Deutsche Rechtsaltertümer

work by Grimm

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June 25, 2026

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Deutsche Rechtsaltertümer (German Antiquities) is a significant work by Jacob Grimm, published in 1828. It is not a collection of laws but rather a compilation of source material related to ancient German legal practices and beliefs. This scholarly work stimulated further publications in the field across Europe.1

The Brothers Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm, are renowned for their collection of fairy tales, Kinder- und Hausmärchen (1812–22), known in English as Grimm's Fairy Tales. Their work in collecting and publishing folklore laid the foundation for the modern study of folklore and inspired similar efforts worldwide. While Deutsche Rechtsaltertümer focused on legal history, their most famous contribution remains their enduring collection of folk literature.12

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Brothers Grimm
Studies in linguistics and Grimm’s law
…practices and beliefs published as Deutsche Rechtsaltertümer (1828), providing systematic source material but excluding actual laws. The work stimulated other publications in France, the Netherlands, Russia, and the southern Slavic countries.
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…practices and beliefs published as Deutsche Rechtsaltertümer (1828), providing systematic source material but excluding actual laws. The work stimulated other publications in France, the Netherlands, Russia, and the southern Slavic countries.
Read More