Jörn Leonhard

Prof. Dr. Jörn Leonhard is a Professor of History at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, specializing in the history of Roman Western Europe. He serves as Director of the School of History at the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS). His academic journey includes studies at Heidelberg and Oxford, culminating in a Master of Studies in Modern History (Oxford, 1992), a PhD (Heidelberg, 1998), and Habilitation (2004).

Research focuses on empires, nationalism, military history, and political ideologies. Notable publications include Bellizismus und Nation (2008) and Liberalismus (2001). Awards include the Werner-Hahlweg-Preis (2006) and Landesforschungspreis Baden-Württemberg (2010). He leads the FRIAS project on multiethnic empires, funded by the Henkel-Stiftung since 2006.

• Education:
  • B.A./M.A. in History, Political Science, German Studies (Heidelberg/Oxford, 1987–1994)
  • PhD: Liberalismus – Zur historischen Semantik (Heidelberg, 1998)
  • Habilitation: Bellizismus und Nation (Heidelberg, 2004)

His work bridges European and global perspectives, examining imperial decline, nationalism, and the interplay between military and cultural history. Collaborative projects include comparative studies of empires and nobility, reflecting his commitment to interdisciplinary and transnational research.