Roger Sablonier
Roger Sablonier (16 April 1943 – 8 June 2010) was a Swiss historian and writer of non-fiction publications, and Emeritus (Prof. Dr.) of the faculty of the University of Zürich. Biography. Born in Uster on 16 April 1941 as the son of Mary Ida (née Wunderli) and Carlo Demetrio Sablonier, Roger Sablonier grew up with two sisters. He studied history, French language history and medieval studies at the University of Zürich and received the PhD (Dr. phil.) in 1967. From 1972 to 1979, Sablonier was assistant professor of history, and habilitated in 1977 in Zürich. Beginning in 1979 , Sablonier taught as an associate professor of medieval history. From 1984 to 2006, he was an ordained professor at the University of Zürich, and since 2006 "Emeritus" ("Emeritierter Ordinarius für Geschichte des Mittelalters") of the historical faculty. Roger Sablonier treated the past as a serious matter, but related to the archeology, mischief overcame, and he used to say to his students: "One can dig a hole anywhere in this country, but if you only dig deep enough, it's a safe bet that you'll find any bones" [human remains]". Roger Sablonier was citizen of the municipalities Uster in the  canton of Zürich and Cauco (Graubünden). He died on 8 June 2010 in Zug on "cardialic failure" (according to press release: "Herzversagen"). Work. Research. Among other research projects, Roger Sablonier was the initiator of the e-learning project for archival work "Ad fontes" and directed the research project on Kinder der Landstrasse opposing the Swiss Pro Juventute foundation. Sablonier engaged especially in the current discourse of history and culture in the implementation of the historical and scientific research, also in exhibitions and museums, and oversaw the reorganization of the archives of the Einsiedeln Abbey. Focus. Priorities of Roger Sablonier's  research and publication were the history of nobility, the rural society of the late European Middle Ages, the political culture of the Old Swiss Confederacy, and in writing. So he sat down among them the founding myth and glorification of Swiss history (Rütlischwur etc.) whose Roger Sablonier discussed and published very critical.