Ludwig Camerarius
Encyclopedia
Ludwig Camerarius was a German statesman, lawyer, minister and head of Frederick V
's government-in-exile in the Hague
. He also served Swedish interests later in his life. He was the son of the scholar Joachim Camerarius the Younger
and grandson of Joachim Camerarius the Elder
.
The Collectio Camerariana collection of letters (now held in the Staatsbibliothek München) includes his correspondence from 1621 as well as several letters from Philipp Melanchthon
, Martin Luther
, Ulrich Zwingli, Jakob Micyllus, Desiderius Erasmus
and the poet Georg Fabricius
, mostly written to his grandfather Joachim - these form an important source for the Protestant Reformation
and the Counter-Reformation
.
, then from 2 February 1592 in Helmstedt
, from summer 1592 in Leipzig
and then from 1597 in Basel
. In Basel he graduated as a Doctor of Law. On 17 April 1599 he married Anna Maria Modesta Pastoir (15 July 1580 in Heidelberg - c 1642), with whom he had seven children. After his graduation he practised from 1597 onwards at the Reichskammergericht
in Speyer
.
In 1598 he entered Frederick V's service and was made a Councillor (Hofrat) in 1610 and a Privy Councillor (Geheimer Rat) in 1611. Under the overall direction of Christian I, governor of the Upper Palatine and chancellor of Palatine Electorate, Camerarius became de facto head of the Palatine's foreign policy and - anxious for promotion - aimed to gain Frederick the throne of Bohemia. He is thought to be the originator of the plan to put up Maximilian I, Duke of Bavaria as an opponent to Ferdinand II
at the 1619 imperial election.
After Frederick was elected king of Bohemia, Camerarius followed him to Prague and in 1620 was made Privy Councillor and vice-chancellor of Silesia
. After Frederick's fall in November 1620, Camerarius followed him into exile in the Netherlands and wrote pamphlets and books attempting to refute the Palatinate's causing the Thirty Years' War
. Especially after his appointment as head of Frederick's government-in-exile, Camerarius was convinced that Protestantism's main priority was to lead a Europe-wide war against the Habsburgs and the Catholic League
.
In 1627 Camerarius was succeeded as head of the government in exile by Johann Joachim Rusdorf. As early as 1626 he had gone over to serving Sweden in the Netherlands, though he remained committed to the Palatinate's cause, and worked for the Swedes until 1640. Until 1651 he was based in Groningen and returned to Heidelberg shortly before his death in 1651.
Frederick V, Elector Palatine
Frederick V was Elector Palatine , and, as Frederick I , King of Bohemia ....
's government-in-exile 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...
. He also served Swedish interests later in his life. He was the son of the scholar Joachim Camerarius the Younger
Joachim Camerarius the Younger
Joachim Camerarius the Younger was a German physician, botanist, and humanist scholar.-Life:...
and grandson of Joachim Camerarius the Elder
Joachim Camerarius
Joachim Camerarius , the Elder was a German classical scholar.-Life:He was born at Bamberg, Bavaria...
.
The Collectio Camerariana collection of letters (now held in the Staatsbibliothek München) includes his correspondence from 1621 as well as several letters from Philipp Melanchthon
Philipp Melanchthon
Philipp Melanchthon , born Philipp Schwartzerdt, was a German reformer, collaborator with Martin Luther, the first systematic theologian of the Protestant Reformation, intellectual leader of the Lutheran Reformation, and an influential designer of educational systems...
, Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
, Ulrich Zwingli, Jakob Micyllus, Desiderius Erasmus
Desiderius Erasmus
Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus , known as Erasmus of Rotterdam, was a Dutch Renaissance humanist, Catholic priest, and a theologian....
and the poet Georg Fabricius
Georg Fabricius
Georg Fabricius , born Georg Goldschmidt, was a Protestant German poet, historian and archaeologist.- Life :...
, mostly written to his grandfather Joachim - these form an important source for the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
and the Counter-Reformation
Counter-Reformation
The Counter-Reformation was the period of Catholic revival beginning with the Council of Trent and ending at the close of the Thirty Years' War, 1648 as a response to the Protestant Reformation.The Counter-Reformation was a comprehensive effort, composed of four major elements:#Ecclesiastical or...
.
Life
From 1588 he studied at Altdorf bei NürnbergAltdorf bei Nürnberg
Altdorf bei Nürnberg is a town in south-eastern Germany. It is situated 25 km east of Nuremberg, in the district Nürnberger Land. Its name literally means Altdorf near Nuremberg, to distinguish it from other Altdorfs.-History:...
