Johann Jacob Grasser

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Johann Jacob Grasser (born February 24, 1579 in Basel ; † March 20, 1627 there ) was a Reformed Swiss theologian and polymath .

After studying theology, Grasser stayed in France and Italy from 1603 to 1608, described the antiquities of Nîmes and was appointed Count of the Palatinate Court in Padua . After his return to Switzerland he worked as a pastor and published descriptions of his travels as well as historical and theological works, such as a Waldensian Chronicle and the Swiss Book of Heroes .

Life

Johann Jacob Grasser was a son of the pastor Jonas Grasser, who worked in Basel. He received a careful home education. He studied theology and also included poetry, science and geography in his area of ​​interest. In 1601 he obtained the title of Magister artium in his hometown and was also awarded the poet's crown . In 1603 he traveled through Europe for five years. For his further education he lived mainly in France and visited several other cities here as well as Nîmes , where he lived for three years and was appointed professor . He used the leisure that his professional business left him to examine and describe the antiquities of this city from the Roman period . The treatise he wrote about it ( De antiquitatibus Nemausensibus dissertatio , Paris 1607) was received with approval and repeatedly reprinted, also as an appendix to the author's Latin poems and in Albert-Henri de Sallengres' Novus thesaurus antiquitatum romanaram (Volume 1, Haag 1716, p. 1059 ff.) reprinted. The value of the work was based, among other things, on the inscriptions given in it.

As a result, Grasser left Nîmes to expand his knowledge in other European countries. After staying in Montpellier and Marseilles to research the history and antiquities of these cities, he went to Italy . There he attended scientific institutions and last stayed in Padua . Here he received many honors and was appointed Court Palatine , Knight of Constantine and Roman citizen in December 1607 by the Imperial Chargé d'affaires Ferrando Amadi, by virtue of a privilege given to his family by Emperor Charles IV . From Padua he made a second trip through France as well as a trip to England and returned from here to Switzerland, where from 1610 he held the office of pastor in Bennwil and Hölstein for two years . In 1610 he entered into a marriage with Margreth Weitnauer, whose father was mayor of Kleinbasel.

In 1612 Grasser became assistant pastor of the Church of St. Theodor in Kleinbasel and held this office until the end of his life. He reissued several works and wrote descriptions of his travels, theological and historical works as well as remarks about the comet of 1618. He had achieved some fame and the Swedish King Gustav Adolf had such a high regard for his knowledge that he asked him through an envoy to write a historical treatise on the events and deeds of his reign. King Grasser also wanted to provide the necessary files for this task. Grasser now felt constantly uncomfortable, suffered from Podagra and could no longer take on any major strenuous work, so that he had to reject the honorable application. He died in Bern in 1627 at the age of 47. His son of the same name, born in 1610, also devoted himself to theology and was most recently pastor in Bielstein in Westphalia .

plant

After returning to Switzerland (1608), Grasser began to work on the materials collected on his hikes and came out in 1614 with the actual description of his journey ( Itinerarium historico-politicum ... ), after he had previously published a new and perfect one, calculated for his Swiss readers Italian, French and English treasuries (Basel 1609 and 1610). He dedicated the latter work to the Council of Basel and received a gift of 50 guilders in return. To supplement these historical communications based on his own opinion and research, in 1613 he obtained an edition of the encyclopedia ( Officina vel potius naturae historia seu theatrum historico-politicum ) by the French humanist Jean Tixier de Ravisi with additions, as well as a reprint of the treatises of Michael of Lithuania and Jan Łasickis on northeastern tribes ( De moribus Tartarorum, Lithuanorum et Moschovitorum fragmenta X… , Basel 1615) and a Latin adaptation of the chronicle from the beginning of the world to the year 1614 , written by Pastor Christian Solinus in Lower Saxony ( Thesaurus rerum in toto orbe memorabilium emendatum et historiis illustratum , Basel 1616).

