The Monumenta Germaniae Historica (frequently abbreviated MGH in bibliographies and lists of sources) is
a comprehensive series of carefully edited and published sources for the study of German
history (broadly conceived) from the end of the Roman Empire to 1500.
The society to sponsor the series was established by the Prussian reformer
Heinrich Friedrich Karl Freiherr vom Stein in
1819 and the first volumes appeared in 1826 and following years. The editor from 1826 until 1874
was Georg Heinrich Pertz, who was succeeded by Georg
Waitz. Many eminent medievalists from Germany and, eventually, other countries, joined in the project of searching out and
comparing manuscripts and producing scholarly editions. The motto chosen by Klein, Sanctus amor patriae dat animum ("Holy
love for the fatherland gives the spirit") is an important example of the coincidence of Romantic nationalism and highly professional scholarship.
The collection consists of five main areas, Antiquitates, Diplomata, Epistolae, Leges,
Scriptores as well as Necrologia. Many subsidiary series have also been established, including a series of more
compact volumes for school use (Scriptores in usum scholarum) and special studies (MGH Schriften).
The project, one of the greatest group efforts of historical scholarship, continues in the 21st century. In 2004, the MGH,
with the support of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, took a step which makes it even more extraordinary: all of its
publications which have been in print for more than five years can now be read online, in photo-digital reproduction, via a link
on the MGH homepage.
External links
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