POTTHAST, AUGUST. - German historian and bibliographer, b. at Höxter (Westphalia) on 13 Aug. 1824, d. at Leobschütz (Upper Silesia) on 13 Feb. 1898.
After completing his studies at the University of Halle (1855) he devoted himself entirely to historical research, establishing himself at once with the work Leben der Abte Gallus und Otmar von St. Gallen (Berlin 1857), which he soon followed with Geschichte der ehemaligen Cistercienserabtei Rauden in Oberschlesien (Leobschütz 1858) and the Chronicon Henrici de Herodia (Göttingen 1859), which earned him the prize of the Wedekind foundation. But the most important works to which his name remains attached are the Bibliotheca historica medii aevi. Wegweiser durch die Geschichtswerke des europäischen Mittelalters 375 bis 1500 (Berlin 1862; 2nd ed. 1896); a broad annotated collection of all medieval historical sources, arranged in alphabetical order: chronicles, general and particular, historical works of the Middle Ages, with the indication of manuscripts, editions, translations and commentaries, and the Regesta pontificum Romanorum inde ab a. post Christum natum MCXCVIII ad annum MCCCIV (ibid. 1874-75); v. REGESTO. For over twenty years P. was also librarian in the Library of the Reichstag (1874-94), for which he prepared a catalogue, published in 1882.
Bibliography
Niccolò del Re