Hans von Bodeck

Hans von Bodeck (* 1582 in Elbing, ( Royal Prussia), † June 23, 1658 in Hamburg) was a German diplomat and Chancellor of the Elector of Brandenburg- Prussia.

Life

In order to find trading partners sent him Elbing on a diplomatic tour of Europe, while or after he wrote the liber amicorum, which today is synonymous with the study of music among others.

His family belonged to the old-established Elbing citizens. His grandfather was mayor and his father was a councilor. The ancestor Johann III. of Bodeck (1542-1595) had been confirmed the imperial status by Emperor Rudolf II and at the same time the family crest had been improved. The of Bodecks also held offices in Gdansk.

Hans von Bodeck visited except Germany, the Netherlands, France, Switzerland and England, Oxford and Cambridge during his diplomatic study tour. He probably attended the funeral ceremonies of Queen Elizabeth and the consecration of the new king, James I. To this end, the Elbląg city council had sent two delegates with a double mission: firstly, to show respect to the new king and secondly, to be against the transfer of speak English trade of Elbing in the nearby Gdansk.

In 1604 went from Bodeck to London, where he met John Dowland, Philip Rosseter and Thomas Campion. All three were composers of songs for lute and lived in the same district in London. From Bodeck friends with them and Campion wrote a song that was dedicated by Bodeck. There were many people from England and Scotland to live in Elbing, and other cities in Germany.

Later went from Bodeck to Paris, where he met Count Christoph von Dohna- Schlobitten, a nobleman of Prussia Location just 15 km from Elbing. From Bodeck became chancellor of the Hohenzollern Joachim Friedrich ( Brandenburg), Elector of Brandenburg- Prussia.

A collection of songs for the lute was purchased from Dohna- Schlobitten and stored in the library Elbing. 1929 Hans Bauer wrote a detailed description of the record book of Hans Bodecks. When taking Elblag by the Soviet Union and the expulsion of the population of the city of Elbing and its library was destroyed. Many Prussian documents and original manuscripts are currently surfaced in Krakow. Musicologist as K. Sparr have the hope that the original Hans von Bodecks could possibly one day emerge.