Bernd Kannowski

Prof. Dr. Bernd Kannowski is a Chairholder of the Department of Civil Law and Legal History at the University of Bayreuth since October 2012. Previously, he held the Chair of German Legal History and Civil Law at the Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg (2007–2012). His academic journey includes a PhD (1999) and Habilitation (2005) under Prof. Gerhard Dilcher at Goethe University Frankfurt, granting him Venia legendi in German and European Legal History, Civil Law, and Civil Procedure. He practiced as a lawyer (2000–2007) and has held visiting professorships in Frankfurt and Berlin (2005–2006). Born in Frankfurt am Main (1968), he studied law in Frankfurt and Keele, UK.

• Education:
  • Doctorate (Dr. iur.) at Goethe University Frankfurt (1999)
  • Habilitation in Legal History (2005)
  • Studies in Law at Frankfurt and Keele University

Kannowski’s research focuses on medieval legal systems, Germanic law, human rights history, and comparative legal traditions. His work bridges historical and contemporary legal frameworks, emphasizing textual analysis of medieval legal texts like the Sachsenspiegel. He has authored over 100 publications, including books on legal pluralism, European legal integration, and the history of human rights. His recent work examines medieval governance structures and their influence on modern legal systems.

His publications often analyze legal texts within broader historical contexts, such as the Golden Bull of 1356’s constitutional role or the Sachsenspiegel’s glosses. He also explores interdisciplinary topics like the philosophical underpinnings of human dignity in legal thought.

Kannowski’s research has been internationally recognized, with contributions to journals like Zeitschrift der Savigny-Stiftung für Rechtsgeschichte and collaborations on projects such as the ‘Sondergericht Bayreuth 1942–1945.’ He regularly reviews scholarly works, contributing to academic discourse on medieval legal practices and European legal history.