Absalon Pederssøn Beyer
Encyclopedia
Absalon Pederssøn Beyer (c. 1528 – 9 April 1575) was a Norwegian author, lecturer and Lutheran clergyman. Beyer contributed greatly to the spiritual Reformation
in Norway. He is best known today for his diary or annal of contemporary events. Absalon Pederssøns dagbok 1552–1572, his diary from the years between 1552 and 1572 is one of the most important source of the information of the cultural and social history of Bergen during this period.
Absalon Pederssøn Beyer was born in Aurland
, in the county of Sogn og Fjordane
, Norway
. He received his education in Copenhagen
. In 1549, he went to Wittenberg
, where he studied for 2 years with Philip Melanchthon, one of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation
. In 1553, Beyer was appointed lecturer in theology at the Bergen Cathedral School. Between 1557 and 1564 he was also the school's head teacher or reading teacher. Beyer had a working knowledge of both the Greek
and Latin
languages.
In 1566, he let his students perform The Fall of Adam in church. This is thought to be the first public theatrical performance in Norway. Beyer wrote historic-topographic works including Om Norigs Rige and Bergens kapitelsbok. He died in 1575. His widow, Anne Pedersdotter
, was accused of witchcraft and was burned in 1590 even though loyal clergymen asserted her innocence.
Reformation
- Movements :* Protestant Reformation, an attempt by Martin Luther to reform the Roman Catholic Church that resulted in a schism, and grew into a wider movement...
in Norway. He is best known today for his diary or annal of contemporary events. Absalon Pederssøns dagbok 1552–1572, his diary from the years between 1552 and 1572 is one of the most important source of the information of the cultural and social history of Bergen during this period.
Absalon Pederssøn Beyer was born in Aurland
Aurland
Aurland is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center is the village of Aurlandsvangen. Other villages include Bakka, Flåm, Undredal, and Gudvangen....
, in the county of Sogn og Fjordane
Sogn og Fjordane
is a county in Norway, bordering Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, Buskerud, and Hordaland. The county administration is in the town of Hermansverk in Leikanger municipality while the largest town is Førde....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. He received his education in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. In 1549, he went to 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....
, where he studied for 2 years with Philip Melanchthon, one of the leaders of 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...
. In 1553, Beyer was appointed lecturer in theology at the Bergen Cathedral School. Between 1557 and 1564 he was also the school's head teacher or reading teacher. Beyer had a working knowledge of both the Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
and Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
languages.
In 1566, he let his students perform The Fall of Adam in church. This is thought to be the first public theatrical performance in Norway. Beyer wrote historic-topographic works including Om Norigs Rige and Bergens kapitelsbok. He died in 1575. His widow, Anne Pedersdotter
Anne Pedersdotter
Anne Pedersdotter was an alleged Norwegian witch. Her case was one of the most documented of the many witch trials in Norway in the 16th and 17th centuries...
, was accused of witchcraft and was burned in 1590 even though loyal clergymen asserted her innocence.
Other sources
- Bang, Anton ChristianAnton Christian BangAnton Christian Bang was a Norwegian theologian, historian and politician for the Conservative Party of Norway....
(1883) Den norske kirkes historie (Oslo: Cammermeyer) - Bang, Anton ChristianAnton Christian BangAnton Christian Bang was a Norwegian theologian, historian and politician for the Conservative Party of Norway....
(1884) Gjengangere Fra Hedenskabet Og Katholicismen Blandt Vort Folk Efter Reformationen (Oslo: Cammermeyer) - Wiers-Jenssen, HansHans Wiers-JenssenHans Wiers-Jenssen was a Norwegian novelist, playwright, stage producer and theatre historian. Wiers-Jenssen was employed at the theatres Christiania Theatre, Nationaltheatret and Den Nationale Scene.-Personal life:...
(1917) Anne Pedersdotter; a drama in four acts (Boston: Little, Brown, and Co.)