In addition to these attempts by Grasser on general and foreign history, he also wrote historical works on conditions in Switzerland. This includes the Horologium Helveticum , the Swiss Book of Heroes (Basel 1624), the now rare Ειδυλλιον Helvetiae laudem complectens… (Basel 1598) and the biography of the Basel theologian Johannes Brandmüller ( Vita Joh. Brandmulleri , 1596).

Although too much faith is given to some legends, these historical writings are sometimes valuable for the researcher, since they also contain interesting information about individual historical events. The treasury contains a detailed description of the Battle of Nyon in 1535 and several tournaments. The Swiss Book of Heroes is historically insignificant, but in its violent criticism of the times it points ahead.

Grasser also described the 1618 published comets ( treatise on comets seen so anno 1618 , Basel 1618 and Zurich in 1664, as well as concerns about the now visible comets , ibid. 1618). He also published an improved and increased reprint of Pierre Gautier Chabot's edition of the works of Horace ( Opera omnia a Pet. Gualth. Chabotio triplici artificio, dialectico, grammatico et rhetorico, explicata… , 3 volumes, Basel 1615). However, Grasser mixed up the notes and additions borrowed from other authors without distinction with those chabots.

In the theological field, Grasser mainly wrote works on church history , such as Ecclesia orientalis et meridionalis (Strasbourg 1613), Heydnisch Bapstumb (Basel 1613) and Waldensian Chronicle (Basel 1623). He also published dogmatic and ascetic writings ( Speculum theologiae mysticae , Strasbourg 1618; Heavenly Soul Table or Communion Booklet , Basel 1620; Spiritual Storm and Prayer Bell in 27 sermons ; etc.). Grasser tried his hand at poetry too; his Latin poems ( Poëmata , Basel 1614) are only insignificant occasional works, which he did not publish himself.

Fonts (selection)

  • Vita Joh. Brandmulleri, theol. doct. ac past Basil. , 1596
  • Ειδυλλιον Helvetiae laudem complectens, in sacris palladis Johanni Swartzenbachio Luderecitensi T. dictum , Basel 1598
  • De antiquitatibus Nemausensibus dissertatio, qua praeter populi romani magnificentiam varii ritus explicantur , Paris 1607; new edition, Basel 1614
  • Newe and perfect Italian, French and English treasure trove: This is a true and proper description of all sites in Italy, Sicilia, Sardinia, Corsica, France, Engelland and the surrounding provinces: as well as the most memorable things that happened there , Basel 1609 and 1610
  • Ecclesia orientalis et meridionalis , Strasbourg 1613
  • Heydnisch Bapsthumb, thorough report of all Bäpstischen church pomp. From the French Fr. Croji suppressed and improved by JJ Graßer , Basel 1613
  • Itinerarium historico-politicum per celebres Helvetiae et regni Arelatensis urbes in universam Italiam , Basel 1614; new edition, ibid. 1624
  • Poëmata; accessit de antiquitatibus Nemausensibus dissertatio; George. Weirach, Siles., Collegit et quaedam de suo addidit , Basel 1614
  • Michaelis Lithuani de moribus Tartarorum, Lithuanorum et Moschovitorum fragmenta X, et Jo. Lasicii de diis Samogitarum, nec non de religione Armeniorum commentarii , Basel 1615
  • Christian concern about the terrifying comets, So various Novemb. Vnd Decemb. Ann. 1618 , 1619; new edition 1664
  • Waldensian Chronick, confessed to persecution, such as the Waldensians , Albigensians , Picardians and Hussites , for five half a hundred years across Europe over the H. Evangelio, translated into German by JJ Graßer , Basel 1623
  • Swiss heroes book: therein the most memorable deeds and things of common, praiseworthy Eydgnossschektiven (with beautiful coppers by JH Glaser), Basel 1624; new facsimile edition 1968

literature

personal data
SURNAME Grasser, Johann Jacob
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Grasser, Johann Jakob
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swiss theologian and polyhistor
DATE OF BIRTH February 24, 1579
PLACE OF BIRTH Basel
DATE OF DEATH March 20, 1627
Place of death Basel