26th NeoLatina

When: 24-25 September 2026

Where: Ágnes-Heller-Haus (SR 7, 1st floor), Innrain 52a, Innsbruck

The NeoLatina conferences have been held annually since 1999, since 2013 in turn by the Universities of Würzburg, Freiburg i.Br. and Innsbruck. They are dedicated to Neo-Latin authors and topics, which are the subject of the research on site. In 2026, they will take place in cooperation with the Special Research Area “Neo-Latin in the Modern World” and the University of Graz’ “Centre for the History of Science”, with the topic:

„Old / New Authorities in the Self-representation of Neo-Latin Authors“

Much has been said about the early modern Republic of Letters – what this group was and was not, who was able to be part of it, the role of networks and patronage, as well as of the developments of knowledge production and dissemination in early modern times. What has been neglected so far are the strategies used by Neo-Latin authors to inscribe themselves into this circle of scholars, into specific networks or the ranks of a discipline’s authorities. Early modern scholars, especially those belonging to marginalised groups – female authors, members of religious minorities or learned people writing at the periphery –, used innovative and sometimes surprising strategies of legitimisation and authorisation on the textual and pragmatic level to present themselves as scholars and their position in the res publica literaria.

These strategies of self-representation and -positioning will be analysed at the conference in Innsbruck, focusing especially on the role and innovative presentation of traditional and new authorities. Which classical or completely new exempla were used for the presentation of the scholar’s position in the republic of letters; which strategies were used to stake new knowledge claims and what role did authorities play in these strategies; how was the position of authors presented as trustworthy, competent, reliable; which devices were used by female Neo-Latin authors to persuade their readership of their exceptional competence; and which methods did  Neo-Latin scholars at the periphery use to present themselves to the res publica literaria as reliable and trustworthy?

Organisation Committee: Simone De Angelis (Graz), Johanna Luggin (Ibk), Hanne Berendse (Ibk), Wolfgang Kofler (Ibk)

Contact: Johanna.Luggin@uibk.ac.at; Matthias.Grafenauer@uibk.ac.at