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Alexander AvenariusSlovak historian and Byzantinist
Date of Birth: 16.05.1942
Country:  Slovakia |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Professional Career in the Sciences
- Publication of "Die Awaren in Europa"
- Specialization in Byzantine History
- Founding of Byzantine Studies Program
- Teaching and Professorship
Early Life and Education
Juraj Bartl was born on October 7, 1936, in Prague, Czechoslovakia. His father was a Russian aristocrat, and his mother's family hailed from Moravian origins. After completing his secondary education, Bartl enrolled in the Faculty of Arts at Comenius University, where he studied archival science.
Professional Career in the Sciences
After graduating, Bartl pursued a successful career at the Slovak Academy of Sciences. His early research focused on the ancient history of Eastern Europe. However, during the period of "normalization" in Czechoslovakia, his scientific activities were curtailed for political reasons. He found refuge at the Slovak Institute of Monuments in Bratislava, where he dedicated himself to art history as well.
Publication of "Die Awaren in Europa"
Through the support of his uncle, the writer Ladislav Mlacek, Bartl managed to publish his first major scientific monograph, "Die Awaren in Europa" (The Avars in Europe). This work brought him recognition in academic circles abroad.
Specialization in Byzantine History
Gradually, Bartl's research interests shifted towards the history of Byzantium and Eastern Europe. In 1984, he joined the Historical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. In 1988, he successfully defended his doctoral dissertation.
Founding of Byzantine Studies Program
After the fall of communism in 1989, Bartl worked at various universities abroad, including Bonn, Paris, Pisa, Munich, and Münster. He returned to Slovakia and established a specialization in Byzantine studies at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University in Bratislava.
Teaching and Professorship
Bartl also taught at Trnava University and, from 1998 onwards, at the Orthodox Theological Faculty of Prešov University. In 2002, he was appointed professor.
