Johannes Hoffmann von Schweidnitz

Johannes Hoffmann of Schweidnitz (1451)

Johannes Hoffmann von Schweidnitz , also: Johann Hoffmann ; Latin Johannes Hofmannus Swidnicensis , Czech Jan Hofman ze Svídnice (* around 1375 in Schweidnitz , Duchy of Schweidnitz; †  April 15, 1451 at Stolpen Castle , Mark Meißen ) was a Roman Catholic theologian and rector of the universities of Prague and Leipzig as well as Johannes IV. Bishop of Meissen .

Life

Hoffmann studied theology from 1393 at the Prague University responsible for Silesia . In 1396 he received a bachelor's degree and a licentiate four years later. A little later he obtained the title of Magister artium . In 1408 he was dean of the philosophical faculty in Prague, as well as rector of this university in the fateful year 1409. According to the Kuttenberg decree 1409, he and Johannes Otto von Münsterberg organized the departure of German students from the University of Prague to Leipzig . His successor as rector was Magister Jan Hus .

At the University of Leipzig , which he co-founded , he was professor of theology in the so-called Fürstenkolleg . In the summer semester of 1413 he was elected rector of the university . Around 1415 Hoffmann also became canon at Meißen Cathedral and provost of the college chapter in Grossenhain . For his participation in the Council of Constance he is said to have sold the town of Nossen to the Altzella monastery .

In 1422, after the death of his friend von Munsterberg, he set up a college in Leipzig called “Our Lady” (later called Women's College ) for Silesian professors.

In 1427 he became Johannes IV. Bishop of Meissen . In this office, too, he was considered to be clever and prudent and led the diocese through difficult times , marked by Hussite incursions and spiritual challenges. He ended the exemption dispute with the Archdiocese of Magdeburg , which had existed since 1400.

His philosophical-theological works identify him as a scholastic loyal to the Pope and an opponent of the Hussites.

He died in 1451 at the residence of the bishops of Meißen, Stolpen Castle, and is buried in Meißen Cathedral. His grave slab made of sandstone shows him as an incised drawing with a crook and a right hand raised in blessing.

Works

• Quaestionum theologicarum cum solutionibus liber
• De missae officio et actionibus omnibus ll. VI. ad Fridericum et Guilielmum fratres, Marchiones Misnenis

literature

• Constantin von Wurzbach : Hoffmann, Johann (III.) . In: Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich . 9th part. Kaiserlich-Königliche Hof- und Staatsdruckerei, Vienna 1863, p. 171 ( digitized version ).
• Adolf Schimmelpfenning :  Hoffmann von Schweidnitz, Johannes . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 14, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1881, p. 244 f.
• Josef Joachim Menzel:  Hoffmann, Johannes. In: New German Biography (NDB). Volume 9, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 1972, ISBN 3-428-00190-7 , p. 427 ( digitized version ).
• Matthias Donath: The grave monuments in Meißen Cathedral. Leipziger Universitätsverlag, 2005, ISBN 978-3937209456 , pp. 322-324.

Web links

Commons : Johannes Hoffmann von Schweidnitz  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Johannes Hoffmann von Schweidnitz in the professorial catalog of the University of Leipzig

predecessor	Office	successor
Rudolf von der Planitz	Bishop of Meissen 1427–1451	Caspar von Schönberg