Ludwig Rabus
Encyclopedia
Ludwig Rabus (10 October 1523 – 22 July 1592) was a German Lutheran theologian.
, in poor circumstances. He went to Strassburg, where he was supported by the preacher Matthäus Zell
and his wife Katharina
. In 1538 Rabus became a student at Tübingen University, and graduated M.A. in 1543.
In the following years Rabus became Zell's assistant, made a reputation as a preachers, and in 1548 was Zell's successor. The Augsburg Interim
meant he lost his post, but he remained in Strassourg. In 1552 he became head of the Collegium Wilhelmitanum and teacher at the High School; in 1553 together with Jacob Andreae he was awarded a Tübingen doctorate.
When the Strassburg council favoured Johannes Marbach, Rabus left the city, where he was regarded as something of a fanatic, and went as minister and dean to Ulm
, where he worked for 34 years. In the controversy around Kaspar Schwenckfeld he wrote against Katharina Zell, who defended herself; what had been a long-running private disagreement about her husband's legacy became a public quarrel.
In Ulm Rabus standardised teaching, held inspections, introduced liturgical books, and supported Andreae in his efforts towards the Swabian Concord. He died there.
The German Historien der Heyligen appeared in six volumes (completed 1557), published at Strassburg by Samuel Emmel. It is framed as a universal history
. The first volume begins with Abel and discusses biblical stories and martyrs of the Early Christian Church; it uses Eusebius of Caesarea
as a source. In the following five books around 70 martyrologies are given. He dedicated his book of martyrology to the Strassburg council; as well as to Christoph, Duke of Württemberg
.
Life
He was born in MemmingenMemmingen
Memmingen is a town in the Bavarian administrative region of Swabia in Germany. It is the central economic, educational and administrative centre in the Danube-Iller region. To the west the town is flanked by the Iller, the river that marks the Baden-Württemberg border...
, in poor circumstances. He went to Strassburg, where he was supported by the preacher Matthäus Zell
Matthäus Zell
Matthäus Zell was a Lutheran theologian and reformer based in Strasbourg. His widow was Katharina Zell.- Life :...
and his wife Katharina
Katharina Zell
Katharina Zell née Schütz was a German Protestant writer during the Reformation. She was wife of Matthias Zell/Matthäus Zell, one of the first priests to marry, and be excommunicated for marrying. After his death she continued his work...
. In 1538 Rabus became a student at Tübingen University, and graduated M.A. in 1543.
In the following years Rabus became Zell's assistant, made a reputation as a preachers, and in 1548 was Zell's successor. The Augsburg Interim
Augsburg Interim
The Augsburg Interim is the general term given to an imperial decree ordered on May 15, 1548, at the 1548 Diet of Augsburg, after Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, had defeated the forces of the Schmalkaldic League in the Schmalkaldic War of 1546/47...
meant he lost his post, but he remained in Strassourg. In 1552 he became head of the Collegium Wilhelmitanum and teacher at the High School; in 1553 together with Jacob Andreae he was awarded a Tübingen doctorate.
When the Strassburg council favoured Johannes Marbach, Rabus left the city, where he was regarded as something of a fanatic, and went as minister and dean to Ulm
Ulm
Ulm is a city in the federal German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the River Danube. The city, whose population is estimated at 120,000 , forms an urban district of its own and is the administrative seat of the Alb-Donau district. Ulm, founded around 850, is rich in history and...
, where he worked for 34 years. In the controversy around Kaspar Schwenckfeld he wrote against Katharina Zell, who defended herself; what had been a long-running private disagreement about her husband's legacy became a public quarrel.
In Ulm Rabus standardised teaching, held inspections, introduced liturgical books, and supported Andreae in his efforts towards the Swabian Concord. He died there.
Works
Rabus began to work on a selective Protestant martyrology in the late 1540s, as the Interim began to have an impact on churches in his region. A Latin version appeared in 1552.The German Historien der Heyligen appeared in six volumes (completed 1557), published at Strassburg by Samuel Emmel. It is framed as a universal history
Universal history
Universal history is basic to the Western tradition of historiography, especially the Abrahamic wellspring of that tradition. Simply stated, universal history is the presentation of the history of humankind as a whole, as a coherent unit.-Ancient authors:...
. The first volume begins with Abel and discusses biblical stories and martyrs of the Early Christian Church; it uses Eusebius of Caesarea
Eusebius of Caesarea
Eusebius of Caesarea also called Eusebius Pamphili, was a Roman historian, exegete and Christian polemicist. He became the Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine about the year 314. Together with Pamphilus, he was a scholar of the Biblical canon...
as a source. In the following five books around 70 martyrologies are given. He dedicated his book of martyrology to the Strassburg council; as well as to Christoph, Duke of Württemberg
Christoph, Duke of Württemberg
Christoph of Württemberg, Duke of Württemberg ruled as Duke of Württemberg from 1550 until his death in 1568....
.