Elemér Balogh (1881-1955): The scholar of Roman Law and of Comparative Law

Abstract

From text: The oeuvre of Elemér Balogh, who played an essential role in founding the Académie Internationale de Droit Comparé (International Academy of Comparative Law), is almost unknown by generations of lawyers nowadays. In spite of the fact that regarding his scientific motivation and the greater part of his publications Professor Balogh (who had to emigrate from his homeland, Hungary) was a scholar of Roman law, the parts of his scientific career dealing with Roman law and other ancient legal systems are also unknown for many legal scholars. In the following, we will present the most important stages of his life and then his scientific oeuvre dealing with Roman law and comparative law. The mere fact that he was invited to attend the fourteenth centenary celebration of the promulgation of Justinian’s Digest — where he delivered a lecture titled La procédure civile sous Justinien — is an evidence of his high reputation as a Romanist.