Erik Lönnroth (1 August 1910 in Gothenburg – 10 March 2002) was one of the most notable Swedish

historian A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the st ...

s of the 20th century. He was a life member of the

Swedish Academy The Swedish Academy ( sv, Svenska Akademien), founded in 1786 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. Its 18 members, who are elected for life, comprise the highest Swedish language authority. Outside Scandinavia, it is b ...

from 1962 and member of various faculties.''Om Erik Lönnroth'' (Peter Englund)

Background

Nils Erik Magnus Lönnroth was born in Gothenburg and obtained a

PhD PHD or PhD may refer to: * Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), an academic qualification Entertainment * '' PhD: Phantasy Degree'', a Korean comic series * ''Piled Higher and Deeper'', a web comic * Ph.D. (band), a 1980s British group ** Ph.D. (Ph.D. albu ...

in history at Gothenburg University College in 1934 at 24 years of age. His thesis treated Thomas Simonsson, the medieval Swedish theologian and Bishop of the

Diocese of Strängnäs The Diocese of Strängnäs ( sv, Strängnäs stift) is a part of the Lutheran Church of Sweden and has its seat in Strängnäs Cathedral in Strängnäs, south of Lake Mälaren. The diocese is made up of the two provinces Närke and Södermanlan ...

. He was professor at

Uppsala University Uppsala University ( sv, Uppsala universitet) is a public research university in Uppsala, Sweden. Founded in 1477, it is the oldest university in Sweden and the Nordic countries still in operation. The university rose to significance durin ...

between 1942-1953 and then at Gothenburg University between 1953 and 1977.

Career

Lönnroth was an influential author. The subjects he did historical research includes the Kalmar Union,

Lawrence of Arabia Thomas Edward Lawrence (16 August 1888 – 19 May 1935) was a British archaeologist, army officer, diplomat, and writer who became renowned for his role in the Arab Revolt (1916–1918) and the Sinai and Palestine Campaign (1915–19 ...

, King

Gustav III of Sweden Gustav III (29 March 1792), also called ''Gustavus III'', was King of Sweden from 1771 until his assassination in 1792. He was the eldest son of Adolf Frederick of Sweden and Queen Louisa Ulrika of Prussia. Gustav was a vocal opponent of what ...

and the rebel leader

Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson (1390s – 27 April/4 May 1436) was a Swedish nobleman, rebel leader and military boss of German ancestry. He was the leader of the Engelbrekt rebellion in 1434 against Eric of Pomerania, king of the Kalmar Union. Eng ...

. Lönnroth took the history subject to a new level in Sweden. He developed and refined the critical theory of historiography that his mentor, Curt Weibull, had introduced. He also did pioneering work on the medieval economical history of Sweden and on psychohistory.

Personal life

Erik Lönnroth was the son of Magnus Lönnroth, District Secretary of

Swedish State Railways The Swedish State Railways ( sv, Statens Järnvägar) or SJ, originally the Royal Railway Board ( sv, Kungl. Järnvägsstyrelsen), was the former government agency responsible for operating the state-owned railways in Sweden. It was created ...

in Gothenburg, and Gerda (Kjellberg) Lönnroth . He married in 1934 to Ebba Lagercrantz (1908-1980). They were the parents of Swedish literary critic, Lars Lönnroth and Swedish politician Johan Lönnroth, as well as Louise Lönnroth, Ivar Lönnroth, and Peter Lönnroth.

Honours

Lönnroth became a life member of the

in 1962. In 1999, he received an honorary doctorate from the

University of Greifswald The University of Greifswald (; german: Universität Greifswald), formerly also known as “Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University of Greifswald“, is a public research university located in Greifswald, Germany, in the state of Mecklenburg-Western ...

's Faculty of Arts.

Selected works

*''Sverige och Kalmarunionen: 1397–1457'' (1934) *''Statsmakt och statsfinans i det medeltida Sverige'' (1940) *''En annan uppfattning: Essayer'' (1949) *''Lawrence of Arabia: An Historical Appreciation'' (1956) *''Statsmakt och statsfinans i det medeltida Sverige: Studier over skattevasen och lansforvaltning'' (1984) *''Scandinavians: Selected historical essays'' (1977) *''Den stora rollen: Kung Gustaf III spelad av honom själv'' (1986) *''Tidens flykt: Stora historiska forandringar och manniskor som har levat i dem'' (1998)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lonnroth, Erik 1910 births 2002 deaths Members of the Swedish Academy 20th-century Swedish historians University of Gothenburg alumni University of Gothenburg faculty Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences