Wolfgang Hirschbach
Encyclopedia
Wolfgang Hirschbach was a German legal scholar.
In Jena he followed the customs of the time and to first studied the philosophical sciences, and then turned to a degree in law. On 9 September 1593 he continued his studies at the University of Wittenberg. He completed his doctorate there on 7 March 1598 with a degree of Doctor
of law. As early as 1595, Hirschbach acted as a tutor and teacher for a number of young nobles, in Wittenberg and also in Leipzig
. Apparently, his lessons had merit and on 30 September the Electoral family 1601 hired him as preceptor
of Duke August of Saxony
. After his brother in law Benedict Carpzov the Elder left Wittenberg in 1602, Hirschbach was appointed professor on the fourth chair, presumably on the recommendation of the Electoral family.
In 1608 he was promoted to the third chair of the criminal law. Associated with this chair, were a position as assessor at the electoral court of justice, the Law Faculty and the Schöppenstuhl in Wittenberg. In that task, he read the materias juris emphyteutici et compensationes and he managed during the summer semester 1611 is the office of the Rector Magnificus of the University of Wittenberg.
He died on 13 September 1620 from a fever and was buried on 17 September in Wittenberg.
Hirschbach must have a tight private connection to the Elector's family, as
the Wittenberg parish register mentions on the baptismal record of his first-born son August, Elector Christian II of Saxony and Sophie of Brandenburg
as godparents.
Life
Wolfgang was the son of mayor Christoph Hirschbach and his wife Anna, who was the daughter merchant Hieronymus Poppe from Gotha. Hirschbach lost his mother at the age of three. He attended the Latin school in Gotha, which was under the direction John Helders who later became Gotha's superintendent. There Hirschbach acquired a solid education and insight and experience that had a lasting impact on his character and formed way of living. He was intended to follow an academic career from an early age. This explains his enrollment at the University of Jena in 1585. He went there after the completion of his training in Gotha in 1587.In Jena he followed the customs of the time and to first studied the philosophical sciences, and then turned to a degree in law. On 9 September 1593 he continued his studies at the University of Wittenberg. He completed his doctorate there on 7 March 1598 with a degree of Doctor
Doctor (title)
Doctor, as a title, originates from the Latin word of the same spelling and meaning. The word is originally an agentive noun of the Latin verb docēre . It has been used as an honored academic title for over a millennium in Europe, where it dates back to the rise of the university. This use spread...
of law. As early as 1595, Hirschbach acted as a tutor and teacher for a number of young nobles, in Wittenberg and also 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...
. Apparently, his lessons had merit and on 30 September the Electoral family 1601 hired him as preceptor
Preceptor
A preceptor is a teacher responsible to uphold a certain law or tradition, a precept.-Christian military orders:A preceptor was historically in charge of a preceptory, the headquarters of certain orders of monastic Knights, such as the Knights Hospitaller and Knights Templar, within a given...
of Duke August of Saxony
August of Saxony
August of Saxony from the Albertine line of the House of Wettin was Administrator of the diocese of Naumburg-Zeitz.- Life :...
. After his brother in law Benedict Carpzov the Elder left Wittenberg in 1602, Hirschbach was appointed professor on the fourth chair, presumably on the recommendation of the Electoral family.
In 1608 he was promoted to the third chair of the criminal law. Associated with this chair, were a position as assessor at the electoral court of justice, the Law Faculty and the Schöppenstuhl in Wittenberg. In that task, he read the materias juris emphyteutici et compensationes and he managed during the summer semester 1611 is the office of the Rector Magnificus of the University of Wittenberg.
He died on 13 September 1620 from a fever and was buried on 17 September in Wittenberg.
Family
On 21 May 1604 he married Magaretha Selfisch (born: September 22, 1587 in Wittenberg), the youngest daughter of the Samuel Selfisch. From this marriage nine children were born; three died before their father.Hirschbach must have a tight private connection to the Elector's family, as
the Wittenberg parish register mentions on the baptismal record of his first-born son August, Elector Christian II of Saxony and Sophie of Brandenburg
Sophie of Brandenburg
Sophie of Brandenburg was a Princess of Brandenburg and by marriage Electress of Saxony. From 1591 she was the regent of Saxony during the minority of her son Christian II.- Biography :...
as godparents.
- August Hirschbach (born April 24, 1605 in Wittenberg, died September 5, 1626 in Wittenberg)
- Christian Hirschbach (born June 26, 1606 in Wittenberg)
- Magaretha Hirschbach (born February 18, 1608 in Wittenberg, died May 19, 1630 in Wittenberg), married. 6 November 1627 to M. Martin Martinus, vicar in Sohlen
- Anna Sabina Hirschbach (born May 8, 1610 in Wittenberg, died 1641) married. 1 August 1631 with Cornelius Crull from Dresden
- Wolfgang Christoph Hirschbach (born August 12, 1611 in Wittenberg, died March 10, 1612 in Wittenberg)
- Samuel Hirschbach (born February 25, 1613 in Wittenberg, died March 5, 1613 in Wittenberg)
- Christopher II Wolfgang Hirschbach (born February 25, 1613 in Wittenberg, died March 6, 1613 in Wittenberg)
- Christina Elizabeth Hirschbach (born October 10, 1614 in Wittenberg, died October 9, 1633 in Wittenberg)
- Wolfgang Ludwig Hirschbach (born August 26, 1619 in Wittenberg) Student of the University of Wittenberg and 1640 at the University of Leipzig.
Selected works
- Synopsis quaestionum feudalium, Wittenberg 1600
- De reconventionibus, Wittenberg 1611
- De Crimins laesae majestatis, Wittenberg 1615
- De compensationibus, Wittenberg 1616
- De regalibus, Wittenberg 1618
- Ad L. un. C. de his qui parentes, Wittenberg 1619