Nicolaus Matz
Nicolaus Matz (* around 1443 in Michelstadt ; † November 23, 1513 in Speyer ) was rector of the University of Freiburg and canon in Speyer. In 1499 he donated 117 books to his hometown Michelstadt, which formed the basis of the Nicolaus Matz library named after him.
Life
Nicolaus Matz began his studies at the University of Vienna in 1457 , and in 1459 he achieved the degree of master's degree in liberal arts . In 1469 he finished studying theology. At that time he was also a priest of the diocese of Passau , but in the same year he moved to the University of Freiburg im Breisgau, where in 1470 he became dean of the philosophical faculty and librarian of the artist faculty . However, he resigned this office as early as 1471, probably because of irregularities in the accounts. In 1473 he was accepted into the council of the theological faculty, and in 1475 he became rector of the university. In 1478 he asked to be dismissed from the service. Little is known of his further life, in documents from 1499 and 1508 he is listed as a sex priest of the Speyer Cathedral (these were six non-noble clerics who were appointed in addition to the noble canons , who were also granted a benefice and who had to hold the services) .
Nicolaus Matz Library (church library) Michelstadt
On December 8, 1499, Matz donated 117 bound books to his home town of Michelstadt. The books should be available to everyone “who is taught” according to his wishes. The contents were theological in nature. The foundation was designed as a so-called chain library, the books were attached to the ceiling with chains to secure them from theft.
The library was initially steadily expanded in the following centuries, mainly by the Counts of Erbach. The last addition dates from 1789. Since then, the library has over 4000 books, including approx. 172 incunabula .
Until the completion of the Michelstadt city church, the books were housed in the Kerner, near the city church, then they were placed in the sacristy of the city church and around 1900 in the tower room. In 1978 the library moved from the tower room to the renovated Thurn und Taxis post barn . It is under the care of the city and can be viewed by arrangement.
Editions and translations
- Martin Hellmann (Ed.): Circa inicium Algorismi. The Algorism Lecture by Nicolaus Matz. Stadt Michelstadt, Michelstadt 2006, ISBN 3-924583-46-3 (critical edition with translation).
literature
- Johannes Staub, Kurt Hans Staub: The medieval manuscripts of the Nicolaus Matz library. (Michelstadt, Town Hall and Museum Series, Volume 19) ( Catalog; PDF; 384 kB )
- Kurt Hans Staub / Christa Staub: The incunabula of the Nicolaus Matz Library (Michelstadt, Town Hall and Museum Series, Volume 3) ( Catalog; PDF; 28.4 MB )
- Preserve and explore. Contributions from the Nicolaus Matz Library. (Michelstadt, Town Hall and Museum Series , Volume 22)
- Martin Hellmann: Circa nicium Algorismi, The Algorism Lecture by Nicolaus Matz . (Michelstadt, Town Hall and Museum Series, Volume 23)
- Müller / Staub: A look into the Nicolaus Matz Library (church library) Michelstadt. (Michelstadt, Town Hall and Museum Series 2009)
- Wolfgang Schmitz: Nicolaus Matz, a Michelstädter scholar, lecture on the 500th anniversary of Nicolaus Matz's death. (Michelstadt, Town Hall and Museum Series 2013)
Web links
- Website of the Nicolaus Matz Library
- Nicolaus Matz Library: Entry in the manual of historical book collections
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Matz, Nicolaus |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Rector of the University of Freiburg and Canon in Speyer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | around 1443 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Michelstadt |
| DATE OF DEATH | November 23, 1513 |
| Place of death | Speyer |