publications for 1886 of theBerlin Academie der Wissenschaften, theGöttingen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften, and theHansischer Geschichtsverein; in theHistorisches Jahrbuch der Görres Gesellschaft, vol. viii.; and in theRevue historique, vol. xxxi.[1]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Waitz, Georg".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 247.
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