The stages of the intellectual biography of Ukrainian scholar L.M. Berkut (1879-1940) are studied in the paper. L. Berkut was a student of the famous medievalist, Rector of the Imperial University of St. Vladimir, prof. F. Fortynskyi. In 1901 he was left at the university to write a master’s thesis on medieval history. After passing the master’s exam, the young scholar was sent by the Ministry of National Education to Germany and France for three years to continue his scientific studies (1907-1909). He studied different periods of medieval history under such prominent scholars of that time as Ernst Bernheim, Albert Hawke, and others. After returning from abroad, he immediately became an acting associate professor at the University of Warsaw, then worked at Don University, and in 1922 returned to his native Kyiv University. The scientific heritage of the historian can be divided into two parts: the first is work on medieval historiography and source studies, the second – works on medieval urban studies. The main achievement of L. Berkut’s works is the analysis of a wide range of sources and literature. Unfortunately, due to various life collisions and circumstances, Ukrainian professor was removed from the intellectual space of the USSR for a long time, and his scientific heritage was forgotten.