About | davidengels

David Engels - a Short Biography

Transcendence, tradition, and beauty—these are the three guiding ideals that have defined the quest of David Engels since he imposed himself as a public intellectual.
A Belgian historian, philosopher, and publicist born in 1979, Engels began his studies at Aachen university (RWTH) in 1997, where he earned a PhD in Roman religion. In 2008, he started his academic career as Professor of Roman History at the University of Brussels and as editor for the publishing house Latomus.
Yet Engels’s curiosity has always extended far beyond the boundaries of the classical world. His fascination with the great civilizations of humanity led him to explore the Seleucid period of Iranian history and to develop a profound interest in cultural comparatism. In this field, he has published extensively on China, the Muslim world, and the thought of the German philosopher Oswald Spengler.

The fragility of civilizations—a theme running through much of his work—has sharpened his awareness of the existential crisis of Western civilization, which Engels regards as his spiritual homeland, transcending all national divisions.

After publishing a widely acclaimed monograph drawing parallels between the late Roman Republic and modern Europe, David Engels spent seven years in Poland as a "Senior Analyst" at the Instytut Zachodni. During this period, he developed and promoted the concept of “Hesperialism”—a form of civilizational European patriotism that transcends national and partisan boundaries in order to defend the beauty and depth of Western civilization against inner disintegration.
In recognition of his commitment to this cause, Engels was awarded the Lech Kaczyński Medal for Truth and Courage and was made a Knight of the Order of St. George by H.I.M. Karl von Habsburg-Lothringen.
Yet none of these achievements, in Engels’s eyes, would have any true meaning without the acknowledgment of the divine Truth, Goodness, and Beauty that lie at the heart of every civilization and religious faith. Since returning to his native Belgium in 2025, Engels has increasingly devoted himself to the study of Christian mysticism and perennial philosophy, seeking to help others reconnect with what truly matters—not power or wealth, but the discovery of the human soul’s inner centre, that tiny spark of the ultimate source of all things.

Curriculum Vitae

Civil State

Born 27th August 1979 in Verviers, Belgium.

Married, three children.

Education

1997 – 2002: University Studies in History, Economics and Philosophy at the RWTH Aachen University

28.3.2002: Graduation as Magister Artium (Master of Arts). Subject of Master Thesis: “Der Epitaphios des platonischen Menexenos und seine Autorschaft“

2002 – 2005: PhD in Ancient History at the RWTH Aachen

2.12.2005: Delivery of a PhD Thesis on: “Das römische Vorzeichenwesen (753-27 v.Chr.). Quellen, Terminologie, Sammlung, Kommentar, historische Entwicklung“ (Supervisor: Raban von Haehling). Marking: summa cum laude (highest marking)

15.3.2006: Defence of the PhD (examiners: R. v. Haehling, K. L. Noethlichs, W. Orth). Marking: summa cum laude

24.4.2007: Obtention of the title of a “Doctor of Philosophy” after the publication of the dissertation

2007: Start of a habilitation thesis, published, after the obtention of a full chair in Roman History at the ULB in 2008, as a single monograph (“Studies on the Seleukid Empire”)

Work Experience

1.10.1998 – 14.10.2001: Student Research Assistant at the Chair in Ancient History of the RWTH

15.10.2001 – 30.6.2003: Secretary at the Chair in Ancient History of the RWTH

1.11.2003 – 31.3.2005: Award of a Graduate Scholarship by the “Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes” (German National Academic Foundation)

1.4.2005 – 28.2.2006: Assistant Professor (3/4 time) at the Chair in Ancient History of the RWTH

1.3.2006 – 28.2.2007: Assistant Professor (1/2 time) at the Chair in Ancient History of the RWTH

1.3.2007 – 30.9.2008: Assistant Professor (full-time) at the Chair in Ancient History of the RWTH

Summer 2008: Offer of a Chair in Roman History at the University of Ghent (UGent)

Summer 2008: Offer of a Chair in Roman History at the University of Brussels (ULB)

1.10.2008 – 30.9.2011: Professor and Chair in Roman History of the ULB (in the Rank of “chargé de cours temporaire”)

1.10 – 30.9.2013: Promotion to the Rank of “chargé de cours définitif“

Since 1.10.2013: Promotion to the Rank of “professeur”

Winter Sem. 2014-2015: Visiting Professor at the University of Witten

1.10.2016 – 31.5.2017: 8 months of paternal leave

1.10.2018-30.4.2024: Senior Analyst at the Instytut Zachodni in Poznań and on leave from the ULB

1.10.2019-30.9.2023: Full Professor at the Universitary Academy of Gorzów (Akademia im. Jakuba z Paradyża w Gorzowie Wielkopolskim)

1.10.2021-30.9.2022: Lecturer at the “Collegium Intermarium” (Warsaw).

