Biography

An eminent scholar of legal history and former Rector of Charles University.

In 1997, he was awarded the Gold Medal for Merit to the Republic of Austria, and in the same year he received an honorary doctorate in law from Trinity College Dublin; in 1998, he received another honorary doctorate from Comenius University in Bratislava.

Played a key role at Charles University, where he served in senior leadership from 1990-first as Vice-Rector, and then as Rector from 1994 to 2000.

Awarded a papal honour for his services to faith and the Church in 1999.

Joined the Faculty of Law of Charles University in 1954 at the Department of the History of the State and Law, where he soon became a leading figure in Czech legal scholarship.