Kungliga Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Academies

Headquarters of the Academy, Rettigska Huset , on the left in the picture

Kungliga Vitterhets history och Antikvitets Academies (also: Kungliga Vitterhetsakademien , Royal Swedish Gelehrsamkeits-, History and Antiquities Academy ) is a Swedish Academy , which in 1753 by Queen Luise Ulrike academies Vitterhets-under the name Kong League Svenska as an alternative to the Swedish Academy of Sciences was established . It was temporarily shut down because the queen had aroused the suspicion of parliament due to an attempted coup, but Gustav III aroused it as early as 1786 . the academy came back to life under its current name. The academy is located in the Stockholm district of Östermalm , the house was owned by Rettig . Gustav Hjalmar Rettig bought the house in 1899. His son and heir Carl Herbert Rettig bequeathed it to the academy in 1954.

The aims of the academy were to “support research and other activities in the humanistic, religious, legal and sociological disciplines, as well as the cultivation of culture”. This is to be achieved primarily through financial aid and a lively edition of publications. The archaeological and art history magazine Fornvännen can be cited as an example. The academy expresses itself on questions relating to its field of activity at the request of the government or offices as well as on its own initiative.

The academy has up to 30 elected members, who are divided into a historical-antiquarian and a philosophical-philological section. There are also several Swedish and foreign corresponding members, the number of whom is not limited. When one of the elected members reaches the age of 70, a successor is elected and the previous member remains in the academy as emeritus . That's why there are over 100 members today.

Diplomas, prizes and other awards are usually given on the Academy's holiday, which takes place on March 20th of each year.

The academy owns and manages the castles Stjärnsund and Skånelaholm as well as the historically valuable villages of Stenjö in Småland and Borg on Öland (with Gråborg ).

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