Since 1.10.2022: Lecturer at the ICES (Institut Catholique d’Enseignement Supérieur en Vendée).

1.5.2024-31.8.2024: Senior Research fellow at MCC Brussels.

Editorial Activities

27.5.2009-31.12.2011: Editor of the Section “Roman History” of the Journal “Latomus”

Since 9.2009: Co-Founder and Redactor of the Belgian Information Network in Ancient History (www.philia.be)

5.2.2011 – 5.2.2012: Vice-President of the “Société d’études latines de Bruxelles (Latomus)“

1.1.2012 – 28.1.2017: Editor-in-Chief of the Journal “Latomus”

5.2.2012 – 28.1.2017: President of the “Société d'études latines de Bruxelles (Latomus)” and Director of the Monograph Series “Latomus”

2016 – 2018: Columnist for the Journal “Le Vif-L’express”Since 2019: Columnist for the Journal “Cato”

2020-2024: Columnist for the Journal "Tygodnik Solidarność".

Since 2020: Columnist for the Journals "Tagespost".

Since 2022: Columnist for the Journals “European Conservative” and “Sandwirt”.

2023-2024: Columnist and International Editor of "Deliberatio".

Since 2023: Columnist for the Journal “Corrigenda".

1.12.2024-31.3.2025: Editor-in-Chief of the Journal "Statement".

Research Projects

2003-(2007): Co-writing (under the supervision of R. von Haehling, RWTH) of the research-proposal „Mythenkritik und Mythendeutung frühchristlicher Autoren“, funded by the Gerda Henkel-Stiftung (two half-time PhD-positions for 2003-2007) (after benefitting from a research-scholarship by the “Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes”, the position was transferred to another collaborator).

2006-2008: Direction of the Research Project “Die antike Bienensymbolik und ihre Rezeption“ (with C. Nicolaye, RWTH Aachen / KUL) (publ. 2008) (subs. RWTH)

2009-2012: Founder and Co-President of the Research Centre “OIKOUMENE. Centre d'Études Méditerranéennes“ at the ULB (with A. Busine, ULB) (subs. ULB)

2011-2013: Co-director of the Research Project “La destruction dans l’histoire” (ULB) (publ. 2013) (subs. ULB)

Since 2011: Member of the Board of Administration of the “Zentrum für Regionalgeschichte in der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft Belgiens“. Direction of the first volume of the “Geschichte der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft Belgiens“ (with C. Lejeune; publ. 2015) (subs. „Ministerium der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft“)

2012-2017: Director of the Journal and Monograph Series „Latomus“ (subs. FNRS/FU )

Organisation of Conferences and Workshops

13.-15.2.2009: Organisation of the Conference “Zwischen Ideal und Wirklichkeit - Herrschaft auf Sizilien von der Antike bis zur Frühen Neuzeit“ at the RWTH, with L. Geis (RWTH) and M. Kleu (Universität Köln) (publ. 2010) (subs. RWTH/ULB: 9.025€)

23.4.2010: Organisation of the “Journée d'Études“ 2010 of “Oikoumene. Centre d'Études Méditerranéennes“ at the ULB, with A. Busine and A. Bourguignon (ULB)

9.10.2010: Organisation of the first “Belgian Workshop in Ancient History“ on “Competition and Religion in Antiquity“ at the Royal Library of Belgium, with P. Van Nuffelen (UGent) (publ. 2014)

2010-2013: Organisation of the Lecture Series “Biologisme et cyclicité dans la philosophie de l'histoire“ at the ULB (publ. 2015)

