DAHN, JULIUS SOPHUS FELIX. - German writer, historian, and jurist, b. at Hamburg on 9 Feb. 1834, d. at Breslau on 3 Jan. 1912. An ardent nationalist, he was greatly influenced by the atmosphere of the years around 1870 and by the Kulturkampf then taking place.
The author of juridical and historical works, his romantic temperament led him to exalt the Germanic peoples and Nordic antiquities in extensive and theatrical historical novels, in which an anti-Roman and anti-Catholic, if not indeed anti-Christian, tendency is always present. Among these may be mentioned: Ein Kampf um Rom (1876), his best work; Julian der Abtrünnige (Leipzig 1893); and Karl der Grosse und seine Palladine, in the latter of which he depicts in sombre colours the work of Christianization carried out by Charlemagne. Also typical of his outlook are the Romane aus der altnordischen Göttersage (Berlin 1880-89). His lyrics and dramas are of little value.