Wilhelm Wackernagel
Wilhelm Wackernagel (lang; 23 April 1806, Berlin – 21 December 1869, Basel) was a German-Swiss philologist specializing in Germanic studies. He was the father of Indo-Europeanist Jacob Wackernagel. • Illustration — Wilhelm Wackernagel Wackernagel studied Classical and Germanic literature at the University of Berlin as a pupil of August Boeckh and Karl Lachmann. In 1833, he moved to Basel, where from 1835 to 1869, he was a professor of German language and literature at the university.
Wilhelm Wackernagel

Fritz Behrend: Geschichte der deutschen Philologie in Bildern: Eine Ergänzung zu dem Deutschen Literatur-Atlas von Könnecke-Behrend, Marburg 1927, Seite 35 · Public domain
- Born
- 1806 · Berlin.
- Died
- 1869 · Basel.
- Nationality
- Kingdom of Prussia
- Occupation
- philologist · university teacher · poet · writer
- Fields
- Germanic philology
- Education
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
- Honours
- Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art
- Languages
- German
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gnd · 1298870755 · wikidata · Q215353 · wikipedia · Wilhelm Wackernagel
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Works
While at Basel, he turned down offers for professorships in Berlin, Munich, Tübingen, and Vienna.
Wilhelm Wackernagel studied at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. The recorded working language is German. The field of work recorded is Germanic philology. Employment is recorded with University of Basel. Positions recorded include rector of the University of Basel. Distinctions recorded are Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art.
He was considered the leading Germanist after the death of Jacob Grimm in 1863. A number of Wackernagel's significant works were published posthumously. The following are some of his principal writings: • Geschichte des deutschen Hexameters und Pentameters bis auf Klopstock, 1831 – History of German hexameters and pentameters prior to Klopstock. • Gedichte Walthers von der Vogelweide (edited with Karl Joseph Simrock) – Poetry of Walther von der Vogelweide. • Deutsches Lesebuch, 1835–1843 (3 volumes) – German basal reader. • Geschichte der deutschen Litteratur: ein Handbuch, 1848-1855 – History of German literature. • Die deutsche glasmalerei: Geschichtlicher entwurf mit belegen, 1855 – German stained glass; historical design. • Kleinere Schriften von Wilhelm Wackernagel, 1872 – Smaller writings. • Poetik, Rhetorik und Stilistik: Academische Vorlesungen, 1873 (edited by Ludwig Sieber) – Poetics, rhetoric and stylistics; Academic lectures. • Johann Fischart von Strassburg, 1874 – monograph on Johann Fischart. • Altdeutsches handwörterbuch, 1878 (edited by Maximilian Rieger) – Old German dictionary. • Kleineres altdeutsches Lesebuch, 1880 – Smaller Old German basal reader.
Identity
Identity
Meinauer Naturlehre / herausgegeben von Wilhelm Wackernagel. Recorded as having received Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art. Connected to 1 other published record in the VALÉORINE Encyclopedia.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
Explore 1806–1871
The full dated record · 4 entries
1806
Wilhelm Wackernagel born at Berlin.
1866
Über den ursprung und die entwicklung der sprache academische festrede gehalten am 8. November 1866 bei der Jahresfeier der Universitæt Basel Von Wilhelm Wackernagel (1872) is digitised and catalogued by Internet Archive.
1869
Wilhelm Wackernagel died at Basel.
1871
Gothische und altsächsische lesestücke nebst Wörterbuch von Wilhelm Wackernagel (1871) is digitised and catalogued by Internet Archive.
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Berlin.
Birth place
Basel.
Death place
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The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Wilhelm Wackernagel, revision 1348332652 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
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Studied at
1- Humboldt-Universität zu BerlinOrganisation
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Books
39,529 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Wilhelm UhdeAuthor
- Wilhelm UlbrichAuthor
- Wilhelm von HumboldtAuthor
- Wilhelm von SchützAuthor
- Wilhelm WaiblingerAuthor
- Wilhelm WeigandAuthor
- Wilhelm WeitlingAuthor
- Wilhelm WolffAuthor
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