2011-2012: Organisation of the Seminar “Censure, interdits et interdiction“ at the ULB, with A. Busine and A. Bourguignon (ULB)

6.-8.11.2014: Organisation of the Conference “Augustus through the Ages“ at the Royal Library of Belgium, with P. Assenmaker, M. Cavagna, M. Cavalieri and C. Maeder (UCL) (publ. ca. 2019) (subs. KBR/FNRS/SÉL 7.880€)

21.-23.8.2015: Organisation of the “First Latomus Workshop in Ancient History“ and of the “Fifth Seleukid Study Day“ at the ULB, with A. Coşkun University of Waterloo) (publ. 2019) (subs. SSHRC 24.977 CAN $; SÉL: 4.100€)

17.-20.10.2018: Organisation of the Conference “Oswald Spengler in an Age of Globalisation” (Brussels/Blankenheimerdorf) (subs. Oswald Spengler-Society) (publ. ca. 2020)

16.-17.1.2019: Organisation of the second German-Polish Discussion Round” at the Instytut Zachodni in Poznań (publ. ca. 2019) on behalve of the Instytut Zachodni and the “Deutsche Nationalstiftung”

12.2.2019: Organisation of the Conference “National Identity in Europe” at the Polish Institute, Berlin, on behalve of the Instytut Zachodni

6.3.2019: Organisation of the Conference “Renovatio Europae. Considerations on a Reform of the European Union”, Warsaw, on behalve of the Instytut Zachoni (publ. 2019)

13.-15.10.2020: Organisation of the Conference “Translatio and Renovatio Imperii. Constructing Legitimacy through Imperial Succession or Renewal”, Poznań, on behalve of the Instytut Zachodni and the Oswald Spengler Society, in cooperation with the University of Waterloo, Ont.

13.-14.11.2020: Organisation of the Conference “From Herodotus to Spengler: Comparing Civilisations throughout Time and Space”, Palo Alto / Stanford, CA, on behalve of the Oswald Spengler Society.

15.3.2022: Vernissage of the Exhibition: European Unification in the Mirror of German Caricatures, Instytut Zachodni, Poznań

18.-20.7.2022: Organisation of the Conference “Translatio et Renovatio Imperii. Constructing Legitimacy through Imperial Succession or Renewal”, Poznań, on behalve of the Instytut Zachodni, in cooperation with the University of Waterloo, Ont.

16.11.2023: Mini-Conference: Understanding History through Time and Space. Instytut Zachodni, Poznań

20.-22.10.2022: "Myth, fate, and duty. Oswald Spengler and Jordan Peterson as moral philosophers", Spengler Society, German Eifel.

International Experience

2002-2004: Guest Student at the “Université de Liège“ (Chair in Arabic Culture)

2003-2004: Guest Student at the “Universität zu Köln“

Summer 2004: Participation in the Summer Academy of the “Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes“ at Alpbach (Austria)

2.-3.2005: Erasmus-Semester at the University of Nottingham

11.-21.10.2007: Participation in the 2007 Archaeological Excursion of the DAI-Damaskus to Syria (visit of the Hauran)

Winter 2014-2015: Visiting Professor at the University of Witten

27.10.-6.11.2016: Guest Lecturer at the University of Changchun (China)

2016-2017: Guest Student at the “Volkshochschule Aachen” (Course in Modern Chinese)

Awards

1996: 1st Price in the Competition “Tonnerre de Zeus” (on Graeco-Roman Culture)

1997: First Price in “Latin” and “Ancient Cultures” attributed in the context of the “Abitur” (School Leaving Examination)

27.6.2003: MA-Thesis distinguished by the “Springorum-Medaille”, RWTH

30.11.2007: PhD-Thesis distinguished by the “Friedrich Wilhelm-Preis”, RWTH (1000 €)

6.6.2008: PhD-Thesis distinguisged by the “Borchers-Plakette” of the RWTH

27.8.2014: Designation of the Monograph “Auf dem Weg ins Imperium“ as “Best non-Fiction Book September 2014“ by the SZ (Süddeutsche Zeitung) and the NDR (Norddeutscher Rundfunk)

21.6.2025: Shortlisted for the prize of the Second "Printemps de la liberté d'Expression", Perpignan.

