Ernst Kantorowicz

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This biography explores the life of Ernst Kantorowicz (1895-1963), a significant and controversial German-American historian whose experiences intertwined with pivotal events and figures of the twentieth century. Renowned for his influential works, particularly a nationalistic 1927 biography of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II and the classic study The King's Two Bodies (1957), Kantorowicz's impact extended beyond medieval history. Born into a wealthy Prussian-Jewish family, he served on the Western Front during World War I, where he was wounded at Verdun and earned an Iron Cross. His military career ended after a scandal involving a general's mistress. Post-war, he engaged in conflicts against Poles, Spartacists, and communists, showcasing his ardent nationalism during the Weimar era and involvement with the elitist Stefan George circle, which promoted a "Secret Germany." As a professor in Frankfurt, he courageously opposed the Nazi regime, narrowly escaping arrest after Kristallnacht. He fled to England and later the U.S., where he faced dismissal from Berkeley for refusing an anticommunist loyalty oath. Ultimately, he found a position at Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study, where he remained until his death. Drawing on new sources, including interviews and unpublished letters, Robert E. Lerner reveals the captivating life of this major intellectual.