Imperial Limes Commission

The Upper Germanic-Raetian Limes, constructed around 100 AD, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005, and has been of interest in scholars since the 16th century as the outer border of the Roman Empire.

In particular by the Association for Ancient History (Verein für Altertumskunde) in Ellwangen, which began major investigations in 1819.

However, the still independent states of the German Confederation wanted to maintain their cultural sovereignty even after the unification of their territory into the Reich.

Mommsen failed to make further advances because he had fallen into political opposition to Otto von Bismarck and had lost his backing.

After Mommsen had enlisted his colleagues in the southern countries of the Reich, especially Heinrich von Brunn, through their various contacts the five states involved came to an agreement.

Directors should preferably be high school teachers, heads of local clubs, and army officers.

On January 16, 1892, there was a debate in the Reichstag, during which Mommsen was accused of plagiarizing the ideas of Karl August von Cohausen and personally attacked.

The decisions of the first meeting were largely confirmed, the most important innovation being the establishment of a managing committee, which included Zangemeister as chairman, plus Herzog and Popp.

From 1902 Ernst Fabricius (Professor of Ancient History in Freiburg im Breisgau) was head of the Reichs-Limeskommission.

The publication series, the "Limeswerk", Der obergermanisch-raetische Limes des Roemerreiches, appeared between 1894 and 1937 as 56 separate parts.