Walter Goffart, a leading historian of European history in late antiquity and the early Middle Ages, has passed away at the age of 90.
Walter Goffart earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1961 and began a distinguished academic career, including nearly four decades at the University of Toronto and later at Yale University as a Senior Research Scholar and Lecturer in History.
Goffart’s scholarship profoundly shaped the study of late antiquity and the early medieval period. His influential works include Barbarians and Romans, A.D. 418-584: The Techniques of Accommodation (1980) and The Narrators of Barbarian History (A.D. 550-800) (1988). Known for his meticulous research and bold reinterpretations of historical narratives, Goffart challenged conventional views of the Migration Age and the interactions between Romans and so-called barbarians. He was honored with the Haskins Medal from the Medieval Academy of America in 1991.
Goffart is survived by his wife, fellow medievalist Roberta Frank, as well as his children and granddaughter. You can read more about his life here.
A Personal Reminiscence
I had the great joy of being one of Walter Goffart’s students. In 1998-99, I was a graduate student enrolling in one of his courses on the Early Middle Ages at the University of Toronto. It was a fascinating look through some of the most important chronicles and historical accounts of that period, but what I remember most about that class was the subsequent meetups we had back at his office. I would spend an hour or two with him, talking about history and the Middle Ages. As I was about to retire from Toronto and go to Yale, I joked with him that I was his ‘last graduate student’.
From these talks, I clearly remember two key lessons. First, Walter believed that there were two approaches to studying history: you could either use a wide range of sources to explore a topic, or focus on a single source, ‘mining’ it for insights to gain a deep and thorough understanding. He felt that the latter approach was the more effective way of doing history. Secondly, Walter compared being a historian to building a brick wall—not every brick you lay will stand the test of time, but the goal is to create a solid foundation for future historians to build upon.
Ten years later, in the early days of Medievalists.net, I asked Walter if I could record an interview with him. He graciously said yes, and here is the result:
Walter was a historian that liked to break with norms and I think he enjoyed the debate part of his job. Sometimes this made other dislike him. He also be a bit nasty to his students, something that would be much be less acceptable these days. He did not see it that way, likening it to preparing his students for the much crueler world outside of the university. I got out of his class without a scratch, but many years later we met up, and the first thing he said to me was “Peter, you got fat!” Ouch :)
I remember Walter Goffart as an excellent historian, a fun person to talk with, and a good mentor. I think he built a sturdy wall from his research and will be read for a long time. ~ Peter Konieczny, editor of Medievalists.net
So sorry to hear of the passing of Walter Goffart, a big influence on lots of the things I have written. indeed, ‘An empire unmade’ may have been the biggest influence on the way I approached ‘Barbarian Migrations and the Roman West’. May his memory be a blessing.
Walter Goffart, a leading historian of European history in late antiquity and the early Middle Ages, has passed away at the age of 90.
Walter Goffart earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1961 and began a distinguished academic career, including nearly four decades at the University of Toronto and later at Yale University as a Senior Research Scholar and Lecturer in History.
Goffart’s scholarship profoundly shaped the study of late antiquity and the early medieval period. His influential works include Barbarians and Romans, A.D. 418-584: The Techniques of Accommodation (1980) and The Narrators of Barbarian History (A.D. 550-800) (1988). Known for his meticulous research and bold reinterpretations of historical narratives, Goffart challenged conventional views of the Migration Age and the interactions between Romans and so-called barbarians. He was honored with the Haskins Medal from the Medieval Academy of America in 1991.
Goffart is survived by his wife, fellow medievalist Roberta Frank, as well as his children and granddaughter. You can read more about his life here.
A Personal Reminiscence
I had the great joy of being one of Walter Goffart’s students. In 1998-99, I was a graduate student enrolling in one of his courses on the Early Middle Ages at the University of Toronto. It was a fascinating look through some of the most important chronicles and historical accounts of that period, but what I remember most about that class was the subsequent meetups we had back at his office. I would spend an hour or two with him, talking about history and the Middle Ages. As I was about to retire from Toronto and go to Yale, I joked with him that I was his ‘last graduate student’.
From these talks, I clearly remember two key lessons. First, Walter believed that there were two approaches to studying history: you could either use a wide range of sources to explore a topic, or focus on a single source, ‘mining’ it for insights to gain a deep and thorough understanding. He felt that the latter approach was the more effective way of doing history. Secondly, Walter compared being a historian to building a brick wall—not every brick you lay will stand the test of time, but the goal is to create a solid foundation for future historians to build upon.
Ten years later, in the early days of Medievalists.net, I asked Walter if I could record an interview with him. He graciously said yes, and here is the result:
Walter was a historian that liked to break with norms and I think he enjoyed the debate part of his job. Sometimes this made other dislike him. He also be a bit nasty to his students, something that would be much be less acceptable these days. He did not see it that way, likening it to preparing his students for the much crueler world outside of the university. I got out of his class without a scratch, but many years later we met up, and the first thing he said to me was “Peter, you got fat!” Ouch :)
I remember Walter Goffart as an excellent historian, a fun person to talk with, and a good mentor. I think he built a sturdy wall from his research and will be read for a long time. ~ Peter Konieczny, editor of Medievalists.net
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