Wilhelm Gnapheus
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Gnapheus (de Volder, van de Voldesgraft, Fulonius; The Hague
, 1493 - 29 September 1568, Norden, Lower Saxony
) was a Dutch
-born Protestant
religious figure and writer.
After studying at the University of Cologne
, in 1520 Gnapheus became dean of a Latin school in The Hague
, where he encountered Reformation ideas. When in 1523 he and Cornelis Hoen were arrested, he met Jan de Bakker
(Johannes Pistorius), the first Protestant martyr (1525) in the Netherlands. Gnapheus had been incarcerated together with de Bakker, but was released, then had to flee the inquisition
.
In 1528, because of religious persecution
, Gnapheus emigrate
d to northern Germany
. He wrote a play in Latin
, Acolastus, based on the story of the Prodigal Son. This was performed by his pupils in 1529, and was translated into German
in 1530 by G. Binder of Zürich
; in 1540 it was published in English translation by John Palsgrave
.
In 1531 Gnapheus went with a group to the Hanseatic city of Elbing
in Royal Prussia
, a separate independent state, (after 1945 Elbląg
, Poland
). The neighboring Duchy of Prussia had converted to Lutheranism
in 1525. At the request of the Elbing city council, he opened a Latin school, which he operated in 1535-41. While there, Gnapheus was involved in a carnival play which mocked Prince-Bishop Mauritius Ferber
, Nicolaus Copernicus
and other Catholic clergy of the neighboring Prince-Bishopric of Ermeland. Since 1537, Johannes Dantiscus, Ferber's successor as prince-bishop, spoke out against Gnapheus, who had to move on to the court of Duke Albert of Prussia in Königsberg
(Królewiec).
Until 1547, Gnapheus taught at what in 1544 became the University of Königsberg
. Due to conflicts between the local Lutherans and Gnapheus' Dutch Reformed Church
, he was removed from his post.
Gnapheus served as tutor
for Countess Anna of Oldenburg
, consort in East Frisia
, in Norden
until his death in 1568.
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...
, 1493 - 29 September 1568, Norden, Lower Saxony
Norden, Lower Saxony
Norden is a town in the district of Aurich, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the North Sea shore, in East Frisia.-External links:* *...
) was a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
-born Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
religious figure and writer.
After studying at the University of Cologne
University of Cologne
The University of Cologne is one of the oldest universities in Europe and, with over 44,000 students, one of the largest universities in Germany. The university is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, an association of Germany's leading research universities...
, in 1520 Gnapheus became dean of a Latin school 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...
, where he encountered Reformation ideas. When in 1523 he and Cornelis Hoen were arrested, he met Jan de Bakker
Jan de Bakker
Jan Jansz de Bakker van Woerden was a Roman Catholic priest who was the first preacher in the Northern Netherlands to be martyred as a direct result of his Protestant beliefs.-Biography:Jan de Bakker's father was a sexton in Woerden and also tenant of the brickworks, and...
(Johannes Pistorius), the first Protestant martyr (1525) in the Netherlands. Gnapheus had been incarcerated together with de Bakker, but was released, then had to flee the inquisition
Inquisition
The Inquisition, Inquisitio Haereticae Pravitatis , was the "fight against heretics" by several institutions within the justice-system of the Roman Catholic Church. It started in the 12th century, with the introduction of torture in the persecution of heresy...
.
In 1528, because of religious persecution
Persecution
Persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or group by another group. The most common forms are religious persecution, ethnic persecution, and political persecution, though there is naturally some overlap between these terms. The inflicting of suffering, harassment, isolation,...
, Gnapheus emigrate
Emigrate
Emigrate is a heavy metal band based in New York, led by Richard Z. Kruspe, the lead guitarist of the German band Rammstein.-History:Kruspe started the band in 2005, when Rammstein decided to take a year off from touring and recording...
d to northern Germany
Northern Germany
- Geography :The key terrain features of North Germany are the marshes along the coastline of the North Sea and Baltic Sea, and the geest and heaths inland. Also prominent are the low hills of the Baltic Uplands, the ground moraines, end moraines, sandur, glacial valleys, bogs, and Luch...
