At the University of Wuppertal, Prof. Johrendt and his team conduct research and teach on the Middle Ages. Their research focuses on church history, the papacy and the study of historical documents. Geographically, their work centres primarily on the Holy Roman Empire, Italy (particularly Rome), Burgundy, France and the Far East (China and India), as well as the Bergisches Land and the Rhineland.

The Lombard Academy of Sciences – in Italian: Istituto Lombardo – Accademia di Scienze e Lettere – was founded in 1797 by Napoleon, modelled on the Institut de France, as the national academy of the Cisalpine Republic. Following the end of the Napoleonic era, it was re-established in 1838.

Originally housed in the Palazzo Brera with its famous art gallery, and now situated not far from there in the Palazzo Landrini, the Academy is organised, in the tradition of most academies, into two classes – one for mathematics and the natural sciences, and one for the humanities, which comprises three sections. The ‘History and Philosophy’ section includes, amongst others, 13 foreign members, to whom Prof. Johrendt now also belongs. During a ceremonial academy meeting in early October, the Wuppertal-based scholar received the certificate in person.

Further information on the key areas of focus and research projects is available on the website of the ‘Medieval History’ teaching and research group.