Heinrich Brewer
Encyclopedia
Heinrich Brewer was a German Roman Catholic priest and historian.
Brewer was educated at the Gymnasium Tricoronatum in Cologne
. He was ordained a priest in 1664. After this he was for a time a private tutor at Cologne, then curate of the cathedral at Bonn
. During his residence at Bonn he published, in 1668, a poem of slight poetic value entitled: "Crinitum poli Sidus." He continued his studies while filling these positions and in 1667 was made lecturer on theology at the University of Cologne
. From 1669 to 1682 he was rector of a convent of nuns at Cologne, a position which gave him the leisure to carry on his historical studies. In 1682 he became parish priest of the church of St. Jacob at Aachen
. After twenty-nine years in Aachen he resigned his pastorate in 1712 and returned to his quiet native town.
His most important work is: Historica rerum notabiliorum ubique paene terrarum gestarum enarratio breviter et succinete pro historiae universalis Brachelio-Thuldenanae continuatione adornata (Cologne, 1672-75, two volumes). Shortly after this he published a revised edition of the Historia Universalis Brachelio-Thuldenanae in eight volumes. Brewer now received the title of Imperial Historiographer. The honour was fitly bestowed, for Brewer was one of the few historians of the time who sought out original sources and made full use of them. He added to each volume copies of important official documents, besides making skillful use of pictures and maps.
A much discussed question of the time was the identity of the author of the Imitation of Christ
. Brewer made an independent investigation and tried to prove that Thomas à Kempis
was the author in a work entitled Thomae à Kempis biographia (Cologne, 1681). Even from the modern point of view this work is a very creditable one. A publication of less importance and one which is at times strongly marked by local feeling is that entitled Der in der Reliquienverehrung rechtschaffen catholisch und wahraftig grosser Kayser Karl bey gewohnlicher Eroffnung der Aachischen Schatzkammer Heyligthumbs (Aachen, 1685).
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This article incorporates text from the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia
article "Heinrich Brewer" by Patricius Schlager, a publication now in the public domain
.
Brewer was educated at the Gymnasium Tricoronatum in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
. He was ordained a priest in 1664. After this he was for a time a private tutor at Cologne, then curate of the cathedral at Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
. During his residence at Bonn he published, in 1668, a poem of slight poetic value entitled: "Crinitum poli Sidus." He continued his studies while filling these positions and in 1667 was made lecturer on theology 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...
. From 1669 to 1682 he was rector of a convent of nuns at Cologne, a position which gave him the leisure to carry on his historical studies. In 1682 he became parish priest of the church of St. Jacob at Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
. After twenty-nine years in Aachen he resigned his pastorate in 1712 and returned to his quiet native town.
His most important work is: Historica rerum notabiliorum ubique paene terrarum gestarum enarratio breviter et succinete pro historiae universalis Brachelio-Thuldenanae continuatione adornata (Cologne, 1672-75, two volumes). Shortly after this he published a revised edition of the Historia Universalis Brachelio-Thuldenanae in eight volumes. Brewer now received the title of Imperial Historiographer. The honour was fitly bestowed, for Brewer was one of the few historians of the time who sought out original sources and made full use of them. He added to each volume copies of important official documents, besides making skillful use of pictures and maps.
A much discussed question of the time was the identity of the author of the Imitation of Christ
Imitation of Christ
In Christian theology, the Imitation of Christ is the practice of following the example of Jesus. In Eastern Christianity the term Life in Christ is sometimes used for the same concept....
. Brewer made an independent investigation and tried to prove that Thomas à Kempis
Thomas à Kempis
Thomas à Kempis was a late Medieval Catholic monk and the probable author of The Imitation of Christ, which is one of the best known Christian books on devotion. His name means, "Thomas of Kempen", his home town and in German he is known as Thomas von Kempen...
was the author in a work entitled Thomae à Kempis biographia (Cologne, 1681). Even from the modern point of view this work is a very creditable one. A publication of less importance and one which is at times strongly marked by local feeling is that entitled Der in der Reliquienverehrung rechtschaffen catholisch und wahraftig grosser Kayser Karl bey gewohnlicher Eroffnung der Aachischen Schatzkammer Heyligthumbs (Aachen, 1685).
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This article incorporates text from the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia
Catholic Encyclopedia
The Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia and the Original Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclopedia published in the United States. The first volume appeared in March 1907 and the last three volumes appeared in 1912, followed by a master index...
article "Heinrich Brewer" by Patricius Schlager, a publication now in the public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
.