Jacob Canter

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Jacob (Jacobus) Canter , also Canthor , (* around February 23, 1469 in Groningen ; † March 31, 1529 there ) was a pastor, poet and humanist.

Live and act

Jacob Canter was a son of the lawyer Johannes Canter . The Canter family of humanists enjoyed a high reputation far beyond Groningen and was close friends with Rudolph Agricola . All family members and even the maid spoke Latin at home. All children later used this language more often than their vernacular.

Canter attended the Cistercian monastery Aduard and the Lebuinus School in Deventer , which, along with Aduard, was considered the center of Dutch humanism. There he was one of the model students of Alexander Hegius . In 1487 Canter began studying law at the University of Cologne . While many humanist lawyers tried to make a career in the administrations of the city and court, Canter opted for the bonae litterae and the poetry in the tradition of Francesco Petrarch .

In 1489 Canter taught Latin literature in Antwerp. In the same year he also published three works in Latin. Also in 1489 he intended to visit Italy. Whether he ever reached the country is not documented. All that is known is a stopover in Cologne, during which he showed himself to be extraordinarily learned. He then lived in Augsburg. Other places of residence are only incompletely documented.

In 1492 Canter stayed with Konrad Celtis in Ingolstadt . At that time, Celtis gave a programmatic speech on poetry and rhetorical eloquence, which he described as the supreme force of education. He thus represented the self-image of the era, which certainly made an impression on Canter. Canter spent the time until at least 1498 as a schoolmaster in Krumau . From 1500 to 1505 he lived again in Cologne, where he met Ulrich von Hutten, among others . He may also have lived in Italy.

During these years, which were marked by numerous trips, Canter published a lot. In 1491 he wrote De solitudine and also many lyrical works that are largely unknown today. Perhaps his work entitled Osculum dates back to 1498 . This drama called "Rosa rosensis" laid the foundation for his reputation as a poet.

In the autumn of 1494, King Maximilian I awarded Canter the title of poeta laureatus , which was not often done at the time and required extensive scholarship. In addition, the future emperor honored Canter's lyrical work. There is no evidence to support the assumption that Canter produced the famous first print of the Freeska Landriucht . As a typical humanist, however, he created several editions. Contemporaries admired him for his erudition; Erasmus referred to him as "vir eruditissimus" ("highly educated man").

In 1505 Canter received a call to Emden , where his brother Johannes worked as a doctor. Canter worked here as vicarius perpetuus at the Holy Cross Altar of the Great Church . It was the second highest spiritual office after Poppo Manninga. In the following years he also took over the position of altarist at an altar in the gentleman's chapel in the Great Church. He also worked as a pastor of Klein-Faldern , which at that time was tantamount to a mere benefice .

Canter was versatile, but especially a neo-Latin poet. It is not clearly documented whether he had the theological education necessary for the priesthood. Two authors reported his extraordinary knowledge of the Bible in 1489. Already in 1491 he called himself “dominus”, meaning “world priest”. A corresponding entry can also be found in the income register of the city of Emden.

During his time as a priest in Emden, Canter continued to work as a poet. His friend Euricius Cordus visited him here in 1526/27 and reported about it. The script, which has only survived in fragments, makes many references to antiquity, but does not deal with religious topics. An influence of Bible humanism by Wessel Gansfort and Rudolph Agricola can only be recognized in the dedications of the editions he wrote from 1489 .

In Emden, Canter got to know the unconditionally influenced Reformation sermon early on, to which, as a cosmopolitan humanist devoted to this world, he clearly had no access. Completely unprepared for this confrontation, he found the new spiritual trend disturbing and therefore rejected the emerging Reformation. Georg Aportanus, however, who worked with him as a priest at the Great Church, advocated the Reformation in his sermons. Canter wanted to prevent this, but found no hearing from Count Edzard . Obviously out of disappointment, possibly also due to the fact that Enno expropriated the old churches, Canter resigned from his offices in early 1529 and went to Groningen. Here he died a little later.

The traditions of this church dispute come from Ubbo Emmius . He passed a devastating judgment on Canter, which had a lasting influence on the literature of the country's history, even if it was not completely impartial from a denominational point of view.


literature

personal data
SURNAME Canter, Jacob
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Canthor, Jacobus; Canter, Jacobus
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Pastor, poet and humanist
DATE OF BIRTH on February 23, 1469
PLACE OF BIRTH Groningen
DATE OF DEATH March 31, 1529
Place of death Groningen