NIEBUHR, Barthold Georg. - Protestant, historian, and diplomat, b. in Copenhagen on 27 Aug. 1776, d. in Bonn on 2 Jan. 1831. Founder of the critical philological method in history, he studied Roman history up to the Punic Wars.
A scholar of broad outlook and greatly prepared by his experience and political ideas, in his *Römische Geschichte*, of which he published two volumes (1811–12; 2nd ed. 1827–28; a third volume appeared posthumously in 1832
Niello - Gold cross in niello (6th cent.) - Vatican Library, Museo Sacro.
), he distinguished himself both for his criticism of Livy and for his insight into the political and social conditions of the early centuries of the Roman State. Niebuhr was the first to recognize the importance of tradition as a source for the study of Roman history and was thus able to reconstruct more than one historical event. Modern Roman studies owe him the invaluable discovery of the Verona palimpsest of Gaius’ *Institutiones* (v.).
Appointed in 1815 extraordinary envoy to the Holy See for negotiations on the circumscription of dioceses, he was able to begin in 1820 and conclude in 1821 the establishment or re-establishment of two archbishoprics (Cologne and Gnesen-Posen) and six bishoprics (Trier, Münster, Paderborn, Kulm, Ermland, and Breslau). From 1823 he taught ancient history at Bonn until his death.