Bonaventura Vulcanius
Encyclopedia
Bonaventura Vulcanius was a leading personality in Dutch
humanism
of the 16th and 17th century.
His father, Pieter de Smet, who already was known by the Latinized version of his name, Petrus Vulcanius
("the blacksmith"), was attorney-general of the Grand Council of Mechlin and counted Erasmus among his friends. He gave his son a thorough education, and Bonaventura studied first in Ghent
, then for two years medicine
at the University of Leuven
, and finally philosophy and literature at Cologne
with George Cassander
.
In 1559 he went to Spain
to become the secretary to Francisco Mendoza de Bobadilla
, bishop of Burgos
, until the latter's death in 1566. He then became the secretary to the bishop's brother in Toledo
until he died in 1570. Hereafter Vulcanius obtained a professorship of Greek in Cologne (though he never got to teach), then worked for the printer Henri Estienne in Geneva
, and for the publisher Froben in Basel
. In 1575, while in Geneva, he published (through Estienne) a scholarly edition of the Historia Alexandri of Arrian, incorporating a new Latin
translation. In 1577 he returned to his native Flanders
, and became secretary and family tutor of Marnix van Sint Aldegonde, diplomat, burgomaster of Antwerp and friend of William the Silent
.
In 1578 he was appointed professor in Latin and Greek at Leiden University
, where in 1581 he (finally) arrived and where for 30 years he 'taught the future elite of the Dutch Republic', among them Daniel Heinsius
and Hugo Grotius
.
Vulcanius had access to the silver-on-purple codex
containing the surviving portion of the ancient Gothic
translation of the Bible
by Bishop Wulfila or Ulphilas. In 1597 he published the text, the first publication of a Gothic text altogether. He gave the manuscript the name by which it is still known, Codex Argenteus
, from the Latin word for silver
.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
humanism
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
of the 16th and 17th century.
His father, Pieter de Smet, who already was known by the Latinized version of his name, Petrus Vulcanius
Petrus Vulcanius
Petrus Vulcanius otherwise Pieter De Smet was a humanist scholar and local government official of Bruges.-Life:...
("the blacksmith"), was attorney-general of the Grand Council of Mechlin and counted Erasmus among his friends. He gave his son a thorough education, and Bonaventura studied first in Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
, then for two years medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
at the University of Leuven
Catholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
, and finally philosophy and literature at Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
with George Cassander
George Cassander
George Cassander was a Flemish theologian.-Life:Born at Pittem near Bruges, he went at an early age to Leuven. He was teaching theology and literature in 1541 at Bruges and shortly afterwards at Ghent...
.
In 1559 he went to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
to become the secretary to Francisco Mendoza de Bobadilla
Francisco Mendoza de Bobadilla
Francisco Mendoza de Bobadilla was a Spanish Roman Catholic Cardinal.-Biography:He was born in Cuenca, the son of Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, first marquis of Cañete and Viceroy of Navarre during the reign of King Charles V...
, bishop of Burgos
Burgos
Burgos is a city of northern Spain, historic capital of Castile. It is situated at the edge of the central plateau, with about 178,966 inhabitants in the city proper and another 20,000 in its suburbs. It is the capital of the province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León...
, until the latter's death in 1566. He then became the secretary to the bishop's brother in Toledo
Toledo, Spain
Toledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:...
until he died in 1570. Hereafter Vulcanius obtained a professorship of Greek in Cologne (though he never got to teach), then worked for the printer Henri Estienne in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, and for the publisher Froben in Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
. In 1575, while in Geneva, he published (through Estienne) a scholarly edition of the Historia Alexandri of Arrian, incorporating a new Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
translation. In 1577 he returned to his native Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, and became secretary and family tutor of Marnix van Sint Aldegonde, diplomat, burgomaster of Antwerp and friend of William the Silent
William the Silent
William I, Prince of Orange , also widely known as William the Silent , or simply William of Orange , was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that set off the Eighty Years' War and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces in 1648. He was born in the House of...
.
In 1578 he was appointed professor in Latin and Greek at Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
, where in 1581 he (finally) arrived and where for 30 years he 'taught the future elite of the Dutch Republic', among them Daniel Heinsius
Daniel Heinsius
Daniel Heinsius was one of the most famous scholars of the Dutch Renaissance.-His youth and student years:...
and Hugo Grotius
Hugo Grotius
Hugo Grotius , also known as Huig de Groot, Hugo Grocio or Hugo de Groot, was a jurist in the Dutch Republic. With Francisco de Vitoria and Alberico Gentili he laid the foundations for international law, based on natural law...
.
Vulcanius had access to the silver-on-purple codex
Codex
A codex is a book in the format used for modern books, with multiple quires or gatherings typically bound together and given a cover.Developed by the Romans from wooden writing tablets, its gradual replacement...
containing the surviving portion of the ancient Gothic
Gothic language
Gothic is an extinct Germanic language that was spoken by the Goths. It is known primarily from the Codex Argenteus, a 6th-century copy of a 4th-century Bible translation, and is the only East Germanic language with a sizable Text corpus...
translation of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
by Bishop Wulfila or Ulphilas. In 1597 he published the text, the first publication of a Gothic text altogether. He gave the manuscript the name by which it is still known, Codex Argenteus
Codex Argenteus
The Codex Argenteus, "Silver Book", is a 6th century manuscript, originally containing bishop Ulfilas's 4th century translation of the Bible into the Gothic language. Of the original 336 folios, 188—including the Speyer fragment discovered in 1970—have been preserved, containing the...
, from the Latin word for silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
.