Christopher Besoldus
Encyclopedia
Christopher Besoldus (1577 – September 1638) was a German jurist
and publicist
whose writing is seen as important for the history of the causes of the Thirty Years' War
.
, Württemberg
. He studied jurisprudence, and in the early 1590s was a close friend of Johannes Kepler
. Besold asked permission of the classical scholar Vitus Müller (Veit Müller, 1561–1626) to defend theses based on Kepler's dissertation (on astronomical topics); he was denied the chance. Later, when Katharina Kepler, Johannes Kepler's mother, was prosecuted on witchcraft
charges, Besold was one of the jurists dealing with the case, which was dropped.
He graduated as Doctor of Law in 1598; and in 1610 became professor of law at Tübingen. Among his pupils was Johannes Valentinus Andreae
. His advice was frequently sought in juridical questions by the civil administration.
He read the Scriptures, the writings of the Church Fathers
, and of the medieval mystics. He was publicly converted to Catholicism
at Heilbronn
in 1635. Two years later, he accepted the chair of Roman Law at the University of Ingolstadt
. He was considering the offer of a professorship at the University of Bologna, tendered him by Pope Urban VIII
, when he died at Ingolstadt
.
was influential in explaining the workings of the Holy Roman Empire
. He was one of the earliest writers on public finance
, with Eberhard von Weyhe, Georg Obrecht, and Jacob Bornitz.
The Thesaurus Practicus (1629), an alphabetical and encyclopedic work defining legal and other terms, ran to many editions, being taken up by his student Johann Jacob Speidel (died 1666) and others.
His publication of three volumes of documents from the Stuttgart archives was tendentious. Their contents suggested that the immediate dependency of the Württemberg monasteries on the Empire (Reichsunmittelbarkeit) implied for the local dukes the obligation of restoring the confiscated religious property.
He translated the satirical Ragguagli di Parnaso of Trajano Boccalini
.
Attribution
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
and publicist
Publicist
A publicist is a person whose job is to generate and manage publicity for a public figure, especially a celebrity, a business, or for a work such as a book, film or album...
whose writing is seen as important for the history of the causes of the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
.
Life
He was born of Protestant parents in 1577 at TübingenTübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
, Württemberg
Württemberg
Württemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
. He studied jurisprudence, and in the early 1590s was a close friend of Johannes Kepler
Johannes Kepler
Johannes Kepler was a German mathematician, astronomer and astrologer. A key figure in the 17th century scientific revolution, he is best known for his eponymous laws of planetary motion, codified by later astronomers, based on his works Astronomia nova, Harmonices Mundi, and Epitome of Copernican...
. Besold asked permission of the classical scholar Vitus Müller (Veit Müller, 1561–1626) to defend theses based on Kepler's dissertation (on astronomical topics); he was denied the chance. Later, when Katharina Kepler, Johannes Kepler's mother, was prosecuted on witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
charges, Besold was one of the jurists dealing with the case, which was dropped.
He graduated as Doctor of Law in 1598; and in 1610 became professor of law at Tübingen. Among his pupils was Johannes Valentinus Andreae
Johannes Valentinus Andreae
Johannes Valentinus Andreae , a.k.a. Johannes Valentinus Andreä or Johann Valentin Andreae, was a German theologian, who claimed to be the author of the Chymische Hochzeit Christiani Rosencreutz anno 1459 one of the three founding works of...
. His advice was frequently sought in juridical questions by the civil administration.
He read the Scriptures, the writings of the Church Fathers
Church Fathers
The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, Christian Fathers, or Fathers of the Church were early and influential theologians, eminent Christian teachers and great bishops. Their scholarly works were used as a precedent for centuries to come...
, and of the medieval mystics. He was publicly converted to Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
at Heilbronn
Heilbronn
Heilbronn is a city in northern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is completely surrounded by Heilbronn County and with approximately 123.000 residents, it is the sixth-largest city in the state....
in 1635. Two years later, he accepted the chair of Roman Law at the University of Ingolstadt
University of Ingolstadt
The University of Ingolstadt was founded in 1472 by Louis the Rich, the Duke of Bavaria at the time, and its first Chancellor was the Bishop of Eichstätt. It consisted of five faculties: humanities, sciences, theology, law and medicine, all of which were contained in the Hoheschule...
. He was considering the offer of a professorship at the University of Bologna, tendered him by Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII , born Maffeo Barberini, was pope from 1623 to 1644. He was the last pope to expand the papal territory by force of arms, and was a prominent patron of the arts and reformer of Church missions...
, when he died at Ingolstadt
Ingolstadt
Ingolstadt is a city in the Free State of Bavaria, in the Federal Republic of Germany. It is located along the banks of the Danube River, in the center of Bavaria. As at 31 March 2011, Ingolstadt had 125.407 residents...
.
Works
His works are numerous, with 102 scholarly writings known. His theory of federalismFederalism
Federalism is a political concept in which a group of members are bound together by covenant with a governing representative head. The term "federalism" is also used to describe a system of the government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and...
was influential in explaining the workings of 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...
. He was one of the earliest writers on public finance
Public finance
Public finance is the revenue and expenditure of public authoritiesThe purview of public finance is considered to be threefold: governmental effects on efficient allocation of resources, distribution of income, and macroeconomic stabilization.-Overview:The proper role of government provides a...
, with Eberhard von Weyhe, Georg Obrecht, and Jacob Bornitz.
The Thesaurus Practicus (1629), an alphabetical and encyclopedic work defining legal and other terms, ran to many editions, being taken up by his student Johann Jacob Speidel (died 1666) and others.
His publication of three volumes of documents from the Stuttgart archives was tendentious. Their contents suggested that the immediate dependency of the Württemberg monasteries on the Empire (Reichsunmittelbarkeit) implied for the local dukes the obligation of restoring the confiscated religious property.
He translated the satirical Ragguagli di Parnaso of Trajano Boccalini
Trajano Boccalini
Trajano Boccalini was an Italian satirist.The son of an architect, he himself adopted that profession, and it appears that he commenced late in life to apply to literary pursuits...
.
External links
- WorldCat for Christophorus Besoldus
- Open Library page
- :de:s:ADB:Besold, Christoph Biography in Ferdinand Elsener, Lebensbilder zur Geschichte der Tübinger Juristenfakultät (1977) http://www.ubs.sbg.ac.at/sosa/besold.htm CAMENA at uni-mannheim.de http://www.his-data.de/zedler/0/3/14/99/zedler-3-1499-8-daten.htm At idref.fr
Attribution