Dirck Volckertszoon Coornhert
Encyclopedia
Dirck Volckertszoon Coornhert (1522–1590) was a Dutch
writer, philosopher, translator, politician and theologian
. Coornhert is often considered the Father of Dutch Renaissance scholarship.
cloth merchant. As a child he spent some years in Spain
and Portugal
. Returning home, he was disinherited
by his father's will
, for his marriage with Cornelia (Neeltje) Simons, a portionless gentlewoman from Haarlem
, whose sister was Anna Simonsdr, the mistress of Reginald (Reinoud), count of Brederode
(they were the parents of Lucretia van Brederode). Through his sister-in-law, he became major-domo to Reginald at his castle in Vianen for a short time. Soon after that, he bought a house in his wife's home town of Haarlem on the St. Janssteeg from Anna and her husband Jan. Though he started off working for Reginald, he lived near the school where the St. Jan commanderij
taught classic works and commissioned art. Maarten van Heemskerck had just returned from Italy and impressed Coornhert with his work. Coornhert became an engraver on copper
, and produced works in collaboration with Heemskerck which became popular.
Learning Latin, he published Dutch translations from Cicero
, Seneca
and Boethius
. His 1562 translation of the first twelve books of Homer's Odyssey is one of the first major works of Dutch Renaissance poetry. He was appointed secretary to the city (1562) and secretary to the burgomaster
s (1564). Throwing himself into the struggle against Spanish rule, he drew up the manifesto of William the Silent
, Prince of Orange
(1566). Imprisoned at the Hague
in 1568, he escaped to Cleves, where he maintained himself by his art. Recalled in 1572, he was secretary of state
for a short time; his aversion to military violence led him to return to Cleves, where William continued to employ his services and his pen. As a religious man, he wrote and strove in favor of tolerance, opposing capital punishment
for heretics
. He had no party views; he criticized the Heidelberg Catechism
, which was authoritative in Holland. Jacobus Arminius
, employed to refute him, was won over by his arguments.
According to the RKD, his pupils were Hendrick Goltzius, Philip Galle, and Cornelis Cort
.
On his death in 1590, his Dutch version of the New Testament
, following the Latin of Erasmus, was never completed. His works, in prose and verse, were published in 1630 in 3 volumes.
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...
writer, philosopher, translator, politician and theologian
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
. Coornhert is often considered the Father of Dutch Renaissance scholarship.
Biography
He was the youngest son of Volckert Coornhert, an AmsterdamAmsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
cloth merchant. As a child he spent some years in 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...
and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. Returning home, he was disinherited
Inheritance
Inheritance is the practice of passing on property, titles, debts, rights and obligations upon the death of an individual. It has long played an important role in human societies...
by his father's will
Will (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
, for his marriage with Cornelia (Neeltje) Simons, a portionless gentlewoman from Haarlem
Haarlem
Haarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...
, whose sister was Anna Simonsdr, the mistress of Reginald (Reinoud), count of Brederode
Brederode
Brederode may refer to:* Dutch ship Brederode, flagship of the Dutch fleet in the First Anglo-Dutch War* Castle Brederode, a ruined castle near Haarlem, in Santpoort-Zuid...
(they were the parents of Lucretia van Brederode). Through his sister-in-law, he became major-domo to Reginald at his castle in Vianen for a short time. Soon after that, he bought a house in his wife's home town of Haarlem on the St. Janssteeg from Anna and her husband Jan. Though he started off working for Reginald, he lived near the school where the St. Jan commanderij
Commandry (feudalism)
Commandry , or commandery , was the smallest division of the European landed estate or manor under the control of a commendator, or commander, of an order of knights...
taught classic works and commissioned art. Maarten van Heemskerck had just returned from Italy and impressed Coornhert with his work. Coornhert became an engraver on copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
, and produced works in collaboration with Heemskerck which became popular.
Learning Latin, he published Dutch translations from Cicero
Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero , was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the equestrian order, and is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.He introduced the Romans to the chief...
, Seneca
Seneca the Younger
Lucius Annaeus Seneca was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist, and in one work humorist, of the Silver Age of Latin literature. He was tutor and later advisor to emperor Nero...
and Boethius
Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius
Anicius Manlius Severinus Boëthius, commonly called Boethius was a philosopher of the early 6th century. He was born in Rome to an ancient and important family which included emperors Petronius Maximus and Olybrius and many consuls. His father, Flavius Manlius Boethius, was consul in 487 after...
. His 1562 translation of the first twelve books of Homer's Odyssey is one of the first major works of Dutch Renaissance poetry. He was appointed secretary to the city (1562) and secretary to the burgomaster
Burgomaster
Burgomaster is the English form of various terms in or derived from Germanic languages for the chief magistrate or chairman of the executive council of a sub-national level of administration...
s (1564). Throwing himself into the struggle against Spanish rule, he drew up the manifesto 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...
, Prince of Orange
Prince of Orange
Prince of Orange is a title of nobility, originally associated with the Principality of Orange, in what is now southern France. In French it is la Principauté d'Orange....
(1566). Imprisoned at the Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
in 1568, he escaped to Cleves, where he maintained himself by his art. Recalled in 1572, he was secretary of state
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
for a short time; his aversion to military violence led him to return to Cleves, where William continued to employ his services and his pen. As a religious man, he wrote and strove in favor of tolerance, opposing capital punishment
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
for heretics
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
. He had no party views; he criticized the Heidelberg Catechism
Heidelberg Catechism
The Heidelberg Catechism is a Protestant confessional document taking the form of a series of questions and answers, for use in teaching Reformed Christian doctrine...
, which was authoritative in Holland. Jacobus Arminius
Jacobus Arminius
Jacobus Arminius , the Latinized name of the Dutch theologian Jakob Hermanszoon from the Protestant Reformation period, served from 1603 as professor in theology at the University of Leiden...
, employed to refute him, was won over by his arguments.
According to the RKD, his pupils were Hendrick Goltzius, Philip Galle, and Cornelis Cort
Cornelis Cort
Cornelis Cort was a Dutch engraver and draughtsman. He spent the last 12 years of his life in Italy, where he was known as Cornelio Fiammingo.-Biography:...
.
On his death in 1590, his Dutch version of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
, following the Latin of Erasmus, was never completed. His works, in prose and verse, were published in 1630 in 3 volumes.
Quotes
- "Each wants to dictate another's creed ... This is done by those who formerly taught that such things do not become the Christian"
- "Rest Elsewhere" (his motto).
- "...a voluntary crowbar to the murderous prison of conscience" (on himself).