Henryk Stroband

Stroband Heinrich ( born November 14, 1548 Thorn, † November 20, 1609 in Toruń ) was a German lawyer and mayor of Thorn, the founder of the Protestant Academic High School in Thorn, co-founder of the codification of Kulm law. After he was in the Thorn Strobandstraße: named (now ul Maly Garbary ). His tomb and epitaph is located in the St. Mary's Church in Thorn.

Life and career

Heinrich Stroband was born as a son of the merchant Johann Stroband and his wife Margarete Esken in Thorn. After school he studied in 1566 in Frankfurt / Oder philosophy, law and political science, in 1568 in Tübingen civil law and canon law, since that time he was interested in ancient history, and since 1570 he studied theology at Wittenberg. He also traveled to Strasbourg and Basel, and returned in 1574 back to Thorn.

Initially, he worked as a judge in the city, since 1586 he was a member of the city council, and already in 1587 he was elected mayor and city president. He remained until his death. He was chief inspector in the city schools and directed the Thorner consistory.

He was one of the most outstanding persons at the turn of the sixteenth to the seventeenth century for Thorn. The first phase of its activities are characterized by studies on the Kulm law and urban education reform. Through his efforts, the educational level of Thorner school was significantly increased, they changed from six years of schooling that have a medieval origin, in a modern system with 10 schools and received the status of a university, which in one of the leading centers of intellectual life Kingdom Prussia was. In 1595 Stroband also realized the proposal to establish the Protestant Academy in Toruń.

After his appointment to the Council of Thorn received a significant influence on the functioning of the city and came up with a broad reformist program, the city ordered rights in matters such as elections to the municipal authorities, the operation of the folder whether the activity of the Consistory.

An important element of the activities were Strobands construction projects. Reconstruction of the building by order of a Franciscan monastery to the needs of the middle school, a dormitory for students was built. Among the main achievements include the development of Altstädtischer City Hall. In addition, there are any celebrations were urban and merchant stalls. To this end, brought from Gdansk to Torun, the Dutch architect, Anton van Obberghen who made the Gothic building reconstruction. Otherwise, interior and painting made by the Danzig champion Anton Möller. 1591 there is a proposed conversion of the defense system of the city in modern fortification bastion. Was built in the years 1597-1601 and the construction of an armory and city guard. Has the concept of building a new bridge over the Vistula. On his initiative, the Toruń City Council in 1608, built in Wiesenburg at Thorn a first brewery that brought the city great profits.

He was the author of a comprehensive system of care for orphans, the Dutch models. It allows foreign students and poorer young people studying at the Thorner high school.

Epitah family Stroband at St. Mary's Church in Thorn