Joseph Ferdinand Damberger
Encyclopedia
Joseph Ferdinand Damberger (1 March 1795 – 1 April 1859) was a historian of the Catholic Church.
Damberger was born in Passau
, Bavaria. After completing his earlier studies in the public schools of his native town, he pursued the study of law at Landshut
, then studied theology at Salzburg
, Landshut
, and Munich
, and was ordained a priest in 1818. While at the Munich Lyceum he had also devoted himself to historical studies. Until 1837 he was particularly active as a preacher at Landshut and at St. Cajetan's, Munich. His first historical works appeared in Ratisbon in 1831, three closely related narratives: Fürstentafel der Staatengeschichte; Fürstenbuch zur Fürstentafel der europäischen Staatengeschichte; Sechzig genealogische, chronologische und statistische Tabellen zur Fürstentafel und Fürstenbuch.
In 1837 he joined the Society of Jesus
, completed his novitiate at Brieg, canton of Valais
, Switzerland, where he spent about ten years, partly as a mission-preacher and partly as professor of ecclesiastical history at Lucerne
. A collection of his mission sermons was printed (Lucerne, 1842; 2nd ed., 1852), but was violently attacked (Missionsunfug der Jesuiten; Bern, 1842). The defeat of the Sonderbund
(1847) brought with it the expulsion of the Jesuits from Switzerland. Damberger then spent several years in Innsbruck
and Regensburg, and in 1853 became confessor at the Convent of Schäftlarn
in Bavaria, where he died. He was working on Synchronistische Geschichte der Kirche und der Welt im Mittelalter (Ratisbon, 1850–63). The last volume was finished and published after his death by Father Daniel Rattinger. The narrative reaches the year 1378. In its day it was considered an important piece of work.
Damberger was born in Passau
Passau
Passau is a town in Lower Bavaria, Germany. It is also known as the Dreiflüssestadt or "City of Three Rivers," because the Danube is joined at Passau by the Inn from the south and the Ilz from the north....
, Bavaria. After completing his earlier studies in the public schools of his native town, he pursued the study of law at Landshut
Landshut
Landshut is a city in Bavaria in the south-east of Germany, belonging to both Eastern and Southern Bavaria. Situated on the banks of the River Isar, Landshut is the capital of Lower Bavaria, one of the seven administrative regions of the Free State of Bavaria. It is also the seat of the...
, then studied theology at Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, Landshut
Landshut
Landshut is a city in Bavaria in the south-east of Germany, belonging to both Eastern and Southern Bavaria. Situated on the banks of the River Isar, Landshut is the capital of Lower Bavaria, one of the seven administrative regions of the Free State of Bavaria. It is also the seat of the...
, and Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, and was ordained a priest in 1818. While at the Munich Lyceum he had also devoted himself to historical studies. Until 1837 he was particularly active as a preacher at Landshut and at St. Cajetan's, Munich. His first historical works appeared in Ratisbon in 1831, three closely related narratives: Fürstentafel der Staatengeschichte; Fürstenbuch zur Fürstentafel der europäischen Staatengeschichte; Sechzig genealogische, chronologische und statistische Tabellen zur Fürstentafel und Fürstenbuch.
In 1837 he joined the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, completed his novitiate at Brieg, canton of Valais
Valais
The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley...
, Switzerland, where he spent about ten years, partly as a mission-preacher and partly as professor of ecclesiastical history at Lucerne
Lucerne
Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
. A collection of his mission sermons was printed (Lucerne, 1842; 2nd ed., 1852), but was violently attacked (Missionsunfug der Jesuiten; Bern, 1842). The defeat of the Sonderbund
Sonderbund
The Sonderbund War of November 1847 was a civil war in Switzerland. It ensued after seven Catholic cantons formed the Sonderbund in 1845 in order to protect their interests against a centralization of power...
(1847) brought with it the expulsion of the Jesuits from Switzerland. Damberger then spent several years in Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
and Regensburg, and in 1853 became confessor at the Convent of Schäftlarn
Schäftlarn Abbey
Schäftlarn Abbey is a Benedictine monastery on the Isar in Schäftlarn, south of Munich in Bavaria, Germany.-History:The monastery was founded in 762 by Waltrich, a Benedictine monk of noble family, on his own land...
in Bavaria, where he died. He was working on Synchronistische Geschichte der Kirche und der Welt im Mittelalter (Ratisbon, 1850–63). The last volume was finished and published after his death by Father Daniel Rattinger. The narrative reaches the year 1378. In its day it was considered an important piece of work.