The transatlantic slave trade reached its peak in the 17th and 18th centuries. Slave traders such as the Westphalian entrepreneur Friedrich von Romberg, who operated primarily out of Brussels in the second half of the 18th century, were centrally responsible for perpetuating this system, through which millions of Africans were abducted to the Americas—with a mortality rate often exceeding ten percent during the Atlantic crossings.
The extensive estate of the entrepreneur and slave trader Friedrich von Romberg offers historians such as Prof. Dr. Magnus Ressel the opportunity for in-depth research into Germany’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. As of July 1, 2026, the scholar has assumed a Heisenberg Professorship in Early Modern History / Digital Humanities at Leibniz University Hannover (LUH). After holding positions in Germany and abroad—including in Italy, France, Australia, and the Netherlands—the historian is now looking forward to teaching and conducting research in Hanover.
As part of his Heisenberg Professorship, he is currently working on the project “Key Actors of the Holy Roman Empire in the Transatlantic Slave Trade of the 17th and 18th Centuries.” In this work, he will also highlight the diverse connections between the Lower Elbe region and the slave trade. For instance, since the 1640s, a significant number of slave ships—flying the Swedish and Danish flags and financed by Hamburg capital—set sail from Stade and Glückstadt.
Ressel had already addressed the topic of human trafficking in his dissertation, though in a Mediterranean context. Since the 16th century, European seafarers had been captured and taken captive by North African corsairs, including thousands of people from Lübeck and Hamburg. In contrast to people from Africa, who were predominantly shipped to the Caribbean to work on plantations, many Europeans—especially those from the Hanseatic cities—could hope to be freed and return home: At that time, all sailors from the two Hanseatic cities were required to pay a mandatory contribution to the so-called "slave fund," which, in an emergency, ensured—through financial resources and a sophisticated organizational network with contacts in North Africa—that they could be ransomed from the so-called “Barbary Coast." "Essentially the first publicly enforced social insurance system in German history," explains Ressel.
In his teaching, the Heisenberg Professor aims not only to impart knowledge but also to instill self-confidence. The digital realm also plays a role here. Digital Humanities are increasingly making their way into the field of history, and AI in particular is creating new opportunities and challenges, says Magnus Ressel. That is why he wants to foster students’ affinity for digital tools, thereby easing their transition into the professional world: "Once self-confidence is established and initial reservations are overcome, the joy of seeing the benefits for one’s own research becomes a strong motivator for independently delving deeper into the digital world—even beyond the field of history."
The Heisenberg Program
The DFG's Heisenberg Program aims to support outstanding researchers who meet all the requirements for appointment to a tenured professorship, enabling them to prepare for a leadership position in academia and to pursue advanced research topics during this period.