Paul Fredericq

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Paul Fredericq, (12 August 1850–23 March 1920) was a Belgian historian at Ghent University.

[edit] Biography

Paul Fredericq was born in the Sleepstraat in Ghent, Belgium. A student at the 'Koninklijk Atheneum' of Ghent, where Max Rooses and Jacob Heremans influenced him. In 1871 he graduated as a high school teacher from the University of Liège and started working as a teacher in Mechelen and Arlon. In 1875, Fredericq got a special doctorate in Historical Sciences, with his study "Essai sur le rôle politique et social des ducs de Bourgogne dans les Pays-Bas".

After Jacob Heremans became Emeritus, Paul Fredericq gained a position at Ghent University in 1883. His courses included Dutch literature and practical exercises about Belgian history. Characterizing his sociability: Fredericq also taught in the relaxed surroundings of his home, while drinking a good glass. It's probably during this period that he befriended the students of 't zal wel gaan.

Fredericq was very active in the liberal wing of the Flemish Movement. During the period of 1891-1895, he was a liberal member of the city council, and became president of the local Willemsfonds organization and editor in chief of the liberal magazine "Het Volksbelang". Then founded the "Hooger Onderwijs voor het Volk" (higher education for the people) in 1894, an experiment to close the education-gap between the elites and the workforce. However, Fredericq was especially important during the struggle to include Dutch into the Belgian education system. His activism culminated with his "Schets eener Geschiedenis der Vlaamsche Beweging" (1906-1909), a short history of the Flemish Movement.

During World War I, Fredericq resisted the invader, causing his eventual arrest in 1916. Paul Fredericq and his colleague Henri Pirenne were deported to Germany. The ordeal weakened him both physically and mentally.

After the war, he became Rector at the university in 1919. But quickly resigned after only a few weeks, disappointed by the aggressive anti-Flemish reactions. He died shortly thereafter.

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