Matthias Bernegger
Encyclopedia
Matthias Bernegger was a German
philologist, astronomer
, university professor and writer of Latin
works.
, where Bernegger visited the Gymnasium. In 1599, the 17-year-old began studies in Straßburg, mainly in the fields of philology
and natural sciences. He was fascinated by astronomy
and was in contact with Johannes Kepler
and Wilhelm Schickard
.
Already in 1612, Bernegger had translated a 1606 Italian language work of Galileo Galilei
's into Latin, as Tractatus de proportionum instrumento.
In 1632, via their mutual friend Elia Diodati, Galilei asked Bernegger to translate his Italian language Dialogo (Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems
) into Latin. In order to protect Galilei's involvement, it was stated in the preface that one of Peter Crüger
's pupils, Benjamin Engelcke, had traveled in 1632 to Italy, had met Galilei, and had brought Galilei's book to Bernegger to persuade him to translate, without Galilei's permission.
Bernegger was known for his editions of classic writers like Tacitus
and for his correspondence with scholars. Among his students were the Silesian
Daniel Czepko von Reigersfeld (1605-1660), Johannes Freinsheim, Johann Michael Moscherosch
, Martin Opitz and the Prussian Robert Roberthin (1600-1648).
Since 1607, Bernegger taught, like his colleague Caspar Brülow (1585-1627), at the Protestant Gymnasium, before he was called in 1616 to the Straßburg Academy which was raised in 1621 to a University.
Bernegger was also interested in politics, and during the Thirty Years' War
tried to negotiate with the French. As pacifist, he opposed Caspar Schoppe
who called for a holy war against Protestants.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
philologist, astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
, university professor and writer of 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...
works.
Life
Bernegger's Protestant family was, like other so called exulanten, expelled from Habsburg Austria during the counter reformation. They settled in RegensburgRegensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
, where Bernegger visited the Gymnasium. In 1599, the 17-year-old began studies in Straßburg, mainly in the fields of philology
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
and natural sciences. He was fascinated by astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
and was in contact with Johannes Kepler
Johannes Kepler
Johannes Kepler was a German mathematician, astronomer and astrologer. A key figure in the 17th century scientific revolution, he is best known for his eponymous laws of planetary motion, codified by later astronomers, based on his works Astronomia nova, Harmonices Mundi, and Epitome of Copernican...
and Wilhelm Schickard
Wilhelm Schickard
Wilhelm Schickard was a German polymath who designed a calculating machine in 1623, twenty years before the Pascaline of Blaise Pascal. Unfortunately a fire destroyed the machine as it was being built in 1624 and Schickard decided to abandon his project...
.
Already in 1612, Bernegger had translated a 1606 Italian language work of Galileo Galilei
Galileo Galilei
Galileo Galilei , was an Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher who played a major role in the Scientific Revolution. His achievements include improvements to the telescope and consequent astronomical observations and support for Copernicanism...
's into Latin, as Tractatus de proportionum instrumento.
In 1632, via their mutual friend Elia Diodati, Galilei asked Bernegger to translate his Italian language Dialogo (Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems
Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems
The Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems was a 1632 Italian language book by Galileo Galilei comparing the Copernican system with the traditional Ptolemaic system. It was translated to Latin as Systema cosmicum in 1635 by Matthias Bernegger...
) into Latin. In order to protect Galilei's involvement, it was stated in the preface that one of Peter Crüger
Peter Crüger
Peter Crüger or Peter Krüger was a mathematician, astronomer, polymath, and teacher of Johannes Hevelius.-Life:...
's pupils, Benjamin Engelcke, had traveled in 1632 to Italy, had met Galilei, and had brought Galilei's book to Bernegger to persuade him to translate, without Galilei's permission.
