Plinio Fraccaro

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Plinio Fraccaro (born January 8, 1883 in Bassano del Grappa , † November 1, 1959 in Pavia ) was an Italian ancient historian .

His father, Antonio, a carpenter, immigrated to the United States in 1897 , leaving the family with no further support. Therefore Fraccaro grew up in modest economic circumstances. This experience later led him to social engagement at the university. His training was largely self-taught , as an external he passed the school leaving examination in 1901 with good results. He studied at the University of Padua with the classical philologist Antonio Cima and received his doctorate in 1905 on Varro . For the archaeologist Gherardo Ghirardini (1854–1920) he created the dispense that the students used to prepare for exams . At first he taught as a substitute teacher, since 1908 on a permanent position, at schools in Padua, Mantua and Rome, where he met Karl Julius Beloch and Eduard Schwartz and became friends with Giorgio Pasquali and Jérôme Carcopino . During this time he especially dealt with the older Cato . At the concorso for the Chair of Ancient History at the University of Pavia in 1915, he was the only candidate on which the commission, to which Gaetano De Sanctis belonged, could agree. Two places on the list of three remained vacant; despite concerns, the Ministry of Education had to accept the result. From 1915 until his retirement in 1958 Fraccaro was then professor (first associate, from 1919 full) for ancient history in Pavia; he also taught modern history, topography of ancient Italy and the history of Roman law. Emilio Gabba was one of his students .

His research began with speakers in the 2nd century BC. And enabled him to portray the social and political relationships between the victory over Hannibal and the Gracchen . In addition, he devoted himself to the history of the Roman army and the figure of the peasant as a soldier, especially since he had thought of a military career in his youth but was turned down because of poor eyesight. For Venetian newspapers he wrote articles about the great maneuvers that the Italian army carried out in the region. In doing so, he acquired in-depth knowledge of the area, especially around Bassano. Convinced of the close connection between nature and human history, he devoted himself to detailed topographical studies, which also allowed him to write a guide to the Alps around Bassano. In the field of public law, he was able to correct some of Theodor Mommsen's views .

Since he was politically unaffected by the Allied Military Government as a signatory of Benedetto Croce's manifesto , he was appointed acting rector of the University of Pavia and confirmed in free election on November 1, 1945. He held the post of rector until his death. To a large extent, the current building concept of the university goes back to him, especially in the collegi (student dormitories), including the first such facility for female students under the direction of Enrica Malcovati . The promotion of needy students and their right to study was an important concern of his administration.

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SURNAME Fraccaro, Plinio
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Italian ancient historian
DATE OF BIRTH January 8, 1883
PLACE OF BIRTH Bassano del Grappa
DATE OF DEATH November 1, 1959
Place of death Pavia