Hermann de Werve

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Hermann de Werve (born August 16, 1584 in Esens , † January 11, 1656 in Vienna ) was a German pastor, astrologer and calendar maker .

Life

Not much is known about his career. It is believed that he began his academic training at the Latin school in Esens. It is also not ruled out that he studied medicine in addition to theology. In any case, he acquired astronomical, mathematical and meteorological knowledge and was inspired by David Fabricius , who also came from Esens .

As the successor to the murdered David Fabricius, he published an astrological calendar in 1618, which he dedicated to Count Anton Günther von Oldenburg. This astrological sideline activity soon became his undoing, however, in 1624 he lost his pastorate in the Lutheran parish in Westerende-Kirchloog , where he worked from 1607. Nevertheless, the church donated an altar. He now earned his living as a medicus and astronomus in Emden . His writings as a calendar writer were in great demand there. However, he had his works printed elsewhere, which brought him into conflict with the local book printers and dealers. The dispute ended with the church council reporting him to the magistrate and bringing him an indictment of conjuring the devil.

He was forced to leave Emden and spent a few years as a doctor and astrologer in Norden and Esens before the Elector of Mainz, Anselm Casimir Wambold von Umstadt , hired him. He took him to Regensburg , where the German electors for Ferdinand III's election as king . got together. De Werve finally received a protective privilege from Emperor Ferdinand II , which secured him the income from calendar sales and protected his works from being reprinted.

So, standing on a secure financial basis, he developed a lively activity as an astrologer and calendar writer at the imperial court in Vienna, which led to critics and envious people increasingly hostile to him. Censorship harassment from the university did the rest and he returned to East Frisia , where he lived for some time. The great days of astrology were over and de Werve fell seriously ill. He was already forgotten in Vienna, but returned once more to the place where he died.

Works

  • with Laurens Beyerlinck: Prognosis astronomica auff d. J. 1636 .
  • with Johann Magirus , Caspar Marche: Astrological description of the large, visible and reflective solar eclipse that occurred on August 2nd and 12th in 1654 , Nuremberg, Endter, 1654. ( digitized version )

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Werve, Hermann de
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German pastor, astrologer and calendar maker
DATE OF BIRTH August 16, 1584
PLACE OF BIRTH Esens
DATE OF DEATH January 11, 1656
Place of death Vienna