Gerard Geldenhouwer
Encyclopedia
Gerardus Geldenhouwer (Nijmegen, 1482 – Marburg
, 10 January 1542) was a Dutch historian
.
Geldenhouwer descended from a patrician family from Nijmegen. His father, also named Gerard, was chamberservant at the court of Arnold of Egmond and Adolf of Egmond, dukes of Guelders
. He followed an education at the Latin school in Deventer
, before he joined the Augustinians
. After this he studied at Louvain
. Here he wrote his first publications, amongst which are a collection of Satires in the trend of Erasmus' Praise of Folly. In this period he also oversaw the printing of several works of Erasmus and Thomas More
.
Between 1515 and 1524 he was in service of Philip of Burgundy
. This illegitimate son of Philip the Good was first Admiral of Flanders
and later bishop of Utrecht. In Utrecht, Geldenhouwer came into contact with the protestantism
of Luther
. After Philip's death, he travelled through the Low countries
and Germany
, and visited amongst others the city of Wittenberg
to hear Luther. In 1526 he left the Augustinians and married.
Six years later he became Professor
at the newly founded Lutheran University of Marburg, first as professor of history and later as professor of theology, specializing in the new testament. Geldenhouwer has earned a place amongst history writers with, amongst others, two studies on the history of the Batavians
and their historical importance for the Duchy of Guelders and the city of Nijmegen.
Gerard died on 10 January 1542, probably from the plague.
Marburg
Marburg is a city in the state of Hesse, Germany, on the River Lahn. It is the main town of the Marburg-Biedenkopf district and its population, as of March 2010, was 79,911.- Founding and early history :...
, 10 January 1542) was a Dutch historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
.
Geldenhouwer descended from a patrician family from Nijmegen. His father, also named Gerard, was chamberservant at the court of Arnold of Egmond and Adolf of Egmond, dukes of Guelders
Guelders
Guelders or Gueldres is the name of a historical county, later duchy of the Holy Roman Empire, located in the Low Countries.-Geography:...
. He followed an education at the Latin school in Deventer
Deventer
Deventer is a municipality and city in the Salland region of the Dutch province of Overijssel. Deventer is largely situated on the east bank of the river IJssel, but also has a small part of its territory on the west bank. In 2005 the municipality of Bathmen Deventer is a municipality and city in...
, before he joined the Augustinians
Augustinians
The term Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo , applies to two separate and unrelated types of Catholic religious orders:...
. After this he studied at Louvain
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
. Here he wrote his first publications, amongst which are a collection of Satires in the trend of Erasmus' Praise of Folly. In this period he also oversaw the printing of several works of Erasmus and Thomas More
Thomas More
Sir Thomas More , also known by Catholics as Saint Thomas More, was an English lawyer, social philosopher, author, statesman and noted Renaissance humanist. He was an important councillor to Henry VIII of England and, for three years toward the end of his life, Lord Chancellor...
.
Between 1515 and 1524 he was in service of Philip of Burgundy
Philip of Burgundy (bishop)
Philip of Burgundy was Admiral of the Netherlands from 1498 to 1517 and bishop of Utrecht from 1517 to 1524....
. This illegitimate son of Philip the Good was first Admiral of Flanders
Admiral of Flanders
Admiral of Flanders and Admiral of the Netherlands was a title in the medieval Low Countries for the commander of the war fleet....
and later bishop of Utrecht. In Utrecht, Geldenhouwer came into contact with the protestantism
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...
of Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
. After Philip's death, he travelled through the Low countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
and Germany
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...
, and visited amongst others the city of Wittenberg
Wittenberg
Wittenberg, officially Lutherstadt Wittenberg, is a city in Germany in the Bundesland Saxony-Anhalt, on the river Elbe. It has a population of about 50,000....
to hear Luther. In 1526 he left the Augustinians and married.
Six years later he became Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at the newly founded Lutheran University of Marburg, first as professor of history and later as professor of theology, specializing in the new testament. Geldenhouwer has earned a place amongst history writers with, amongst others, two studies on the history of the Batavians
Batavians
The Batavi were an ancient Germanic tribe, originally part of the Chatti, reported by Tacitus to have lived around the Rhine delta, in the area that is currently the Netherlands, "an uninhabited district on the extremity of the coast of Gaul, and also of a neighbouring island, surrounded by the...
and their historical importance for the Duchy of Guelders and the city of Nijmegen.
Gerard died on 10 January 1542, probably from the plague.