Nikolaus Prugener

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Nikolaus Prugener , also Pruckner, Prueckner, Pontanus , (* around 1494 in Franconia , † 1553 or 1557 in Tübingen ) was a German mathematician, astronomer and Protestant theologian.

Life

Nothing is known of Prugener's youth and his educational path. Prugener only emerged as a mature man who, in addition to his humanistic knowledge, was particularly noticeable for his mathematical and astrological interests. Following an inner inclination, he entered the Augustinian order in Mühlhausen . But in the early years of the Reformation the word of Martin Luther , whom he calls his teacher , also reached him . During this time he must have left the order and initially stayed in Basel , where he tried to distribute Ulrich von Hutten's writings .

For the sake of his ability to speak, the citizens of Mühlhausen coveted Prugen, who was already known to them as a preacher, to be their pastor. In 1523 the married former Augustinian was appointed there. The old-believing magistrate still gave him difficulties, but the guilds managed to keep the new preacher with them. Ulrich Zwingli and Johannes Oekolampad , with whom Prugener had relationships since 1522, valued him highly.

When the religious struggles in Mühlhausen became stronger, Prugener justified himself in 20 final speeches in which he summarized the sum of his preaching, and at the same time urged his opponents to open a public disputation on "alleyn uss heyliger schrifft". These closing speeches appeared in print in 1524 together with those of his friend Dr. Balthasar Hubmaier . As a result, he had no small trouble. He was able to stay in Mühlhausen until the Peasants' War, but then the council had to dismiss him.

Now, thanks to his ties to Strasbourg , Prugener was given the office in Benfeld , where he asserted himself despite many attacks and led the fight with the Anabaptists . During this time, however, Prugener gave himself more to his mathematical and astronomical inclinations, and was also involved in the restoration of the old Strasbourg astronomical clock, so that during the visitation a lawsuit was brought against him because of his frequent absence and insufficient supply.

The Strasbourg reformers therefore urged him to be loyal. But when Benfeld was redeemed again by the Bishop of Strasbourg in 1538, Prugener had to be released. He is one of the remarkable phenomena of the Reformation , which besides theology is also dedicated to other inclinations. He was so impressed by astrology that in the following years he no longer tried to hold a ministerial office, but worked primarily as an astronomer and astrologer.

We'll find him soon in Mainz, soon again with the Archbishop of Cologne. He continued to be on friendly terms with the Strasbourgers, as well as with Philipp Melanchthon . With Hermann von Wied, as in the archbishopric, he tried to stand up for the gospel. The Archbishop's fall made him leave the country. After long years of wandering, he finally got a professorship as an astronomer in Tübingen in 1553 and died there at the age of 60.

literature

  • Ludwig Keller:  Prugner, Nicolaus . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 26, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1888, p. 674 f.
  • FW Röhrich, Communications from the History of the Evangelical Church of Alsace, Strasbourg 1855, Volume 3, Pages 180–202
  • Peter Apian - Astronomy, Cosmography and Mathematics at the Beginning of Modern Times Karl Röttel (editor) published by Polygon-Verlag Buxheim-Eichstätt, 1995. ISBN 3-928671-12-X . Article by Ludolf von Mackensen : The astronomer in a portrait - Nicolaus Prugner a contemporary of Apian and his identified scholarly portrait page 127

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ General German biography .

See also

Web links

Wikisource: Nicolaus Pruckner  - Sources and full texts
personal data
SURNAME Prugener, Nikolaus
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Prugner, Nicolaus; Bruckner Nikolaus; Pontanus, Nicolaus
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German mathematician, astronomer, Protestant theologian and reformer
DATE OF BIRTH around 1494
PLACE OF BIRTH Francs
DATE OF DEATH 1553
Place of death Tübingen