Medievalism as an Instrument of Political Renewal in Nineteenth-Century Germany

Nineteenth-century Germany's quest for national unity found its most potent symbol not in political maneuvering but in the completion of Cologne Cathedral, which embodied the era's idealistic vision of a unified, Kaiser-led nation. This study reveals how medievalism served as a unifying cultural force across society, transcending political and confessional divides. While Bismarck's diplomacy ultimately achieved Germany's unification in 1871 under Wilhelm I, the high ideals of earlier movements—such as those tied to the cathedral's construction—remained unrealized. The research approach combines historical analysis with cultural critique, examining how medieval revivalism functioned as an instrument of political renewal, even if its grand aspirations were overshadowed by later pragmatic achievements.

Gentry, F. G. (2020). Medievalism as an Instrument of Political Renewal in Nineteenth-Century Germany. The Oxford Handbook of Victorian Medievalism, 289–302. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199669509.013.18