The Regius Professorship was originally intended by George I to teach contemporary European history, to correct "the prejudice that has accrued to the ... University from this Defect, Persons of Foreign Nations being often employed in the Education and Tuition of Youth". Two modern language instructors were required to be paid for out of the Professor's salary, which was set at £400 per year, at the time nearly equal to the stipends of all other Cambridge professors put together. The University, in accepting the benefaction, agreed that the professorship would ensure "our Nobility and Gentry will be under no Temptation of sending for persons from foreign Countries to be entrusted with the education of their children." However, for the first few decades of the professorship's existence, only
ancient history was studied in the University, and so the Regius Professorship of Modern History was little more than a
sinecure. However, by the time an independent History undergraduate examination was established in the 19th century, the professorship had more duties to fulfil. Under the original understanding of
modern history, the Regius Professorship was several times held by academics specialising in the
Middle Ages. However, by the 21st century, the meaning of
modern history had shifted to refer either to the history of the
modern period following the middle ages, or of the
late modern period following the
early modern period. == Appointment ==