Ilarion Ruvarac

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Ilarion Ruvarac

Ilarion Ruvarac (born September 1, 1832 in Sremska Mitrovica , † August 8, 1905 in the Grgeteg Monastery ) was a Serbian Orthodox monk priest and abbot of the Grgeteg Monastery, and from 1875 to 1882 rector of the theological college in Sremski Karlovci . He was also a historian and a member of the Serbian Royal Academy , now the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts . Ilarion Ruvarac is considered to be one of the founding fathers of modern history in Serbian historiography.

biography

Born as Jovan Ruvarac in Sremska Mitrovica in today's Vojvodina , which at that time belonged to the Austrian Empire , he received his basic training in Stari Slankamen and Stari Banovci . He attended high school in Sremski Karlovci and in Vienna . He studied law in Vienna and also dealt with history. On his understanding of history, u. a. Leopold von Ranke had a strong influence. In 1859 he finished his theological studies in the theological college in Sremski Karlovci. In 1861 he became a monk under the name Ilarion. In 1872 Ilarion was appointed professor at the theological college in Sremski Karlovci. During this period he began to deal intensively with the science of history and with languages ​​that were important for his historiographical work. He was fluent in Latin , Greek and German , as well as Italian and Hungarian as colloquial languages. In 1874 Ilarion became abbot of the Grgeteg monastery in Fruška Gora , and in 1875 rector of the theological college in Sremski Karlovci. His critical approach to Serbian history brought him into conflict with the so-called traditionalists and romantics, which was one of the reasons why he was replaced as rector in 1882. He refuted the prevailing opinion that the Serbian emperor Stefan Uroš V had been killed by his co-regent Vukašin Mrnjavčević , which led to a scandal, since u. a. Emperor Stefan Uroš V was canonized centuries earlier by the Serbian Orthodox Church because of the assumed treason and murder. Ilarion was transferred to Timisoara , but refused to be appointed bishop. He later returned to the Grgeteg monastery, where he stayed until the end of his life. In 1888 he became one of the first permanent members of the Serbian Royal Academy .

Works

As a historian, Ilarion represented the historical-critical method in historical studies (see also historical criticism ). Until then, traditional historiography and romanticism predominated in Serbian historiography , based on the one hand on traditions and folk songs (traditional line), on the other hand indulging in vague and speculative theories and adhering to Pan-Slavism (romantic line). As a representative of the historical-critical method, Ilarion came into conflict with the then established representatives of the traditional and romantic line, which led to a long and violent dispute. The new direction was disparagingly referred to by romantics as Panta Srećković as the Vienna-Berlin School (bečko-berlinska škola) and an attack on Slavic identity . An ideological battle broke out over Serbian historiography and in which direction it should develop in the future, which the representatives of the historical-critical method with Ilarion at the top were ultimately able to win, also because, unlike the traditionalists and Romantics, could rely on facts and scientific facts. This paved the way for modern Serbian history.

The main works of Ilarion Ruvarac include:

  • O pećkim patrijarsima od Makarija do Arsenija III (The Patriarchs of Peć , from Makarije to Arsenije III.), 1868, 1879.
  • O humskim episkopima i hercegovačkim mitropolitima do godine 1766 (The Bishops of Zachlumien and Metropolitans of Herzegovina until 1766), 1901.
  • Raški episkopi i mitropoliti (The Bishops and Metropolitans of Raszien ), 1901.
  • Dvije bosanske kraljice (Two Bosnian Queens), 1893.
  • Banovanje Tvrtka bana 1333. do 1377 (The rule of the Bosnian Banus Tvrtko I. 1333 to 1377), 1894.
  • Montenegrina, prilošci istoriji Crne Gore (Montenegrina, Contributions to the History of Montenegro ) 1898.
  • Stari Slankamen (The Old Slankamen), 1892.

Ilarion's brother Dimitrije Ruvarac was also a historian.

literature

personal data
SURNAME Ruvarac, Ilarion
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Serbian Orthodox monk priest and abbot of the Grgeteg monastery
DATE OF BIRTH September 1, 1832
PLACE OF BIRTH Sremska Mitrovica
DATE OF DEATH August 8, 1905
Place of death Grgeteg Monastery