Raoul Charles, Baron van Caenegem (born 14 July 1927), is a Belgian historian and noted expert in the field of European legal history. He was a professor at the University of Ghent. In 1974, he was awarded the Francqui Prize on Human Sciences for his work on medieval history. He studied the history of continental and English common law, and why they diverged so sharply. He revealed the significance of power struggles between the judiciary, legislators, and legal scholars.
Van Caenegem became a foreign member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1977.
Foundations: c. 750-c. 1150, Government, Law & Society, in Cambridge History of Medieval Political Thought, c. 350-1450, ed. J. H. Burns (Cambridge U. Press, Cambridge: 1988).The Birth of the English Common Law, Cambridge U. Press, Cambridge, 1973, 2nd edition 1988.An Historical Introduction to Private Law, translated by D. E. L. Johnston, Cambridge U. Press, Cambridge, 1992.An historical introduction to western constitutional law, Cambridge U. Press, Cambridge, 1995 ISBN 0521476933Sir Geoffrey Rudolph ELTON, Return to essentials. Some reflections on the present state of historical studies, Cambridge University Press, 1991.Th. DENOËL, Le nouveau dictionnaire des Belges, 1992S. DAUCHY, J. MONBALLYU, A. WIJFFELS (eds.) Auctoritates. Xenia R.C. Van Caenegem oblata (De auteurs van de rechtsontwikkeling), Brussel, Paleis der Academiën, 2000.Oscar COOMANS DE BRACHÈNE, État présent de la noblesse belge, Annuaire 2002 en Annuaire 2004