Habel, Friedrich Gustav

Archivist, archaeologist

Born: 22.02.1792 at Oranienstein Castle near Diez

died: 02.07.1867 in Miltenberg

Habel studied law in Giessen and Heidelberg, but had to abandon his studies because he seriously injured his opponent in a fencing duel and moved in with his father Christian Friedrich Habel in Schierstein. After his father's death, he was able to devote himself to the study of antiquities thanks to his father's inheritance and led the excavations of the Roman city of Nida in 1823 and those at the Roman fort in Wiesbaden in 1838/39. This was followed by excavations at the Hofheim fort in 1842 and at the Feldberg fort in 1845. In 1853-62 he carried out the first planned excavations at the Saalburg fort.

Habel worked as an "archivist" in the historical document archive of the State Library in Wiesbaden from 1829-37. In 1829 he joined the Verein für Nassauische Altertumskunde und Geschichtsforschung, of which his father was a co-founder, and held the office of association secretary until 1851. In 1852, he was involved in the founding of the Roman-Germanic Museum in Mainz and was a member of the five-member board of directors, which was entrusted with its management.

Habel was also one of the initiators of the Gesamtverein der deutschen Geschichts- und Altertumsvereine. He was a member of the Chamber of Deputies from 1835-38 and of the Assembly of Estates from 1848-51. He was also committed to the preservation of medieval castles, such as the one in Eppstein and the Rhine castles of Gutenfels, Maus and Reichenberg. In 1858, he acquired Miltenburg Castle above Miltenberg. After its restoration, he built up an important collection of antiquities there. His nephew Wilhelm Conrady inherited the castle and collection. Habelstraße in Frankfurt-Heddernheim was named after him.