Corderius
Encyclopedia
Corderius is the Latinized
form of name used by Mathurin Cordier. Mathurin Cordeir, was probably born in 1479, died the 8th of september of 1564, was a theologian, teacher, humanist, and pedagogian from Lausanne
(Switzerland
) , of French origin. He taught in the Academy and the School of Lausanne ,where he was a director.
, Normandy
. He completed his theological studies at Paris
. Once he was a priest he exercised his ministry at a parish of Ruan and continued his studies specially interested on grammar.
, and Calvin dedicated his Commentaries on the Epistle to the Thessalonians to him. In 1528 Cordeir took charge of the Grammar School of Navarre. He taught in various locations in France, never stopping at any city for a long time.
In 1553, while he was directing the School at Nevers
, he came back to Paris where he met Robert Estienne
. Estienne was a lexicographer and protestant printer, who edited the works of Mathurin Cordier and convinced him to convert to Protestantism
.He married Thomasse Pelet, and they had a daughter named Suzanne.
During this period Pierre Viret
acted as Corderius' pastor.
Corderius was a brilliant pedagogian and grammarian who contributed much to the recognition of pedagogy, rhetoric, and linguistics.
with with [Pierre Viret]] and Theodore Beza
. They went to Geneva because of difficulties with the government of Berne
. Once in Geneva, Corderius met John Calvin
again. In 1565 the Geneva Council offered Corderius another teaching position, and he accepted. Thus Corderius spent the last period of life as he had twenty years before, teaching a class.
He died on September 8th of 1574. Corderius was buried at the cementery of Plainpalais
, as he wished, near the presumed location of Calvin's tomb (Calvin did not want the location of his tomb to be known).
He wrote several books for children; the most famous is his Colloquia (Colloquiorum scholasticorum libri quatuor), which has passed through innumerable editions, and was used in schools for three centuries after his time.
He also wrote:
The "So called on the Corrpution of Enmendation of the Word". This work had many French editions, some from the famous editor Rovillius among others. On the Spanish translations of this work, the scholar González Echeverría proved at ISHM
that Michel de Villeneuve
(better known as Michael Servetus
) carried out this task in the edition of 1551 ,at his friend, the printer, Jean Frellon's workshop. These translations were anonymous, just like his [Distichs of Cato]]. Michael de Villeneuve had to be careful, for Corderius and the printer Robert Estienne I
(who printed many of Corderius' works) were very close to Calvin
, and were also part of the Geneva
Council. Cordeir continued teaching at Bourdeaux
and Paris. He possessed special tact and liking for teaching children.
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...
form of name used by Mathurin Cordier. Mathurin Cordeir, was probably born in 1479, died the 8th of september of 1564, was a theologian, teacher, humanist, and pedagogian from Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
(Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
) , of French origin. He taught in the Academy and the School of Lausanne ,where he was a director.
Studies
Cordeir was born to a peasant family in La PerrièreLa Perrière
La Perrièremay refer to two communes of France:* La Perrière, Orne, in the region of Basse-Normandie* La Perrière, Savoie, in the region of Rhône-Alpes* Ian Laperriere, Canadian ice hockey player...
, Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
. He completed his theological studies at Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Once he was a priest he exercised his ministry at a parish of Ruan and continued his studies specially interested on grammar.
Teaching at France
He gave up his priestly functions near 1540 when Paris, having heard of his competence, called him for teaching grammar in diverse locations. In 1523, Cordier was admitted to the College of la Marche as the Chair of Rhetoric. He taught John CalvinJohn Calvin
John Calvin was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530...
, and Calvin dedicated his Commentaries on the Epistle to the Thessalonians to him. In 1528 Cordeir took charge of the Grammar School of Navarre. He taught in various locations in France, never stopping at any city for a long time.
In 1553, while he was directing the School at Nevers
Nevers
Nevers is a commune in – and the administrative capital of – the Nièvre department in the Bourgogne region in central France...
, he came back to Paris where he met Robert Estienne
Robert Estienne
Robert I Estienne , known as Robertus Stephanus in Latin and also referred to as Robert Stephens by 18th and 19th-century English writers, was a 16th century printer and classical scholar in Paris...
. Estienne was a lexicographer and protestant printer, who edited the works of Mathurin Cordier and convinced him to convert to Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
.He married Thomasse Pelet, and they had a daughter named Suzanne.
