ARNETH, ALFRED, RITTER VON (1819-1897), Austrian historian, born in Vienna on July to 1819, was the son of Joseph Calasanza von Arneth an historian and archae ologist, who wrote a history of the Austrian empire (Vienna, 1827) and several works on numismatics. Alfred Arneth studied law and became an official of the Austrian State archives, of which in 1868 he was appointed keeper. In 1879 he was appointed president of the Kaiserliche Akademie der Wissenschaf ten (Academy of Sciences) in Vienna, and in 1896 succeeded von Sybel as Chairman of the historical commission at Munich. He died July 3o 1897. Arneth was an indefatigable worker, and his scientific temper and the special facilities which he enjoyed for drawing from original sources gave to his numerous historical works a special value.
Among his publications may be mentioned: Leben des Feldmarschalls Grafen Guido Starhemberg (1863) ; Prinz Eugen von Savoyen (ibid., 1864) ; Gesch. der Maria Theresa (ibid., 1863-79) ; Maria Theresa u. Marie Antoinette, ihr Briefwechsel (ibid., 1866) ; Marie Antoinette, Joseph II. and Leopold II., ihr Briefwechsel (1866) ; Maria Theresa and Joseph II., ihre Korrespondenz samt Briefen Josephs an seinen Bruder Leopold (1867) ; Beaumarchais and Sonnenfels (1868) ; Joseph II. and Katharina von Russland, ihr Briefwechsel (1869) ; Johann Christian Barthenstein and seine Zeit (1871) ; Joseph II. and Leopold von Toskana, ihr Briefwechsel (187 2) ; Brie f e der Kaiserin Maria Theresa an ihre Kinder and Freunde (1881) ; Marie Antoinette: Cor respondance secrete entre Marie-Therese et he comte de Mercy-Argen teau (1875) , in collaboration with Auguste Geff roy ; Graf Philipp Cobenzl and seine Memoiren (1885) ; Correspondance secrete du comte de Mercy-Argenteau avec l'empereur Joseph 11. et Kaunitz (1889-91), in collaboration with Jules Flammermont ; Anton Ritter von Schmer ling. Episoden aus seinem Leben 1835, 1848-49 (1895) ; Johann Freiherr von Wessenberg, ein osterreichischer Staatsmann des lg. Jahrh. (1898) . Arneth also published in 1893 two volumes of early reminiscences under the title of Aus meinem Leben.