Dominicus Baudius
Encyclopedia
Dominicus Baudius, a latinised form of Dominique Baude, (Lille
, 8 April 1561 – Leiden, 22 August 1613) was a Dutch Neo-Latin poet, scholar and historian. From 1603 to 1613 he was a teacher at the University of Leiden.
in Lille. His original name was probably Dominique Baude, though sources only show his latinised name Dominicus Baudius. As a result of the arrival of the new regent of the low countries, the Duke of Alba in 1568, Baudius moved to Aachen
along with his parents and sister. After finishing at the local school he proceeded to study theology
first in Leiden from 1578 to 1579 and then in Geneva
in 1581. In 1583 he returned to Leiden to study Law
. In 1585 he graduated. During his time in Leiden he formed connections with Justus Lipsius
and Janus Dousa
.
After his study, Baudius became part of an envoy to England, where he stayed from 1583 to 1585 and where he formed a friendship with the poet Philip Sidney
. Back in the Netherlands he lived in Middelburg
, and for some time served as advocate for the court of Holland in the Hague
. In 1591 he left for France, where he remained for ten years. He stayed amongst others in Caen and Tours, and maintained himself with various jobs and support from friends such as Jacques-Auguste de Thou. However, he frequently had financial difficulties, and in 1598 he spent some time in prison in Paris because of debt incurred from a love-affair.
In 1602 Baudius was in London, after which he travelled to Leiden via Hamburg and the Hague, and he was appointed extraordinary professor of Rhetoric
for the University of Leiden. He also taught law, and in 1611 he was appointed ordinary professor of history. In the same year he was appointed historian for the States-General
together with Johannes Meursius
, with the assignment to write down the events of 1609-1611. This resulted in the Libri tres de Induciis belli Begici (Three books about the Truce
in the dutch war
). In Leiden he befriended amongst others Daniel Heinsius
and Hugo Grotius
. He must have had an attractive and cheerfull personality as his classes were very popular.
His private life was in bad order. He was troubled by his drinking habits and love-affairs, and he always had financial difficulties. His first wife, whom he probably had not married lawfully, died in 1609. After he had an illegitimate child with a prostitute, he was suspended from the senate of the university of leiden in March 1612. He died in 1613, at the age of 52, after several days of heavy drinking. Dominicus Baudius was buried in the Peters-church
in Leiden.
style in humanism. His letters were first published two years after his death. He published his first poetry collection in 1587. In 1591 a Jamborum liber followed after encouragement from Joseph Justus Scaliger
and De Thou. In 1607 Baudius published a new version of his poems in Leiden (Poematum nova editio).
Twenty-five years after Baudius' death, Petrus Scriverius
published a small collection of Baudius' work under the title of Amores.
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
, 8 April 1561 – Leiden, 22 August 1613) was a Dutch Neo-Latin poet, scholar and historian. From 1603 to 1613 he was a teacher at the University of Leiden.
Life
Baudius was born in a calvinistic family in the Southern NetherlandsSouthern Netherlands
Southern Netherlands were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain , Austria and annexed by France...
in Lille. His original name was probably Dominique Baude, though sources only show his latinised name Dominicus Baudius. As a result of the arrival of the new regent of the low countries, the Duke of Alba in 1568, Baudius moved to Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
along with his parents and sister. After finishing at the local school he proceeded to study theology
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...
first in Leiden from 1578 to 1579 and then 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...
in 1581. In 1583 he returned to Leiden to study Law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
. In 1585 he graduated. During his time in Leiden he formed connections with Justus Lipsius
Justus Lipsius
Justus Lipsius was a Southern-Netherlandish philologist and humanist. Lipsius wrote a series of works designed to revive ancient Stoicism in a form that would be compatible with Christianity. The most famous of these is De Constantia...
and Janus Dousa
Janus Dousa
Janus Dousa [Jan van der Does] lord of Noordwyck , Dutch statesman, historian, poet and philologist, the first Librarian of Leiden University Library and the defender of Leiden,-Biography:...
.
