Bonifacius Amerbach

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File:Portrait of Bonifacius Amerbach by Hans Holbein the Younger (1519).jpg
Portrait of Bonifacius Amerbach by Hans Holbein the Younger

Bonifacius Amerbach (1495, Basel – April 1562, Basel[1][2]) was a jurist, scholar, an influential humanist and the rector of the University of Basel for several terms.

Early life and education

He was the youngest son of the printer Johannes Amerbach who immigrated to Basel from Amorbach in Bavaria and Barbara Ortenberg.[3] He received his primary education in Basel[3] and attended high school in Schlettstadt.[2] Following, he studied law between 1513 and 1519 with Ulrich Zasius in Freiburg im Breisgau and with Andreas Alciatus in Avignon from 1520 onwards.[2] As in 1521 the plague reigned in Avignon, he temporarily stayed in Basel for a year.[3] In 1522 he returned to Avignon and received his doctorate in 1525.[4][5]

Academic career

As the successor of Claudius Cantiuncula (de),[6] he taught at the University of Basel from 1525 onwards and was a main force behind the re-opening of the University following the closure during the Reformation in 1529.[7] During the Bildersturm, he was able to save several paintings by Hans Holbein the Younger.[8] During the Reformation he abstained to accept the teachings of the reformator of Basel Johannes Oecolampadius and for a while was determined to leave Basel if those views on the Lord's supper would become to official views by the cities Government.[9] Even though Oecolampadius's views came through, he then stayed but the requirements to be assigned as a professor at the University of Basel were adapted and he was excepted from the duty to attend the Lord's supper.[9] He was assigned with teaching Roman Law in 1530[4] and by 1532 he was the sole Professor teaching at the Faculty of Law in Basel. [4] From 1536 until his resignation in 1548,[4] he was supported by two other professors. In 1544, Johann Ulrich Zasius, the son of his former teacher, taught at the faculty of law at the University of Basel.[10] In 1539 he again fled the plague in Basel and stayed for a while with his stepfather in Neuenburg.[11] He was elected the rector of the University of Basel five terms, the first term being in 1526[2] and established the chair for Aristortelic Ethics.[4]

Christian faith

Together with the catholic Erasmus of Rotterdam he had conciliar approach towards the Lutheran and Zwinglian reformists. He was also not an active supporter of the Reformation, which was introduced in Basel in 1529[4] and as the Bildersturm reached Basel, he was able to save several paintings by Hans Holbein the Younger.[8] This brought him several discussions with influential reformists from Basel, but due to his position, he would not have to emigrate. It was only in 1534 when he gave in and formally became a Reformist, also taking part in the Lord's Supper.[4] Despite his official adherence to the Reformation, his friendship with Erasmus perdured[7] and in 1535 Amerbach convinced him to return to Basel from Freiburg im Breisgau.[4] He was an expert and delegate at the christian synod if Strasbourg in 1533[4] and became the heir the estate of the christian scholar and humanist Erasmus von Rotterdam following his death in 1536.[2] As such he also became the caretaker of the Legatum Erasmianum, a foundation aimed for supporting widows, orphans and students.[12]

Musical interest

He maintained good relations to the composers Hans Kotter and Sixt Dietrich (de) since he had stayed in Freiburg.[1] From both he ordered compositions.[13] The musician and poet Heinrich Loriti was also known to be close to him.[14]

File:Epitaph von Bonifacius Amerbach.jpg
Epitaph for Bonifacius Amerbach and his son Basilius Amerbach

Personal life

He had a close relationship with various influential personalities at the time such as Paracelsus and Erasmus which both attended his wedding with Martha Fuchs in Neuenburg am Rhein.[15] Hans Holbein the Younger was also a guest in his house in Basel and Amerbach was portrayed by him in 1519.[5] Later his family became the guardian of various paintings of him.[12] In 1533 the son Basilius Amerbach was born. In 1541/42 the plague raging in Basel takes away his wife Martha and the youngest daughter Esther. As in 1546, Amerbach's father-in-law Leonhard Fuchs died in Neuenburg, Bonifacius Amerbach became the head of the entire Amerbach and Fuchs families.[15] He died in April 1562 and was buried at the Monastery St. Margarethental (de) in Basel.[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Merian, Wilhelm (1917),p.145
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Merian, Wilhelm (1917), p. 152
  14. ↑ Merian, Wilhelm (1917), p.146
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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