Andreas Ryff

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Andreas Ryff

Andreas Ryff (born February 13, 1550 in Basel ; † August 18, 1603 ibid) was a Swiss businessman and statesman of the early modern period.

Career

youth

Andreas Ryff, son of Diepold Ryff and Margarete Uelin, attended Latin school at the age of eight and received private lessons. In his free time the boy traded in colored feathers and cords. At the age of ten, in 1560, he went to Geneva for three years , where he was supposed to attend a Latin school, but when his father realized that Andreas was more interested in trade than academic studies, he sent him to a spice merchant's apprenticeship. In Geneva, Andreas was shaped by the Reformed faith, as evidenced by the many praises of God in his biography. In 1563 he returned to Basel and attended Latin school again. From Easter 1564 he also received lessons in mathematics . In the same year the plague costfour of his siblings lost their lives, and Andreas was not spared the disease either. 1565-69 made Ryff a commercial apprenticeship in Pruntrut and Strasbourg .

Activity as a businessman

After teaching, Ryff took over his father's business in Basel, established himself as a cloth merchant and, in 1573, became a representative of a large Antwerp cloth business. In 1574 he married Margaretha Imhof, the widow of his friend Andreas Imhof, who had five children. Through his wife's inheritance, he got into a silk business and a share in a silver mine.

Activity as a statesman

In addition to his activity as a businessman, Andreas Ryff was also active in politics. In 1591 he was elected to the Basel Small Council. From 1596 he exercised the supervision of the church, the school and the university of his hometown as a deputate. From 1600 he was thirteen, builder and threefold as well as the owner of numerous other offices. As a commander in the Rappenkrieg in 1594, Ryff was instrumental in resolving the conflict between the city and the subjects of the countryside. He also represented Basel at the federal assembly and in many embassies, including in the conflict between Geneva and Savoy that lasted from 1593 to 1603 .

Literary work

Ryff wrote several cultural-historical works that were not printed until the 19th and 20th centuries:

  • The Rappen War (written in 1594)
  • Coin and Mineral Book, a description of his coin and medal cabinet (written in 1594)
  • Circle of the Confederation, a presentation of the history and constitutions of the Confederation and the federal places (written in 1597)
  • Travel booklet, a list of all the trips he made as a businessman and as a politician (written in 1600)
  • Autobiography (until 1574)

Editions:

  • Ryff's autobiography, edited and introduced by Andreas Heusler , in: Basler Contributions to Fatherland History, Volume 9 (1870).
  • Liber Legationum, edited and introduced by Friedrich Meyer, in: Basler Zeitschrift für Geschichte und Altertumskunde , Vol. 58–59 (1959), pp. 5–109 ( full text ).
  • Travel booklet, edited and introduced by Friedrich Meyer, with a contribution by Elisabeth Landolt, in: Basler Zeitschrift für Geschichte und Altertumskunde, Vol. 72 (1972), pp. 5–135 ( full text ).
  • Der Rappenkrieg, edited and introduced by Friedrich Meyer, in: Basler Zeitschrift für Geschichte und Altertumskunde, Vol. 66 (1966), pp. 5-131 ( full text ).

literature

Web links

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personal data
SURNAME Ryff, Andreas
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swiss businessman of the early modern era
DATE OF BIRTH February 13, 1550
PLACE OF BIRTH Basel
DATE OF DEATH August 18, 1603
Place of death Basel