Hans Arentz

Hans Arentz (born August 27, 1731 in Askvoll , † April 12, 1793 in Ytre Holmedal (now Fjaler )) was a Norwegian land judge ( Sorenskriver ) and political and topographical author.

Life

His parents were the pastor and later bishop Frederik Arentz (1699–1779) and his wife Cathrine Fredrikke Holberg (1715–1738). He grew up in Askvoll. He went to school in Bergen and passed his law exam in Copenhagen in 1749 . His father had conveyed both pietistic thoughts and the beginning enlightenment to him. He was particularly interested in the problems of society. In 1762 he became a Sorenskriver in Sunnfjord , which he remained until his death.

In 1756 he wrote the font Samtale efter Døden imellem de tvende Romere Cato og Cæsar, quoted Enevolds- og Folke-Regieringen. (Conversation after death between the two Romans Cato and Caesar regarding the authority and government of the people). In it he followed the view generally held in the Enlightenment that violence is the best and most reasonable form of government. The first servant of the state should do what is best for the people. It was only 31 years later that he came out again as an author: Grund-Tegning af den fornuftige Norske Patriotism (Fundamentals of a sensible Norwegian patriotism). It was his contribution to a prize assignment that the Norwegian Society in London had set in 1786. “Nationalism” and “patriotism” were buzzwords at the time. They appeared in all the celebratory poems of the students in the Norwegian Society in Copenhagen, founded in 1772. The price task should bring the discussion back to the ground. Arentz did not win the award, but Johan Nordahl Brun with his font Fornuftig Kiærlighed til Fædrelandet (Sensible love for the fatherland). Arentz's text was too dry and philosophical. But for the first time he clearly expressed a goal that Norwegian patriotism should have: its own university and its own supreme court. At that time the University in Copenhagen was also a Norwegian university.

In the meantime he had also completed the description of Søndfjord i det nordre Bergenhusiske Amt (description of Sunnfjord in northern Bergenshusens Amt). This work is part of a number of scientific descriptions of Norwegian regions from this period. Bishop Erik Pontoppidan the Younger wrote Norges Naturlige Historie 1752–1754 and asked the pastors to provide descriptions of nature, the economy and agriculture through their parishes. This was in the general interest of the Age of Enlightenment. The work is quite lengthy. The main emphasis is on the topography, and Arentz also gives information on the past and present administrative division, both secular and ecclesiastical. The way of life of the people and their characteristics are also described. After his death, his brother Friedrich sent it to the Topographisk Journal , which published "Det Topographiske Selskab for Norge" (founded 1791) in the years 1792–1808. It was published in seven issues between 1801 and 1808 and comprises 962 printed pages.

In 1765 he married Ingeborg Cathrine Nagell (September 17, 1742 - July 6, 1799), daughter of the chamber councilor and bailiff in Sunnfjord Hans Thiis Nagell and his wife Margrethe Worm.

literature

• Halvard Bjørkvik: Article “Hans Arentz” in Norsk biografisk leksikon , accessed on August 21, 2009.

Remarks

1. ↑ Inheritance was the Scandinavian expression of absolutism.