Exile in Switzerland : Geneva and Neuchâtel
Denounced for his ideas, Corderius fled France at the beginning of 1527 and took refuge in Geneva, Switzerland. There he taught alongside Calvin and William Farel. Corderius was in charge of a class in the School of de Rive. Over the next few years he saw rising hostility toward protestants. He left the city and joined William Farel in Neuchâtel. Corderius was named as the director of the schools of the town.Teaching at Lausanne
In October 1545 the Vaud appointed Corderius as director the School of Lausanne. He held that position 1545 to 1547. At the same time, Corderius was a teacher and director at the “ Twelve," a boarding school. The state paid for the living costs of the pupils, who were allowed to confess or go on with their ministeries. The boarding school was supressed in 1587, same year the Academy was inaugurated. The state granted Corderius a retirement pension in recognition of his 12 years of service.During this period Pierre Viret
Pierre Viret
Pierre Viret was a Swiss Reformed theologian.- Early life :Pierre Viret was born to a devout middle class Roman Catholic family in Orbe, a small town now in Switzerland. He was a close friend of John Calvin....
acted as Corderius' pastor.
Corderius was a brilliant pedagogian and grammarian who contributed much to the recognition of pedagogy, rhetoric, and linguistics.
Return to Geneva and end of his life
In 1559, Corderius left the VaudVaud
Vaud is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and is located in Romandy, the French-speaking southwestern part of the country. The capital is Lausanne. The name of the Canton in Switzerland's other languages are Vaud in Italian , Waadt in German , and Vad in Romansh.-History:Along the lakes,...
with with [Pierre Viret]] and Theodore Beza
Theodore Beza
Theodore Beza was a French Protestant Christian theologian and scholar who played an important role in the Reformation...
. They went to Geneva because of difficulties with the government of Berne
Berne
The city of Bern or Berne is the Bundesstadt of Switzerland, and, with a population of , the fourth most populous city in Switzerland. The Bern agglomeration, which includes 43 municipalities, has a population of 349,000. The metropolitan area had a population of 660,000 in 2000...
. Once in Geneva, Corderius met John Calvin
John Calvin
John Calvin was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530...
again. In 1565 the Geneva Council offered Corderius another teaching position, and he accepted. Thus Corderius spent the last period of life as he had twenty years before, teaching a class.
He died on September 8th of 1574. Corderius was buried at the cementery of Plainpalais
Plainpalais
Plainpalais is a neighbourhood in Geneva, Switzerland, and an ancient municipality of the Canton of Geneva....
, as he wished, near the presumed location of Calvin's tomb (Calvin did not want the location of his tomb to be known).
He wrote several books for children; the most famous is his Colloquia (Colloquiorum scholasticorum libri quatuor), which has passed through innumerable editions, and was used in schools for three centuries after his time.
He also wrote:
- Principia Latine loquendi scribendique, sive selecta quaedam ex Epistolis CiceroCiceroMarcus Tullius Cicero , was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the equestrian order, and is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.He introduced the Romans to the chief...
nis - De Corrupti Sermonis apud Gallos Emendatione et Latine loquendi Ratione
The "So called on the Corrpution of Enmendation of the Word". This work had many French editions, some from the famous editor Rovillius among others. On the Spanish translations of this work, the scholar González Echeverría proved at ISHM
International Society for the History of Medicine
The International Society for the History of Medicine is a non profit international society devoted to the academic study of the History of Medicine, including the sponsorship of conferences in international congresses....
that Michel de Villeneuve
Michael Servetus
Michael Servetus was a Spanish theologian, physician, cartographer, and humanist. He was the first European to correctly describe the function of pulmonary circulation...
(better known as Michael Servetus
Michael Servetus
Michael Servetus was a Spanish theologian, physician, cartographer, and humanist. He was the first European to correctly describe the function of pulmonary circulation...
) carried out this task in the edition of 1551 ,at his friend, the printer, Jean Frellon's workshop. These translations were anonymous, just like his [Distichs of Cato]]. Michael de Villeneuve had to be careful, for Corderius and the printer Robert Estienne I
Robert Estienne
Robert I Estienne , known as Robertus Stephanus in Latin and also referred to as Robert Stephens by 18th and 19th-century English writers, was a 16th century printer and classical scholar in Paris...
(who printed many of Corderius' works) were very close to Calvin
Calvin
Calvin may refer to:People with the surname Calvin:* John Calvin, theologian, founder of Calvinism* Idelette Calvin, wife of John Calvin, founder of Calvinism* Melvin Calvin, American chemist* Samuel Calvin, U.S. geologist...
, and were also part of the Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
Council. Cordeir continued teaching at Bourdeaux
Bourdeaux
Bourdeaux is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France.-Population:...
and Paris. He possessed special tact and liking for teaching children.
- De Corrupti Sermonis apud Gallos Emendatione et Latine loquendi Ratione
- De Corrupti Sermonis Emendatione Libellus
- De syllabarum quantitate
- Conciones sacrae viginti rex Galliae
- Catonis distichaDistichs of CatoThe Distichs of Cato , is a Latin collection of proverbial wisdom and morality by an unknown author named Dionysius Cato from the 3rd or 4th century AD. The Cato was the most popular medieval schoolbook for teaching Latin, prized not only as a Latin textbook, but as a moral compass...
de moribus (with Latin and French translation) - Remontrances et exhortations au roi et aux grands de son royaume