ABSTRACT
Focusing on Hugo Grotius’s extensive correspondence, this chapter delves into how scholars constructed collective memory through letters. Grotius’s epistolary exchanges, particularly his frequent citations of ancient, religious, and early Christian authors, reflect a shared intellectual framework and historical consciousness. The chapter emphasises how values like friendship, trust, and brilliance shaped scholarly identities and how Grotius positioned himself in the Republic of Letters by fostering historical awareness through citation practices. His letters serve as an example of how early modern intellectuals sustained learned communities through shared values and historical references.