. He wrote a play 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...
, Acolastus, based on the story of the Prodigal Son. This was performed by his pupils in 1529, and was translated into German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
in 1530 by G. Binder of Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
; in 1540 it was published in English translation by John Palsgrave
John Palsgrave
John Palsgrave was a priest of Henry VIII of England's court. He is known as a tutor in the royal household, and as a textbook author.-Life:...
.
In 1531 Gnapheus went with a group to the Hanseatic city of Elbing
Elbing
Elbing is the German name of Elbląg, a city in northern Poland which until 1945 was a German city in the province of East Prussia.Elbing may also refer to:- Ships :* SMS Elbing, light cruiser of the Imperial Germany Navy...
in Royal Prussia
Royal Prussia
Royal Prussia was a Region of the Kingdom of Poland and of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth . Polish Prussia included Pomerelia, Chełmno Land , Malbork Voivodeship , Gdańsk , Toruń , and Elbląg . It is distinguished from Ducal Prussia...
, a separate independent state, (after 1945 Elbląg
Elblag
Elbląg is a city in northern Poland with 127,892 inhabitants . It is the capital of Elbląg County and has been assigned to the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship since 1999. Before then it was the capital of Elbląg Voivodeship and a county seat in Gdańsk Voivodeship...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
). The neighboring Duchy of Prussia had converted to Lutheranism
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
in 1525. At the request of the Elbing city council, he opened a Latin school, which he operated in 1535-41. While there, Gnapheus was involved in a carnival play which mocked Prince-Bishop Mauritius Ferber
Mauritius Ferber
Mauritius Ferber Mauritius Ferber Mauritius Ferber (1471 – 1 July 1537 in Heilsberg was a member of the patrician Ferber family of Danzig (Gdańsk). As Roman Catholic Prince-Bishop of Warmia (Ermeland), he prevented most towns in his diocese from converting to Protestantism while the surrounding...
, Nicolaus Copernicus
Nicolaus Copernicus
Nicolaus Copernicus was a Renaissance astronomer and the first person to formulate a comprehensive heliocentric cosmology which displaced the Earth from the center of the universe....
and other Catholic clergy of the neighboring Prince-Bishopric of Ermeland. Since 1537, Johannes Dantiscus, Ferber's successor as prince-bishop, spoke out against Gnapheus, who had to move on to the court of Duke Albert of Prussia in Königsberg
Königsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
(Królewiec).
Until 1547, Gnapheus taught at what in 1544 became the University of Königsberg
University of Königsberg
The University of Königsberg was the university of Königsberg in East Prussia. It was founded in 1544 as second Protestant academy by Duke Albert of Prussia, and was commonly known as the Albertina....
. Due to conflicts between the local Lutherans and Gnapheus' Dutch Reformed Church
Dutch Reformed Church
The Dutch Reformed Church was a Reformed Christian denomination in the Netherlands. It existed from the 1570s to 2004, the year it merged with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands to form the Protestant Church in the...
, he was removed from his post.
Gnapheus served as tutor
Tutor
A tutor is a person employed in the education of others, either individually or in groups. To tutor is to perform the functions of a tutor.-Teaching assistance:...
for Countess Anna of Oldenburg
Anna of Oldenburg
Anna of Oldenburg was a Countess consort of East Frisia as the spouse of Count Enno II of East Frisia. She was the Regent of East Frisia in 1540/42-1561 as the guardian for her minor sons. Her reign lasted until 1561 and was generally supported by the Estates...
, consort in East Frisia
East Frisia
East Frisia or Eastern Friesland is a coastal region in the northwest of the German federal state of Lower Saxony....
, in Norden
Norden, Lower Saxony
Norden is a town in the district of Aurich, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the North Sea shore, in East Frisia.-External links:* *...
until his death in 1568.