.jpg)
How Pre-Modern law of the sea illuminates modern geopolitics
VUB researcher Stefano Cattelan receives Premio Bartolo da Sassoferrato for book on the history of the law of the sea
BRUSSELS / SASSOFERRATO – Dr Stefano Cattelan, a postdoctoral researcher in the Contextual Research in Law (CORE) research group at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), has received the 2026 Premio Bartolo da Sassoferrato per le scienze giuridiche e politico-sociali in the Opera prima category. The award recognises his first monograph, Mare Clausum, which reconstructs the historical foundations of the international law of the sea.
The Roots of Modern Maritime Conflicts
Dr. Cattelan's award-winning book, titled Mare Clausum. The Formation of the Law of the Sea in Pre-Modern State Practice and Legal Doctrine (c. 1350–1650), dives into a crucial period during which the rules governing our oceans were shaped. Although the research focuses on the late Middle Ages and the early modern era, its themes are more relevant than ever. The struggle for control over maritime trade routes, exclusive economic zones, and sovereignty at sea displays direct parallels with current geopolitical flashpoints. Examples include the ongoing tensions in the South China Sea between China and neighbouring countries, as well as recent crises and blockades in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which painfully expose the vulnerability of global maritime choke points.
Dr. Cattelan’s work demonstrates that the debate over who owns the sea—whether it is open to everyone (mare liberum) or belongs to a specific state (mare clausum)—is not a modern phenomenon. By examining how coastal states, kingdoms and republics once justified claims over the sea, Cattelan’s work provides historical perspective on present-day disputes concerning maritime boundaries, freedom of navigation and control of strategic waterways. By untangling these historical practices, Dr. Cattelan offers indispensable insights for a better understanding of contemporary legal and political conflicts on the world's oceans.
International Recognition for VUB Research
For Dr. Cattelan, who serves as an adjunct professor at the Brussels School of Governance alongside his postdoctoral position at the VUB, the award came as a fantastic surprise. Major international prizes are scarce within the humanities and legal sciences, making this accolade exceptionally special for the research group led by Professor Frederic Dhondt. It proves that fundamental legal history research at the Brussels-based university plays a crucial role in the international academic debate and provides essential tools for addressing current global challenges.
About the book: Mare Clausum: The Formation of the Law of the Sea in Pre-modern State Practice and Legal Doctrine (c. 1350–1650) was published by Martinus Nijhoff/Brill (2025) within the Legal History Library series (vol. 77) and Studies in the History of International Law series (vol. 28).
About the Award: The Premio Bartolo da Sassoferrato per le scienze giuridiche e politico-sociali is named after Bartolus of Sassoferrato (1313–1357), one of the most influential jurists in European legal history. His authority was later summarized in the maxim nemo bonus iurista nisi Bartolista: no one is a good jurist unless he is a follower of Bartolus. This connection is particularly meaningful because Bartolus was among the medieval jurists who questioned whether, and to what extent, political jurisdiction could extend from the coast into the sea. The other 2026 laureates include prominent Italian scholars and former ministers, further underscoring the academic and institutional prestige of the award.
Contact : Dr. Stefano Cattelan, stefano.cattelan@vub.be
Koen Stein
