Matthias Hoe von Hoenegg
Encyclopedia
Matthias Hoë von Hoënegg (24 February 1580, Vienna
- 4 March 1645, Dresden
) was a German Lutheran theologian.
Due to the imminent capture of Vienna in 1594
by the Ottomans, Matthias, his father and his brother moved to Steyr
, where they spent three years and where Matthias attended the local gymnasium
. His father then returned to Vienna and recalled Matthias, giving him a chance to attend the University of Vienna
, where he initially studied philosophy. On the recommendation of an envoy from Saxony, on 16 June 1597 he moved to the University of Wittenberg, where he studied philosophy and gained his Master's degree, toying with going into law but in the end deciding to study theology.
After several disputations and lectures in Wittenberg, his father's death in 1599 brought him back to Vienna for a short time, before returneing to Wittenberg, where he gained his licentiate
in theology in 1601. In 1602 he travelled to Dresden, where he aimed to become court-preacher to the Prince Elector. After a trial sermon on 17 February 1602 he gained the post and also graduated on 6 March 1604 as a doctor of theology in Wittenberg. Christian II of Saxony then sent him to Plauen
as superintendent, where on 20 April he was introduced to Polykarp Leyser the Elder
.
Despite several offers of other posts, he remained in the service of Saxony and in 1611, at the request of the elector of Saxony, moved to Prague
as director of Protestant schools and churches in Bohemia
. He then moved back to Dresden on the death of Paul Jenisch
and replaced him as chief court preacher of Saxony.
His most notable work is his two-volume Commentarii in Joannis Apocalypsin (Leipzig 1610/40). His sermons and writings were strong Lutheran polemics against the Reformed churches
, whose beliefs he loathed more than Counter-Reformation
Catholicism. Older literature on the topic has overestimated his influence on John George I of Saxony and Saxon policy at the start of the Thirty Years' War
, though he was on John George's privy council when it approved siding with Frederick V
and wrote propaganda to support that decision.
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
- 4 March 1645, Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
) was a German Lutheran theologian.
Life
Matthias's father was Leonhard Höe von Höenegg, a Lutheran imperial councillor and doctor of law descended from old Austrian nobility. Matthias was born prematurely and so his health was weak during his early years, meaning he only started speaking when he was seven. His father initially had him taught by a private tutor until, once he was almost fully educated, he was allowed to visit Vienna's St Stephan's Stadtschule, where he developed remarkably and began talking to the city's scholars.Due to the imminent capture of Vienna in 1594
Long War (Ottoman wars)
The Long War took place from 1591 or 1593 to 1604 or 1606 and was one of the numerous military conflicts between the Habsburg Monarchy and the Ottoman Empire that developed after the Battle of Mohács.- History :The major participants of this war were the Habsburg Monarchy ,...
by the Ottomans, Matthias, his father and his brother moved to Steyr
Steyr
Steyr is a town, located in the Austrian federal state of Upper Austria. The town is situated at the confluence of the rivers Steyr and Enns. Steyr is Austria's 12th most populated town and simultaneously the 3rd largest town in Upper Austria....
, where they spent three years and where Matthias attended the local gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
. His father then returned to Vienna and recalled Matthias, giving him a chance to attend the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
, where he initially studied philosophy. On the recommendation of an envoy from Saxony, on 16 June 1597 he moved to the University of Wittenberg, where he studied philosophy and gained his Master's degree, toying with going into law but in the end deciding to study theology.
After several disputations and lectures in Wittenberg, his father's death in 1599 brought him back to Vienna for a short time, before returneing to Wittenberg, where he gained his licentiate
Licentiate
Licentiate is the title of a person who holds an academic degree called a licence. The term may derive from the Latin licentia docendi, meaning permission to teach. The term may also derive from the Latin licentia ad practicandum, which signified someone who held a certificate of competence to...
in theology in 1601. In 1602 he travelled to Dresden, where he aimed to become court-preacher to the Prince Elector. After a trial sermon on 17 February 1602 he gained the post and also graduated on 6 March 1604 as a doctor of theology in Wittenberg. Christian II of Saxony then sent him to Plauen
Plauen
Plauen is a town in the Free State of Saxony, east-central Germany.It is the capital of the Vogtlandkreis. The town is situated near the border of Bavaria and the Czech Republic.Plauen's slogan is Plauen - echt Spitze.-History:...
as superintendent, where on 20 April he was introduced to Polykarp Leyser the Elder
Polykarp Leyser the Elder
Polykarp Leyser the Elder or Polykarp Leyser I was a Lutheran theologian, superintendent of Braunschweig, superintendent-general of the Saxon church-circle, professor of theology at the University of Wittenberg and chief court-preacher and consistorial-councillor of Saxony...
.
Despite several offers of other posts, he remained in the service of Saxony and in 1611, at the request of the elector of Saxony, moved to Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
as director of Protestant schools and churches in Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
. He then moved back to Dresden on the death of Paul Jenisch
Paul Jenisch (theologian)
Paul Jenisch, was a German Lutheran theologian and academic.- Bibliography :...
and replaced him as chief court preacher of Saxony.
His most notable work is his two-volume Commentarii in Joannis Apocalypsin (Leipzig 1610/40). His sermons and writings were strong Lutheran polemics against the Reformed churches
Reformed churches
The Reformed churches are a group of Protestant denominations characterized by Calvinist doctrines. They are descended from the Swiss Reformation inaugurated by Huldrych Zwingli but developed more coherently by Martin Bucer, Heinrich Bullinger and especially John Calvin...
, whose beliefs he loathed more than 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...
Catholicism. Older literature on the topic has overestimated his influence on John George I of Saxony and Saxon policy at the start of 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....
, though he was on John George's privy council when it approved siding with Frederick V
Frederick V, Elector Palatine
Frederick V was Elector Palatine , and, as Frederick I , King of Bohemia ....
and wrote propaganda to support that decision.