, then from 2 February 1592 in Helmstedt
Helmstedt
Helmstedt is a city located at the eastern edge of the German state of Lower Saxony. It is the capital of the District of Helmstedt. Helmstedt has 26,000 inhabitants . In former times the city was also called Helmstädt....
, from summer 1592 in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
and then from 1597 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 Basel he graduated as a Doctor of Law. On 17 April 1599 he married Anna Maria Modesta Pastoir (15 July 1580 in Heidelberg - c 1642), with whom he had seven children. After his graduation he practised from 1597 onwards at the Reichskammergericht
Reichskammergericht
The Reichskammergericht or Imperial Chamber Court was one of two highest judicial institutions in the Holy Roman Empire, the other one being the Aulic Council in Vienna. It was founded in 1495 by the Imperial Diet in Worms...
in Speyer
Speyer
Speyer is a city of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany with approximately 50,000 inhabitants. Located beside the river Rhine, Speyer is 25 km south of Ludwigshafen and Mannheim. Founded by the Romans, it is one of Germany's oldest cities...
.
In 1598 he entered Frederick V's service and was made a Councillor (Hofrat) in 1610 and a Privy Councillor (Geheimer Rat) in 1611. Under the overall direction of Christian I, governor of the Upper Palatine and chancellor of Palatine Electorate, Camerarius became de facto head of the Palatine's foreign policy and - anxious for promotion - aimed to gain Frederick the throne of Bohemia. He is thought to be the originator of the plan to put up Maximilian I, Duke of Bavaria as an opponent to Ferdinand II
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
at the 1619 imperial election.
After Frederick was elected king of Bohemia, Camerarius followed him to Prague and in 1620 was made Privy Councillor and vice-chancellor of Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
. After Frederick's fall in November 1620, Camerarius followed him into exile in the Netherlands and wrote pamphlets and books attempting to refute the Palatinate's causing the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
. Especially after his appointment as head of Frederick's government-in-exile, Camerarius was convinced that Protestantism's main priority was to lead a Europe-wide war against the Habsburgs and the Catholic League
Catholic League (German)
The German Catholic League was initially a loose confederation of Roman Catholic German states formed on July 10, 1609 to counteract the Protestant Union , whereby the participating states concluded an alliance "for the defence of the Catholic religion and peace within the Empire." Modeled...
.
In 1627 Camerarius was succeeded as head of the government in exile by Johann Joachim Rusdorf. As early as 1626 he had gone over to serving Sweden in the Netherlands, though he remained committed to the Palatinate's cause, and worked for the Swedes until 1640. Until 1651 he was based in Groningen and returned to Heidelberg shortly before his death in 1651.
Works
- Friderici dei gratia Bohemiae regis, comitis palatini rheni, electoris &c. declaratio publica, Cur Regni Bohemiae annexarumque Provinciarum Regimen in se susceperit, 1619, Digital site of the University of Augsburg
- Prodromus, Oder Vortrab, Nothwendiger Rettung vornehmer Evangelischer Hohen und niedern Standts, betrangten und verleumbden Personen unschuldt, durch gründliche entdeckung der Papistischen schädlichen Intention unnd Vorhabens : Das ist: Warhaffter unnd glaubwirdiger Abdruck etzlicher intercipirten sehr weit außsehenden gefährlichen Schreiben und Schrifften, welche auß den Originalien, mit fleiß abcopirt, und theils auß denen Sprachen, darinnen sie geschrieben, trewlich verteutschet sein, mit angehengter kurtzer Information unnd Anleitung, 1622
- Cancellaria hispanica : Adjecta sunt Acta publica, Hoc est: Scripta et Epistolae authenticae, `e quibus partim infelicis belli in Germania partim Proscriptionis in Electorem Palatinum scopus praecipuus apparet ..., 1622
- Bericht und Antwort uff die vornembste Capita, Päß und Puncten der bayer-anhaltischen geheimen Cantzley : sampt etlichen Beylagen, 1623
- Mysterium iniquitatis, sive secreta secretorum turco-papistica secreta : Contra Libellum famosum, sub titulo Secreta calvino-turcica, auctore quodam personato Theonesto Cogmandolo Politiae Christianae professore, aliquoties editum. XCV considerationibus revelata, et totidem eius malitiosis et ex mera calumnia conflatis considerationibus ex parallelo opposita ... Justinopoli, 1625