Theoderic of Verona in the Germanic Traditions: Verona at the Centre of International Research on Theoderic
The conference Theoderic of Verona in the Germanic Traditions: Interdisciplinary Perspectives has concluded. The event was organised by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at the University of Verona (Anna Cappellotto and Lorenzo Ferroni), in cooperation with the Fondazione Biblioteca Capitolare di Verona and the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures at the University of Bologna (Davide Bertagnolli and Alessandro Zironi). Held from 24 to 26 June 2026 in the conference hall of the Biblioteca Capitolare, the event brought together scholars from several academic institutions, including the Universities of Florence, Trento, Cagliari, Bayreuth, Erlangen–Nuremberg, Mannheim, Freiburg, Bar-Ilan, Oslo, Bergen, and Paris. On the occasion of the 1,500th anniversary of the death of the Ostrogothic king Theoderic the Great, specialists from a range of disciplines brought together different methodologies and research perspectives to reassess, from an interdisciplinary perspective, the legend of Theoderic of Verona (Dietrich von Bern), which gave rise to a foundational textual tradition in medieval Europe, especially within the Germanic linguistic and cultural area. The discussions focused on the earliest Late Antique and medieval sources, epigraphic evidence, German and Nordic literature, the Low German and Yiddish traditions, and, finally, the modern and contemporary reception of a legend whose influence extends to the present day. The conference attracted broad participation from the scholarly community, further consolidating the role of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures in international research on Theoderic.
The choice of the Biblioteca Capitolare as the conference venue provided the ideal setting for reflecting on the relationship between history, memory, and the transmission of texts. During the conference, participants were also able to take part, free of charge, in two guided tours of the exhibition Under the Sign of Theoderic: History and Myths of Gothic Verona, curated by Valeria Nicolis and Ilaria Ferrari of the Fondazione Biblioteca Capitolare and mounted in the museum spaces to coincide with the conference. Through a selection of manuscripts and early printed books — including some of the Library’s greatest treasures, such as the Codex Ursicinus, the Purple Gospels, the Raterian Iconography, and the Gotica Veronensia — the exhibition traced the relationship between the Ostrogothic king, who also ruled Verona, and his transformation into a legendary figure. It followed this development from clerical literature and Late Antique and medieval historiography to the post-medieval witnesses preserved in the printed tradition. In collaboration with the Coordinamento Guide Verona, Katia Galvetto also led conference participants on a guided tour of places associated with Theoderic in Verona, from the Biblioteca Capitolare to the Theoderician walls, and on to Castel San Pietro and the Arena.
The conference also attracted considerable interest from the local community, thus fulfilling its aim of bringing university research closer to the general public and promoting knowledge of a legendary figure who is closely associated with Verona while also forming part of a European shared cultural heritage. Finally, the conference forms part of a broader programme of scholarly initiatives and publications devoted to Theoderic of Verona. Theoderic of Verona in the Germanic Traditions: Interdisciplinary Perspectives confirmed the University of Verona’s ability to foster international scholarly networks while enhancing the city’s cultural heritage through research projects that combine a strong local dimension with an international outlook.
Read the related press release in Univr Magazine here!