Johann Carion
Encyclopedia
Johann Carion was a German astrologer, known also for historical writings.
. A prognostication he published in 1521 gained him a later reputation of having predicted the Protestant Reformation
, as well as a major flood in 1525 and some apocalyptic dates. Subsequently from 1531 Philip Melanchthon took an interest in his work. Andreas Perlach
in a work on the comet of 1531 questioned whether his methods were purely astrological or involved magic.
His death is fixed as 1537, when Melanchthon communicated the news in a letter to Jacob Milich
.
, Melanchthon and other Lutheran humanist scholars changed what was a traditional chronicle into a Reformation narrative of the Middle Ages
. After Melanchthon's death Caspar Peucer
continued to edit it. Major features were the scheme of four monarchies
taken from the Book of Daniel
, extended by the medieval idea of translatio imperii
; further there is a second Three Eras
schematic, the third period of which will be co-extensive with the Roman Empire
extended by the Holy Roman Empire
(the fourth monarchy) which will last to 2000 AD
.
Initially, Carion published a short universal history
in German, at Wittenberg
(1532). It was then translated into Latin by Herman Bonnus (Halle, 1537); there were numerous subsequent editions and translations.
In England there were translations by Walter Lynne, and also by Thomas Lanquet
(unfinished) which was completed by Thomas Cooper
(with Robert Crowley
) and became known as Cooper's Chronicle.
Life
He was court astrologer to Joachim I, Elector of BrandenburgJoachim I, Elector of Brandenburg
Joachim I Nestor was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg . A member of the House of Hohenzollern, his nickname was taken from King Nestor of Greek mythology.- Biography :...
. A prognostication he published in 1521 gained him a later reputation of having predicted the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
, as well as a major flood in 1525 and some apocalyptic dates. Subsequently from 1531 Philip Melanchthon took an interest in his work. Andreas Perlach
Andreas Perlach
Andreas Perlach, also known as Andreas Perlacher and Andreas Perlachius ex Wittschein Stiriensis, was born in Svečina, in the Habsburg empire . Perlach was the court astrologer to Archduke Ferdninand of Habsburg in addition to being a practicing physician and a lecturer of mathematics and...
in a work on the comet of 1531 questioned whether his methods were purely astrological or involved magic.
His death is fixed as 1537, when Melanchthon communicated the news in a letter to Jacob Milich
Jacob Milich
Jacob Milich was a German mathematician, physician and astronomer.He was born in Freiburg im Breisgau, where he received his education starting in 1513. He studied at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität in Freiburg im Breisgau under Desiderius Erasmus. He taught at Wittenberg, where he received an M.D...
.
Chronicles
Carion's Chronicles became an important work in Lutheran and more generally Protestant millennarian thought. From an original that was indeed by Carion, it was completely rewritten in its Latin version at the hands of Melanchthon, and others. With Joachim CamerariusJoachim Camerarius
Joachim Camerarius , the Elder was a German classical scholar.-Life:He was born at Bamberg, Bavaria...
, Melanchthon and other Lutheran humanist scholars changed what was a traditional chronicle into a Reformation narrative of the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. After Melanchthon's death Caspar Peucer
Caspar Peucer
Caspar Peucer was a German reformer, physician, and scholar.-Biography:Born in Bautzen, Peucer studied mathematics, astronomy, and medicine at the University of Wittenberg from 1540...
continued to edit it. Major features were the scheme of four monarchies
Four monarchies
The four kingdoms refers to four monarchies, or world empires, described in dreams and visions in the Book of Daniel of the Hebrew Bible. The actual term "four kingdoms" occurs once, found in Daniel 8:22. These four kingdoms are described in different ways throughout Daniel, beginning with chapter...
taken from the Book of Daniel
Book of Daniel
The Book of Daniel is a book in the Hebrew Bible. The book tells of how Daniel, and his Judean companions, were inducted into Babylon during Jewish exile, and how their positions elevated in the court of Nebuchadnezzar. The court tales span events that occur during the reigns of Nebuchadnezzar,...
, extended by the medieval idea of translatio imperii
Translatio imperii
Translatio imperii, Latin for "transfer of rule", is a concept invented in the Middle Ages for describing history as a linear succession of transfers of imperium, that is of supreme power concentrated with a series of single rulers .-Origin:...
; further there is a second Three Eras
Three Eras
The Three Eras is a Judeo-Christian scheme of periods in historiography, called also Vaticinium Eliae . A three-period division of time appears in the Babylonian Talmud: the period before the giving of the law ; the period subject to the law; and the period of the Messiah...
schematic, the third period of which will be co-extensive with the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
extended by the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
(the fourth monarchy) which will last to 2000 AD
2000 AD
2000 AD refers to the year 2000 in the Anno Domini calendar era. It may also refer to:* 2000 AD , a weekly British science-fiction comic* 2000 AD , a Singapore action movie...
.
Initially, Carion published a short universal history
Universal history
Universal history is basic to the Western tradition of historiography, especially the Abrahamic wellspring of that tradition. Simply stated, universal history is the presentation of the history of humankind as a whole, as a coherent unit.-Ancient authors:...
in German, at 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....
(1532). It was then translated into Latin by Herman Bonnus (Halle, 1537); there were numerous subsequent editions and translations.
In England there were translations by Walter Lynne, and also by Thomas Lanquet
Thomas Lanquet
Thomas Lanquet was an English chronicler.He studied at Oxford, and devoted himself to historical research. He died in London in 1545 while engaged on a general history; it was a translation of the Chronicle of Johann Carion...
(unfinished) which was completed by Thomas Cooper
Thomas Cooper (bishop)
Thomas Cooper was an English bishop, lexicographer, and writer.-Life:He was born in Oxford, where he was educated at Magdalen College...
(with Robert Crowley
Robert Crowley (printer)
Robert Crowley also Robertus Croleus, Roberto Croleo, Robart Crowleye, Robarte Crole, and Crule , was a stationer, poet, polemicist and Protestant clergyman who was among the Marian exiles at Frankfurt...
) and became known as Cooper's Chronicle.