After his study, Baudius became part of an envoy to England, where he stayed from 1583 to 1585 and where he formed a friendship with the poet Philip Sidney
Philip Sidney
Sir Philip Sidney was an English poet, courtier and soldier, and is remembered as one of the most prominent figures of the Elizabethan Age...
. Back in the Netherlands he lived in Middelburg
Middelburg
Middelburg is a municipality and a city in the south-western Netherlands and the capital of the province of Zeeland. It is situated in the Midden-Zeeland region. It has a population of about 48,000.- History of Middelburg :...
, and for some time served as advocate for the court of Holland in 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 1591 he left for France, where he remained for ten years. He stayed amongst others in Caen and Tours, and maintained himself with various jobs and support from friends such as Jacques-Auguste de Thou. However, he frequently had financial difficulties, and in 1598 he spent some time in prison in Paris because of debt incurred from a love-affair.
In 1602 Baudius was in London, after which he travelled to Leiden via Hamburg and the Hague, and he was appointed extraordinary professor of Rhetoric
Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. As a subject of formal study and a productive civic practice, rhetoric has played a central role in the Western...
for the University of Leiden. He also taught law, and in 1611 he was appointed ordinary professor of history. In the same year he was appointed historian for the States-General
States-General
The word States-General, or Estates-General, may refer to:Currently in use* States-General of the Netherlands is the bicameral government of present-day Netherlands...
together with Johannes Meursius
Johannes Meursius
Johannes Meursius , was a Dutch classical scholar and antiquary.-Biography:...
, with the assignment to write down the events of 1609-1611. This resulted in the Libri tres de Induciis belli Begici (Three books about the Truce
Twelve Years' Truce
The Twelve Years' Truce was the name given to the cessation of hostilities between the Habsburg rulers of Spain and the Southern Netherlands and the Dutch Republic as agreed in Antwerp on 9 April 1609. It was a watershed in the Eighty Years' War, marking the point from which the independence of the...
in the dutch war
Dutch Revolt
The Dutch Revolt or the Revolt of the Netherlands This article adopts 1568 as the starting date of the war, as this was the year of the first battles between armies. However, since there is a long period of Protestant vs...
). In Leiden he befriended amongst others 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...
. He must have had an attractive and cheerfull personality as his classes were very popular.
His private life was in bad order. He was troubled by his drinking habits and love-affairs, and he always had financial difficulties. His first wife, whom he probably had not married lawfully, died in 1609. After he had an illegitimate child with a prostitute, he was suspended from the senate of the university of leiden in March 1612. He died in 1613, at the age of 52, after several days of heavy drinking. Dominicus Baudius was buried in the Peters-church
Pieterskerk, Leiden
The Pieterskerk is a late-Gothic church in Leiden dedicated to Saint Peter. It is best known today as the church of the Pilgrim Fathers where John Robinson was buried.-History:...
in Leiden.
Works
Baudius attained his greatest fame as a latin writer. He was erudite and had great control of Latin. He was one of the best letter-writers of his time and he is considered one of the best poets of the IambicIambus (genre)
Iambus was a genre of ancient Greek poetry that included but was not restricted to the iambic meter and whose origins modern scholars have traced to the cults of Demeter and Dionysus. The genre featured insulting and obscene language...
style in humanism. His letters were first published two years after his death. He published his first poetry collection in 1587. In 1591 a Jamborum liber followed after encouragement from Joseph Justus Scaliger
Joseph Justus Scaliger
Joseph Justus Scaliger was a French religious leader and scholar, known for expanding the notion of classical history from Greek and Ancient Roman history to include Persian, Babylonian, Jewish and Ancient Egyptian history.-Early life:He was born at Agen, the tenth child and third son of Italian...
and De Thou. In 1607 Baudius published a new version of his poems in Leiden (Poematum nova editio).
Twenty-five years after Baudius' death, Petrus Scriverius
Petrus Scriverius
Petrus Scriverius, the Latinized form of Peter Schrijver or Schryver was a Dutch writer and scholar on the history of Holland and Belgium....
published a small collection of Baudius' work under the title of Amores.
Literature
- P.L.M. Grootens, Dominicus Baudius. Een levensschets uit het Leidse humanistenmilieu 1561-1613, Nijmegen-Utrecht 1942