Even today, the Middle Ages continue to be misused for political or ideological ends in some countries; vigilance remains necessary. The scholarly community needs to orientate itself towards the dialogue with the general public and work to ensure that its voice remains heard. Misleading or fantastical pictures of an imagined Middle Ages need to be confronted with the results of solid research. There is a danger that the faculty of historical judgment and with it cultural memory will be lost; the need for a comprehensive scientific engagement with history is today particularly pressing. Once already, during the course of the 19th century, romantic conceptions of the Middle Ages, to which many renowned historians contributed, took on a life of their own to underpin aggressive nationalist and authoritarian ideologies. As much as a wide public interest in history is to be welcomed, it is only through the constant scientific engagement of professionals that misuse and arbitrariness in dealing with history can be countered.