Curt Weibull

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Curt Weibull

Curt Weibull (19 August 1886 – 10 November 1991) was a Swedish historian.

1927-1957 he was a professor of history at Gothenburg University and 1928 he and his brother, Lauritz Weibull, founded the periodical Scandia. Together they are known for having introduced a critical theory of history in Swedish history research, inspired by Leopold von Ranke. Weibull had an important pupil in Erik Lönnroth, who further developed the methods to evaluate sources.

His most important and acclaimed work is a criticism regarding the interpretation and the ahistoricity of the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus' Gesta Danorum. This piece was called: Saxo. Kritiska undersökningar i Danmarks historia från Sven Estridsens död till Canute VI (Saxo. Critical studies in Denmark's history from Sven Estriden's death to Canute VI) , and was rather controversial at the time, as it revealed the vague foundations of Denmark's older history of the time.

In 1991, when he was 105, his last work was published: an article in a book celebrating the 100th anniversary of Gothenburg University. That probably makes him the oldest historian in the world to have a new study published while still alive. An anecdote tells that when a Danish historian was counter-criticizing parts of Weibull's treatise on Saxo Grammaticus in a doctoral dissertation (believing he was dead since this was after his 100th birthday) Weibull appeared on the public disputation angrily defending his work.