Ahrweiler, Hélène (1916–)

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Ahrweiler, Hélène (1916–)

French historian and educator. Name variations: Helene Ahrweiler; Helene Ahrweiler-Glycatsi; Helene Ahrweiler-Glykatzi. Born Hélène Glykatzi (also seen as Glycatsi), 1916, in Athens, Greece.

Studied medieval history and archeology in Greece; moved to France (1950) and became an expert in Byzantine history; became 1st female head of department of history at Sorbonne (1967) and 1st female president of the Sorbonne (1976), serving until 1981; at the Sorbonne, divided the schools of humanities and social science into separate entities; served as chancellor of the Universities of Paris (1982–89), vice president of the Council of National Education (1983), and president of the Centre Nationale d'Art et de Culture Georges Pompidou (1989–91); president of the University of Europe; writings include Studies on the Internal Diaspora of the Byzantine Empire.