Historian first Irishman to win Balzan prize

A HISTORIAN based at Princeton University has become the first Irish person to win the prestigious international Balzan prize.

Prof Peter Brown was recognised for his contribution to ancient history in the Graeco-Roman world.

The Milan-based International Balzan Foundation yesterday announced the four winners of the annual prize, two in science and medicine and two in the arts and humanities. Winners receive €670,000, at least half of which must be spent on research.

Being the first Irish winner was “a real honour” and made him “extremely proud”, Prof Brown said yesterday.

Prof Brown was born in Dublin in 1935 and has been Professor of History at Princeton University in the US for some 25 years.

He is credited with having created the “late antiquity” field of study covering AD 250-800 during which the Roman empire fell and Christianity spread across Europe.

Prof Brown described the strong influence his Irish background had on his work. He grew up in a Protestant family in what was then a very intolerant society for both Protestants and Catholics. “I was left in no doubt that religion was an important factor in history,” he said.

He was chosen for his “exceptional contributions to the historical interpretation of late antiquity” in work described as having “strong impact and extraordinary influence” the foundation said on awarding the prize.