Abstract
Inspired by a series of Frisian names that seemed to indicate an unknown language, Leibniz tried to discover the origins of the Frisian language around the years 1693/94. Under his hands the question took on European dimensions and became the focal point of a theory about the settlement of the European continent and the relationships of the peoples inhabiting it. However, the aim of this article is not to discuss Leibniz’s results (which can be found in the attached text), but rather to take a close look at his historiographical method. Thanks to the excellent conservation of the rich records collected by Leibniz for his “opus historicum”, his method of working can be traced in detail, from taking excerpts through organizing to putting forward hypotheses. Against that background, it becomes evident, to what degree Leibniz added his own theories to the source material evaluated and to research literature studied by him. In result, there evolves the perception of the characteristics of Leibniz’s work as historian.
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