Joachim Wilhelm Franz Philipp von Holtzendorff
Encyclopedia
Joachim Wilhelm Franz Philipp von Holtzendorff (October 14, 1829 — February 4, 1889), German jurist
, born at Vietmannsdorf (a village in Templin
), in the Mark of Brandenburg, was descended from a family of the old nobility
.
He was educated at Berlin and at Pforta
, afterwards studying law at the universities of Bonn
, Heidelberg and Berlin (now the Humboldt University of Berlin
). The Revolutions of 1848
inspired him with youthful enthusiasm, and he remained for the rest of his life a strong advocate of political liberty. In 1852 he graduated LL.D. from the University of Berlin, and in 1857 he became a Privatdocent; in 1860 he was nominated an extraordinary professor .
The predominant party
in Prussia
regarded his political opinions with mistrust, and he was not offered an ordinary professorship until February 1873, after he had decided to accept a chair at the University of Munich, where he passed the last nineteen years of his life. During the thirty years that he was professor he successively taught several branches of jurisprudence
, but he was chiefly distinguished as an authority on criminal
and international law
.
He was especially well-suited to organizing collective work, and he has associated his name with a series of publications of the first order. While acting as editor
, he often reserved for himself—among the independent monographs of which the work was composed—only those on subjects distasteful to his collaborators on account of their obscurity or lack of importance. Among the notable compilations which he superintended were the Encyclopädie der Rechtswissenschaft (Leipzig
, 1870–1871, two volumes); his Handbuch des deutschen Strafrechts (Berlin, 1871–1877, 4 volumes), and his Handbuch des Völkerrechts auf Grundlage europäischer Staatspraxis (Berlin, 1885–1890, 4 volumes).
Among his many independent works were:
He also edited or assisted in editing a number of periodical publications on legal subjects. From 1866 to the time of his death he collaborated with Rudolf Ludwig Karl Virchow
in editing Sammlung gemeinverständlicher wissenschaftlicher Vorträge (Berlin). He gave a lecture on "European Jursiprudence", one of a series of twelve given by the American Social Science Association
for the Lowell Institute
for their 1876-77 season.
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
, born at Vietmannsdorf (a village in Templin
Templin
Templin is a small town in the Uckermark district of Brandenburg, Germany. Though it has a population of only 17,127 , it is with 377.01 km2 the second largest town in Brandenburg and the seventh largest town in Germany by area...
), in the Mark of Brandenburg, was descended from a family of the old nobility
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
.
He was educated at Berlin and at Pforta
Pforta
Pforta, or Schulpforta, is a former Cistercian monastery, Pforta Abbey , near Naumburg on the Saale River in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is now a celebrated German public boarding school, called Landesschule Pforta...
, afterwards studying law at the universities of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
, Heidelberg and Berlin (now the Humboldt University of Berlin
Humboldt University of Berlin
The Humboldt University of Berlin is Berlin's oldest university, founded in 1810 as the University of Berlin by the liberal Prussian educational reformer and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt, whose university model has strongly influenced other European and Western universities...
). The Revolutions of 1848
Revolutions of 1848
The European Revolutions of 1848, known in some countries as the Spring of Nations, Springtime of the Peoples or the Year of Revolution, were a series of political upheavals throughout Europe in 1848. It was the first Europe-wide collapse of traditional authority, but within a year reactionary...
inspired him with youthful enthusiasm, and he remained for the rest of his life a strong advocate of political liberty. In 1852 he graduated LL.D. from the University of Berlin, and in 1857 he became a Privatdocent; in 1860 he was nominated an extraordinary professor .
The predominant party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
regarded his political opinions with mistrust, and he was not offered an ordinary professorship until February 1873, after he had decided to accept a chair at the University of Munich, where he passed the last nineteen years of his life. During the thirty years that he was professor he successively taught several branches of jurisprudence
Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence is the theory and philosophy of law. Scholars of jurisprudence, or legal theorists , hope to obtain a deeper understanding of the nature of law, of legal reasoning, legal systems and of legal institutions...
, but he was chiefly distinguished as an authority on criminal
Criminal law
Criminal law, is the body of law that relates to crime. It might be defined as the body of rules that defines conduct that is not allowed because it is held to threaten, harm or endanger the safety and welfare of people, and that sets out the punishment to be imposed on people who do not obey...
and international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
.
He was especially well-suited to organizing collective work, and he has associated his name with a series of publications of the first order. While acting as editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
, he often reserved for himself—among the independent monographs of which the work was composed—only those on subjects distasteful to his collaborators on account of their obscurity or lack of importance. Among the notable compilations which he superintended were the Encyclopädie der Rechtswissenschaft (Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, 1870–1871, two volumes); his Handbuch des deutschen Strafrechts (Berlin, 1871–1877, 4 volumes), and his Handbuch des Völkerrechts auf Grundlage europäischer Staatspraxis (Berlin, 1885–1890, 4 volumes).
Among his many independent works were:
- Das irische Gefängnissystem (Leipzig, 1859)
- Französische Rechtszustände (Leipzig, 1859)
- Die Deportation als Strafmittel (Leipzig, 1859)
- Die Kürzungsfähigkeit der Freiheitsstrafen (Leipzig, 1861)
- Die Reform der Staatsanwaltschaft in Deutschland (Berlin, 1864)
- Die Umgestaltung der Staatsanwaltschaft (Berlin, 1865)
- Die Principien der Politik (Berlin, 1869)
- Das Verbrechen des Mordes und die Todesstrafe (Berlin, 1875)
- Rumäniens Uferrechte an der Donau (Leipzig, 1883; French edition, 1884)
He also edited or assisted in editing a number of periodical publications on legal subjects. From 1866 to the time of his death he collaborated with Rudolf Ludwig Karl Virchow
Rudolf Virchow
Rudolph Carl Virchow was a German doctor, anthropologist, pathologist, prehistorian, biologist and politician, known for his advancement of public health...
in editing Sammlung gemeinverständlicher wissenschaftlicher Vorträge (Berlin). He gave a lecture on "European Jursiprudence", one of a series of twelve given by the American Social Science Association
American Social Science Association
In 1865, at Boston, Massachusetts, a society for the study of social questions was organized and given the name American Social Science Association. The group grew to where its membership totaled about 1,000 persons. About 30 corresponding members were located in Europe...
for the Lowell Institute
Lowell Institute
The Lowell Institute is an educational foundation in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., providing for free public lectures, and endowed by the bequest of $250,000 left by John Lowell, Jr., who died in 1836. Under the terms of his will 10% of the net income was to be added to the principal, which in...
for their 1876-77 season.