Early Medieval Law. Transmission and Edition
Early Medieval legal studies draw on a very broad spectrum of source material that contains a wealth of information about diverse aspects of human coexistence. The study of the textual transmission of early medieval legal texts and their edition have hence always been a focus of the work of the MGH. As may be seen in a number of current long-term research projects at the academies of sciences and humanities that are preparing new editions of the Merovingian and Carolingian Formulae, the edicts of the Franconian kings (so-called Capitularies), and the Decretum of Burchard of Worms, the work with such texts remains an important area of research to the present day.
This year‘s MGH Autumn Academy offers an in-depth introduction to a selection of the most important legal history sources of the Early Middle Ages, with a particular focus on textual transmission and editorial aspects. We will be treating both secular and ecclestiastical law. Our instructors are experts in the field who are themselves editing such texts and can thus offer participants insights into current research projects.
Monday, 15.9. to Friday, 19.9.2025
Munich Institute of the Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Ludwigstraße 16, 80539 München
PROGRAMME
Monday, 15.09.2025
2:30 p.m. Welcoming address, guided tour through the Munich Institute of the MGH (Jasmin Dorfer M. A., M. A. LIS, and Prof. Dr Stefan Petersen / MGH staff)
4:00 p.m. Introduction to the subject of Roman Law in the Early Middle Ages (Dr Dominik Trump / MGH)
6:00 p.m. Reception programme in the rooms of the MGH institute.
Tuesday, 16.09.2025
Instructors: Dr Horst Lößlein and Dr Christoph Walther (Academy Project „Formulae – Litterae – Chartae“ / Hamburg)
9:15 a.m. Formulae I
12:30 p.m. Lunch
2:00 p.m. Formulae II
5:15 p.m. End of the sitting
Wednesday, 17.09.2025
Instructors: Dr Sören Kaschke and Dr Britta Mischke (Academy Project „Edition der fränkischen Herrschererlasse“ / Cologne)
9:15 a.m. Capitularies I
12:30 p.m. Lunch
2:00 p.m. Capitularies II
5:15 p.m. End of the sitting
6:30 p.m. Evening lecture by Prof. Dr Karl Ubl (Universität zu Köln), refreshments
Thursday, 18.09.2025
Instructors: Michela Parma M. A. und Dr Elena Vanelli (Academy project „Burchards Dekret digital“ / Kassel, Mainz)
9:15 a.m. Burchard of Worms' Decretum I
12:30 p.m. Lunch
2:00 p.m. Burchard of Worms' Decretum II
5:15 p.m. End of the sitting
Friday, 19.09.2025
9:15 a.m. Excursion to the manuscript collection of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Dr Andreas Öffner and Dr Dominik Trump / both MGH)
11:15 a.m. Digital resources and Legal History – Potential and Limits (Daniela Schulz, (Daniela Schulz, Academy project „Edition der fränkischen Herrschererlasse“ / Köln; Text+ / Herzog August Bibliothek Wolfenbüttel)
1:00 p.m. Closing discussion
1:30 p.m. End of the Autumn Academy
Application for the MGH Autumn Academy is open to students in an advanced stage of their studies and Ph.D. students majoring in Early Medieval history and/or legal history. Applicants should have a good command of the German language. The number of participants is limited to 10. Participation is free of charge.
Application requirements:
- A good written and spoken command of the German language
- Latin at the level of the German Latinum (B1)
- A letter of recommendation by a supervising professor
- A curriculum vitae and a certificate of university enrolment
Please submit your applications with the above-listed documentation as PDF file to the organiser, Dr Dominik Trump (sekretariat@mgh.de).
Application deadline is 30 Juni 2025.