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Walther Friedrich ClossiusProfessor of Law at the Universities of Tübingen, Dorpat and Giessen.
Date of Birth: 17.09.1795
Country: ![]() |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Academic Appointments
- Discovery of Theodosian Codex Fragments
- Professorship in Tübingen
- Professorship in Dorpat
- Interest in Russian Libraries
- Death and Legacy
- Contributions and Publications
- Academic Leadership
Early Life and Education
Georg Friedrich Carl Clossius was born on an unspecified date in either 1795 or 1796 in Tübingen, Germany. He pursued legal studies at the University of Tübingen from 1812 to 1817, graduating with a Master's degree in philosophy and a doctorate in both civil and canon law.
Academic Appointments
- Assistant University Librarian:Clossius was appointed as an assistant university librarian at an unspecified date.
- Privat-Docent:In 1818, he became a privat-docent (lecturer) at the University of Tübingen.
- Examiner:In 1819, Clossius was appointed as an examiner for the law faculty at the University of Tübingen.
Discovery of Theodosian Codex Fragments
During a research trip to Milan in 1820, Clossius discovered significant fragments of the original Theodosian Codex in the Ambrosian Library. This discovery played a pivotal role in the field of legal history.
Professorship in Tübingen
- Extraordinary Professor (1821):Clossius was promoted to the position of extraordinary professor of law at the University of Tübingen in 1821.
- Ordinary Professor (1823):Two years later, he was appointed as an ordinary professor of law.
Professorship in Dorpat
In 1824, the University of Dorpat appointed Clossius as an ordinary professor of criminal law, criminal procedure, the history of law, and legal literature.
Interest in Russian Libraries
While in Russia, Clossius meticulously studied the libraries of Pskov, Saint Petersburg, Novgorod, Moscow, and Kyiv. His extensive research inspired him to embark on a project to document the history of libraries in the Russian Empire from ancient times.
Death and Legacy
Clossius passed away in Gießen, Germany, on January 30 (or February 10), 1838. His unfinished work on Russian libraries and other research materials vanished without a trace.
Contributions and Publications
- Introduction to Corpus Juris Civilis:Clossius authored the introduction to the "Corpus Juris Civilis," which was published in Dorpat in 1829.
- Hermeneutics of Roman Law:He also wrote "Hermeneutik des römischen Rechts," a treatise on legal hermeneutics, published in Leipzig in 1831.
- Investigation of the Kormchaia Book:Clossius initiated research on the legal sources of the Kormchaia Book, a Slavic legal compendium, which he presented in a Russian-German article.
Academic Leadership
- Dean of the Faculty of Law:Clossius served as dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Dorpat for four years.
- Judge:He was also an adjudicator and chairman of the university's appellate and revision court for four years each.