Nicolaus Theophilus

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Nicolaus Theophilus

Nicolaus (Johannis) Theophilus (* 1541 in Flensburg , † November 2, 1604 in Copenhagen ) was a Landgrave Hessian councilor, professor at the University of Copenhagen, diplomat and poet.

Live and act

Nicolaus Theophilus was a son of the pastor Nicolaus Johannis and his wife Anna Laurentii. Before 1569 he changed his birth name Nicolaus Johannis to Theophilus, Greek for “friend of God”.

He attended a school in Flensburg and at the age of 14 moved to the Katharineum in Lübeck . In 1557 he started studying at the University of Wittenberg and moved to Rostock that same year . He first studied philosophy, medicine and theology, and finally law after the death of his father. During his studies he made friends with David Chytraeus , with whom he later maintained letters. In 1562 Theophilus traveled to Sweden to attend his brother's wedding. In the same year he published a volume of poetry for the first time, Carmina in Caesares Romanos . The following year he returned to Flensburg and worked for a short time as the rector of the parish school of St. Marien . In 1565 he received an offer to become pastor of the church, which he refused. He then devoted himself to legal studies and wrote several Latin poems and epigrams on historical subjects and ancient mythology. He went to Jena and the University of Ingolstadt , where he is said to have taught as a lecturer. Emperor Maximilian II appointed him Poeta laureatus for his poetry during a visit to his court in 1567 . Theophilus then entered the service of Duke Magnus for a short time , but soon left Sweden again due to the political conflicts between his employer and his brothers. He then traveled through Poland, Italy and France. On September 29, 1569, the University of Rostock was awarded a Dr. jur. PhD.

A little later, Theophilus placed himself in the service of Landgrave Wilhelm von Hessen and worked as his notary, later secretary and councilor. He took on numerous diplomatic tasks for his employer, which he did in Denmark, among others. Here he made the acquaintance of Chancellor Niels Kaas . At the feudal tribute in 1580 Kaas helped Theophilus gain a position as professor of law at the University of Copenhagen . Here he worked from 1580 until the end of his life. In 1582/83, 1594 and 1603 he was elected rector of the university.

Theophilus wrote some significant works, particularly on Roman law . In 1584 his collection De diversis regulis iuris antiqui on legal rules was published. This book, dedicated to Niels Kaas, was the first legal work to be published in Denmark. In addition to his teaching activities, Theophilus took on several longer diplomatic missions. So he traveled for the Danish kings Frederick II and Christian IV to Electoral Saxony, Scotland, England, Sweden and probably also to the emperor's seat. Probably because of these services, he was appointed Canon of Roskilde in 1592 .

From 1589 Theophilus took over the duties of the royal librarian. As such, he was to acquire foreign literature in particular. He also wrote other Latin poems, including when King Friedrich II died in 1571, Theophilus married Anna Zaan in Kassel. She was the widow of the landgrave Hessian stable master Konrad Neid and died around 1599 in Copenhagen.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b PhD as Nicolaus Theophilus in the Rostock matriculation portal.
  2. ↑ Entry under the name Nicolaus Iohannis in the Rostock matriculation portal
  3. ↑ a b c d Fritz Treichel: Theophilus, Nicolaus . in: Schleswig-Holstein biographical lexicon . Volume 5. Wachholtz, Neumünster 1979. ISBN 3-529-02645-X , page 268.
  4. ^ Fritz Treichel: Theophilus, Nicolaus . in: Schleswig-Holstein biographical lexicon . Volume 5. Wachholtz, Neumünster 1979. ISBN 3-529-02645-X , pages 268-269.
  5. ^ Fritz Treichel: Theophilus, Nicolaus . in: Schleswig-Holstein biographical lexicon . Volume 5. Wachholtz, Neumünster 1979. ISBN 3-529-02645-X , page 267.
personal data
SURNAME Theophilus, Nicolaus
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Johannis, Nicolaus
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Landgrave of the Hessian Council, professor at the University of Copenhagen, diplomat and poet
DATE OF BIRTH 1541
PLACE OF BIRTH Flensburg
DATE OF DEATH November 2, 1604
Place of death Copenhagen