Bernegger was known for his editions of classic writers like Tacitus
Tacitus
Publius Cornelius Tacitus was a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals and the Histories—examine the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors...
and for his correspondence with scholars. Among his students were the Silesian
Silesian
Silesian or Upper Silesian is considered either a dialect of the Polish language , or a separate Slavic language of the Lechitic group spoken in the region of Silesia...
Daniel Czepko von Reigersfeld (1605-1660), Johannes Freinsheim, Johann Michael Moscherosch
Johann Michael Moscherosch
Johann Michael Moscherosch , German satirist and moralist, was born at Willstädt, on the Upper Rhine near Strasbourg. His bitterly brilliant but partisan writings graphically describe life in a Germany ravaged by the Thirty Years' War...
, Martin Opitz and the Prussian Robert Roberthin (1600-1648).
Since 1607, Bernegger taught, like his colleague Caspar Brülow (1585-1627), at the Protestant Gymnasium, before he was called in 1616 to the Straßburg Academy which was raised in 1621 to a University.
Bernegger was also interested in politics, and during 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....
tried to negotiate with the French. As pacifist, he opposed Caspar Schoppe
Caspar Schoppe
Caspar Schoppe was a German controversialist and scholar.-Life:He was born at Neumarkt in the upper Palatinate and studied at several German universities. Having converted to Roman Catholicism in about 1599, he obtained the favour of Pope Clement VIII, and distinguished himself by the virulence of...
who called for a holy war against Protestants.
Works (selection)
- see list
- Manuale Mathematicum ... Allen Bau- vnd Kriegsverständigen ... vnd andern Kunstliebenden in Teutscher Sprach. Straßburg 1612
- Tuba Pacis, occenta Scioppiano Belli Sacri Classico. Straßburg 1621 (against Caspar SchoppeCaspar SchoppeCaspar Schoppe was a German controversialist and scholar.-Life:He was born at Neumarkt in the upper Palatinate and studied at several German universities. Having converted to Roman Catholicism in about 1599, he obtained the favour of Pope Clement VIII, and distinguished himself by the virulence of...
) - Systema cosmicum, Authore Galilaeo Galilei. Straßburg 1635 (Latin translation of Galilei's Italian language Dialogo (Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World SystemsDialogue Concerning the Two Chief World SystemsThe Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems was a 1632 Italian language book by Galileo Galilei comparing the Copernican system with the traditional Ptolemaic system. It was translated to Latin as Systema cosmicum in 1635 by Matthias Bernegger...
) )
Correspondence
- Hugonis GrotiiHugo GrotiusHugo 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...
& Matthiae Berneggeri Epistolae. Straßburg 1667 - Epistolae J. KeppleriJohannes KeplerJohannes Kepler was a German mathematician, astronomer and astrologer. A key figure in the 17th century scientific revolution, he is best known for his eponymous laws of planetary motion, codified by later astronomers, based on his works Astronomia nova, Harmonices Mundi, and Epitome of Copernican...
& M. Berneggeri. Straßburg 1672 - Epistolae W. SchickartiWilhelm SchickardWilhelm Schickard was a German polymath who designed a calculating machine in 1623, twenty years before the Pascaline of Blaise Pascal. Unfortunately a fire destroyed the machine as it was being built in 1624 and Schickard decided to abandon his project...
& M. Berneggeri. Straßburg 1673
Literature (selection)
- Carl Bünger: Matthias Bernegger. Ein Bild aus dem geistigen Leben Straßburgs zur Zeit des 30jährigen Krieges. Straßburg 1893
- Waltraud Foitzik:
. Matthias Bernegger und der Friedensgedanke des 17. Jahrhunderts . Diss. Münster 1955 - Gerhard Meyer: Die Entwicklung der Straßburger Universität. Heidelberg 1926
- Gerhard Dünnhaupt: Matthias Bernegger (1582-1640), in: Personalbibliographien zu den Drucken des Barock, Bd. 1. Stuttgart: Hiersemann 1990, S. 490-533. ISBN 3-7772-9013-0