Raoul Charles, Baron Van Caenegem (14 July 1927 – 15 June 2018), was a Belgian historian and noted expert in the field of European legal history.

Biography

Raoul Van Caenegem was born in

Ghent Ghent ( ; ; historically known as ''Gaunt'' in English) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the Provinces of Belgium, province ...

on 14 July 1927. He became a professor at the

University of Ghent Ghent University (, abbreviated as UGent) is a Public university, public research university located in Ghent, in the East Flanders province of Belgium. Located in Flanders, Ghent University is the second largest Belgian university, consisting o ...

. In 1974, he was awarded the

Francqui Prize The Francqui Prize is a prestigious Belgian scholarly and scientific prize named after Émile Francqui. Normally annually since 1933, the Francqui Foundation awards it in recognition of the achievements of a scholar or scientist, who at the star ...

human sciences Human science (or human sciences in the plural) studies the philosophical, biological, social, justice, and cultural aspects of human life. Human science aims to expand the understanding of the human world through a broad interdisciplinary appro ...

for his work on

medieval history In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...

. He studied the history of continental and English common law, and why they diverged so sharply. He revealed the significance of power struggles between the judiciary, legislators, and legal scholars. He wrote in Dutch and English, with some of his most notable works being translated into other European languages. Van Caenegem became a foreign member of the

Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (, KNAW) is an organization dedicated to the advancement of science and literature in the Netherlands. The academy is housed in the Trippenhuis in Amsterdam. In addition to various advisory a ...

in 1977. In 1995 he was awarded the title of baron ''ad personam''. He died on 15 June 2018.Obituary
on the blog of Standen & Landen - Anciens Pays et Assemblées d'États.

Family

Van Caenegem was married to the British-born historian

Patricia Carson Patricia Mary, Baroness Carson (5 March 1929, Oreston – 13 October 2014, Ghent) was an Anglo-Belgian historian and author. Biography Patricia Carson was the daughter of Archibald-Stewart Carson and Hilde-Dorothy (née Clewlow) Carson. Cars ...

, who was ennobled in 1996 with the personal title of Baroness.

Works

* "Foundations: c. 750-c. 1150, Government, Law & Society", in '' The Cambridge History of Medieval Political Thought, c. 350–1450'', ed. J. H. Burns, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1988. * ''The Birth of the English Common Law'', Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1973, 2nd edition 1988. * ''An Historical Introduction to Private Law'', translated by D. E. L. Johnston, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1992. * ''An Historical Introduction to Western Constitutional Law'', Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1995

Literature

* G.R. Elton, ''Return to Essentials: Some Reflections on the Present State of Historical Studies'', Cambridge University Press, 1991. * Th. Denoël, ''Le nouveau dictionnaire des Belges'', 1992 * S. Dauchy, J. Monballyu, A. Wijffels (eds.) ''Auctoritates. Xenia R.C. Van Caenegem oblata (De auteurs van de rechtsontwikkeling)'', Brussels, Paleis der Academiën, 2000. * Oscar Coomans de Brachène, ''État présent de la noblesse belge'', Annuaire 2002; Annuaire 2004

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Caenegem, Raoul Van 1927 births 2018 deaths Belgian barons Belgian medievalists Academic staff of Ghent University Legal historians Members of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences Members of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts Corresponding fellows of the British Academy Corresponding Fellows of the Medieval Academy of America 20th-century Belgian historians People from Ghent