Johannes Nauclerus
Encyclopedia
Johannes Nauclerus (ca. 1425—May 1, 1510) was a 16th century Swabia
n historian
and humanist
. He was born Johann Vergenhans to a noble
(or knighted
) man of the same name. As was the fashion of the time, the family's name had been Latinized
, with nauclerus, meaning "skipper," being a close translation
of Vergenhans, meaning "ferryman
." The family's coat of arms
depicted a man on a sailing ship.http://web.telia.com/~u42300055/NAU/The_book.htm
Nauclerus became a doctor of law
in 1450 and supervisor to Count Eberhard V of Württemberg
. In 1460, he was head of the church in Stuttgart
. He seems to have spent some time in Italy
, and had contact with Pope Pius II
. From 1464 to 1465 he taught at the University of Basel
, and in 1466 was in Rome
.
In 1477 he became first rector
at the University of Tübingen and subsequently its second chancellor
.
In 1502, Nauclerus assumed the office of a judge
of the Swabian League
, which he held until the withdrawal of Württemberg
from the federation in 1513.http://www.pforzheim.de/portal/page?_pageid=123,50497&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
. The work chronicled the centuries from the time of Adam to the year 1500. This work did not follow the traditional temporal divisions of "ages" (aetates) and "realms" (regna), but adhered to a division based on generation
s.
Written in Latin
and on the suggestion of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
, it described Biblical events, such as the building of the Tower of Babel
, as well as events from Greek mythology
, such as the Trojan War
. Also included were historical events such as the burning of Girolamo Savonarola
in Florence
(1498).
Nauclerus consulted an unusually large number of different sources (such as an account by Eilmer of Malmesbury
), indicating that he was already committed to the new spirit of humanism. Some of the sources he consulted no longer exist; their contents are only known through Nauclerus' work.http://www.bsb-muenchen.de/foerder/p52.htm
This work was known to Ortelius through Franciscus Irenicus
.http://www.orteliusmaps.com/ortbib/Ortbibsourcesv.htm Erasmus also wrote a laudatory foreword.http://www.bsb-muenchen.de/foerder/p52.htm
Other works include his Tractatus de symonia perutilis (Tübingen, 1500).
Swabia
Swabia is a cultural, historic and linguistic region in southwestern Germany.-Geography:Like many cultural regions of Europe, Swabia's borders are not clearly defined...
n historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
and humanist
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....
. He was born Johann Vergenhans to a noble
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
(or knighted
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
) man of the same name. As was the fashion of the time, the family's name had been Latinized
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...
, with nauclerus, meaning "skipper," being a close translation
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
of Vergenhans, meaning "ferryman
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
." The family's coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
depicted a man on a sailing ship.http://web.telia.com/~u42300055/NAU/The_book.htm
Nauclerus became a doctor of law
Doctor of law
Doctor of Law or Doctor of Laws is a doctoral degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country, and includes degrees such as the LL.D., Ph.D., J.D., J.S.D., and Dr. iur.-Argentina:...
in 1450 and supervisor to Count Eberhard V of Württemberg
Eberhard I, Duke of Württemberg
Eberhard I of Württemberg . From 1459 till 1495 he was Count Eberhard V. From July 1495 he was the first Duke of Württemberg. He is also known as Eberhard im Bart ....
. In 1460, he was head of the church in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
. He seems to have spent some time in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and had contact with Pope Pius II
Pope Pius II
Pope Pius II, born Enea Silvio Piccolomini was Pope from August 19, 1458 until his death in 1464. Pius II was born at Corsignano in the Sienese territory of a noble but decayed family...
. From 1464 to 1465 he taught at the University of Basel
University of Basel
The University of Basel is located in Basel, Switzerland, and is considered to be one of leading universities in the country...
, and in 1466 was in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
In 1477 he became first rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
at the University of Tübingen and subsequently its second chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
.
In 1502, Nauclerus assumed the office of a judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of the Swabian League
Swabian League
The Swabian League was an association of Imperial States - cities, prelates, principalities and knights - principally in the territory of the Early medieval stem duchy of Swabia, established in 1488 at the behest of Emperor Frederick III of Habsburg and supported as well by Bertold von...
, which he held until the withdrawal of Württemberg
Württemberg
Württemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
from the federation in 1513.http://www.pforzheim.de/portal/page?_pageid=123,50497&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
Work
He is the author of the World Chronicle (Memorabilium omnis aetatis et omnium gentium chronici commentarii, 1516), printed posthumously, with its foreword written by Johann ReuchlinJohann Reuchlin
Johann Reuchlin was a German humanist and a scholar of Greek and Hebrew. For much of his life, he was the real centre of all Greek and Hebrew teaching in Germany.-Early life:...
. The work chronicled the centuries from the time of Adam to the year 1500. This work did not follow the traditional temporal divisions of "ages" (aetates) and "realms" (regna), but adhered to a division based on generation
Generation
Generation , also known as procreation in biological sciences, is the act of producing offspring....
s.
Written in 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...
and on the suggestion of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian I , the son of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and Eleanor of Portugal, was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 until his death, though he was never in fact crowned by the Pope, the journey to Rome always being too risky...
, it described Biblical events, such as the building of the Tower of Babel
Tower of Babel
The Tower of Babel , according to the Book of Genesis, was an enormous tower built in the plain of Shinar .According to the biblical account, a united humanity of the generations following the Great Flood, speaking a single language and migrating from the east, came to the land of Shinar, where...
, as well as events from Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
, such as the Trojan War
Trojan War
In Greek mythology, the Trojan War was waged against the city of Troy by the Achaeans after Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus, the king of Sparta. The war is among the most important events in Greek mythology and was narrated in many works of Greek literature, including the Iliad...
. Also included were historical events such as the burning of Girolamo Savonarola
Girolamo Savonarola
Girolamo Savonarola was an Italian Dominican friar, Scholastic, and an influential contributor to the politics of Florence from 1494 until his execution in 1498. He was known for his book burning, destruction of what he considered immoral art, and what he thought the Renaissance—which began in his...
in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
(1498).
Nauclerus consulted an unusually large number of different sources (such as an account by Eilmer of Malmesbury
Eilmer of Malmesbury
Eilmer of Malmesbury was an 11th-century English Benedictine monk best known for his early attempt at a gliding flight using wings.- Life :...
), indicating that he was already committed to the new spirit of humanism. Some of the sources he consulted no longer exist; their contents are only known through Nauclerus' work.http://www.bsb-muenchen.de/foerder/p52.htm
This work was known to Ortelius through Franciscus Irenicus
Franciscus Irenicus
Franciscus Irenicus, byname of Franz Friedlieb was a German humanist and historian.He was born in Ettlingen and died in Gemmingen. As a patriotic humanist he describes Germany in twelve books: Germaniæ exegeseos volumina duodecim a Francisco Irenico Ettelingiaco exarata, which appeared in Hagenau...
.http://www.orteliusmaps.com/ortbib/Ortbibsourcesv.htm Erasmus also wrote a laudatory foreword.http://www.bsb-muenchen.de/foerder/p52.htm
Other works include his Tractatus de symonia perutilis (Tübingen, 1500).