Scholarships

2001-2002: MA-Scholarship by the “Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes“ (German National Academic Foundation)

1.11.2003-31.3.2005: PhD-Scholarship by the “Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes”

Memberships

Since 2005: Member of the international Research Group “Hegels Naturphilosophie”

Since 2006: Scientific Coordinator of the “Aachener Kompetenzzentrum für Wissenschaftsgeschichte“, RWTH (External Member since 2008)

Since 2007: Member of the Research Group “Römisches Aachen”, RWTH

Since 2009: Member of the Scholarly Association “Mommsen Gesellschaft”

Since 2009: Member of the Advisory Board of the Research Project “Episcopal Elections and Succession in Late Antiquity (ca. 300-600 AD)“, KULeuven

2009 – 2012: Member of the Research Group “Lokale Eliten in antiken Großreichen“, Universität zu Köln / Universität Erlangen

2009 – 2017: Member of the “Société d'études latines de Bruxelles (Latomus)“

Since 2009: Member of the Research Centre “Oikoumene. Centre d'Études Méditerranéennes“, ULB

Since 2009: Member of the Research Centre “SOCIAMM (Sociétés anciennes, médiévales et modernes)“, ULB

Since 2009: Member of the Research Centre “Phi“ (Centre de recherches en philosophie), ULB

2009 – 2013: Member of the Research Group “Hellénisme“ of the “Koninklijke Vlaamse Academie van België” voor Wetenschappen en Kunsten (dissolved 2013)

Since 2010: Research Associate of the “Waterloo Institute for Hellenistic Studies”

Since 2010: Member of the International Seleukid Study Group

Since 2011: Deputy Coordinator of the Alumni of the “Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes“ in Belgium

Since 2015: Collaborative Member of the Research Group “Global Antiquities Network“, McGill, Montréal

Since 2016: Co-director of the “Collège doctoral franco-allemand ‘Foule et intégration dans l’Antiquité Classique’”

Since 2017: President of the "International Oswald Spengler Society"

Since 2020: Member of the "Stowarzyszenie Twórców dla Rzeczypospolitej"

Participation in Academic Administration

2005 – 2006: Commission entrusted by the Institute of History of the RWTH with the development of an “Online Auto-Evaluation Test” for prospective students in History, in cooperation with the Institute of Psychology of the RWTH

Ref. 1.9.2008: Search Commission for Medieval History, RWTH (Succ. M. Kerner)

Ref. 1.1.2009: Search Commission for Ancient History, RWTH (Succ. R. von Haehling)

Since 2008: Council of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, ULB

Ref. 1.10.2010: Search Commission for the Assistentship “Auteurs latins“, ULB

Ref. 2010/11: President of the “Commission d’auto-évaluation pédagogique“ of the Historical Study Courses of the ULB (History, Archaeology, History of Arts, Musicology) (AEQES-Evaluation)

2012: “Commission d'évaluation scientifique interfacultaire (pour le corps scientifique)", ULB

Since 9.2012: Board of Administration of the “Belgian Historical Institute at Rome”

Since 2013: External Examiner for the “Fernand Braudel-Bursary”, IFER

2013 – 2015: “Commission d'évaluation scientifique de la Faculté de Philosophie et Lettres“, ULB

Ref. 1.10.2013: Search Commission for Latin Language and Litterature, ULB (Succ. Gh. Viré)

Ref. 1.10.2015: Search Commission for the 2015 “Open Chairs“ of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, ULB

8.2016: External Evaluator of the projected Research Group “Fontes Antiquitatis”, Université de Namur

Activities as Reviewer

Book Reviews for: Latomus; Bloomsbury; Studia Hellenistica; Oswald Spengler Series; Brill.

Paper Reviews for: Athenaeum; Ancient Society; Philosophical Journal of Conflict and Violence; Historia; Dialogues d'histoire ancienne; Journals of Ancient Civilizations; Greek, Roman and Byzantine Studies, Oswald Spengler Journal; Poznań Studies in the Philosophy of the Sciences and the Humanities.

Project Reviewer for: European Research Council; Fernand Braudel Scholarship; Conseil Scientifique de l'Université de Namur.