Bartholomäus Scultetus

Bartholomew Scultetus ( other name forms: Barthel Schulz and Scholz, born May 14, 1540 in Görlitz, † June 21, 1614 ibid ) was city judge and mayor of Görlitz. He also worked as a mathematician, astronomer, historian and chronicler in an excellent manner.

Background and education

Barthel Schulz, of the nature of the humanists Latinized his name to Scultetus later, was born in 1540 as the son of the Görlitz citizen and Vorwerk owner Martin Schulz. Through his older brother Zacharias, of the sundial comes to the Görlitz Ratsapotheke, Barthel's interest in mathematics and astronomy was early awakened. After visiting the city grammar school he studied at the universities of Leipzig and Wittenberg. In Wittenberg he had acquired the academic degree of Master of Philosophy on 24 February 1564, and subsequently kept private lectures, returned back to Görlitz in 1567 and three years later he became a teacher at the local high school, where he taught mathematics and astronomy. Since 1570 he had a Bierhof in Peter Street, which he occupied until his death with his family. When brewing citizen, he belonged to the upper class of the Görlitz citizens who were open to all municipal offices.

Scultetus as alderman and mayor

Scultetus served his native city since 1578, when he was alderman, in various capacities. As city treasurer he was responsible numerous tasks: the accounts of the municipal taxes, the management of urban land and forest ownership, the nature of alms, and others. 1589 Scultetus was city judge. During his tenure ( until 1593), he handled almost 3,900 cases. Six times in his career he was named mayor of the city, the first time 1592nd Under his government, the first census of the population was carried out. Previously, only households were enumerated. As an alderman and mayor Scultetus was often entrusted with the defense of his city at the convents of the Upper Lusatian Six Towns League and on the Upper Lusatian Landtag. For Görlitz and the remaining six cities he also served as an envoy at the imperial court. From 1587 Scultetus put on a deed book in which he entered all the important rights and privileges of his city.

From Scultetus several historical works have survived, such as the time history and also one of the Görlitz city history to 1580 in two volumes. During his tenure as city judge and mayor, he led for many years diary. The diaries, in which he entered events, but also personal experiences and thoughts should facilitate their administration. You will give us a detailed picture of the situation in Görlitz at the turn of the 16th and 17th century. Since it is a sort of unofficial office diaries, we learn, however, little is known about the personal life of Scultetus outside his official duties.

Scientific achievements

Scultetus was one of the most important cartographers of the central German area in the 16th century. In 1568 he made a map of the Mark Meissen and in 1593 he created on behalf of the stands the first map of Upper Lusatia. For this purpose he had made ​​numerous trips through the Margravate to make yourself a picture of the topography. As the first Scultetus carried in his card the Sorbian- German language border. 1578 he even received an offer to work for the Russian tsar as a cartographer.

His enduring importance achieved Scultetus but as an astronomer and mathematician. Him busy, especially methods for precise time measurement. Successful was he in this field, both in the establishment of sundials as well as in introducing the twelve- dial at the Görlitz town hall clock. Scultetus was acquainted with Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler and Valentin Thau personally. The outstanding performance of Bartholomew Scultetus that went in their effect far beyond Görlitz, was his contribution to the Gregorian calendar reform, for whose enforcement he entered. Quick to recognize the Protestant Scultetus the accuracy of papal aspirations with regard to the reform of the calendar, and he advocated against the Czech state and court officials, the introduction of the new calendar, while many Protestant princes and scholars rejected this due to religious prejudice. It is largely thanks to Scultetus that the calendar reform on the orders of Emperor Rudolf II in Upper Lusatia and the remaining Czech lands was introduced in 1583 or 1584.

Bartholomew Scultetus died on June 21, 1614 as a highly respected man. He was buried in St. Nicholas' Church of the Görlitz.

Printed works

• Calendarium ecclesiasticum & Horoscopvm Perpetvvm. An ever were Direction Calender, first place with the vnbeweglichen feast days of the general Catholischen churches, ... And after Customised auff every year after the birth of Christ the sun Zirckel, ... More from nutz VND use vulgar Christianity, fending from the beginning of the Nativity bite the end of the world / Parent VND described by M. Bartolemaeum Scultetum Gorlicium. [ Görlitz 1571 ].
• Prognosticon meterorographicum perpetuum. A ewigwerend Prognosticon of all weather in the Lufft and Wercken the other element. Görlitz 1572
• Gnomonice de solariis, sive doctrina practica tertiae partis astronomiae, from all sorts of tanning beds, that's heavenly Circuln and watches, ... jetzundt auffs new fed report and perficirt. Görlitz 1572.
• Misniae Et Lusatiae tab. ( Map )
• The great and wonderful comet, so ... in 1577. Year, from the 10th day Novembris, by the gantzen Decembrem, bit the 13 Ianuarrij of the following year, ... Astronomical and natural description, special union of its importance and immense Wirckung. Görlitz in 1578 ( digitized )
• Lusatia Superior ( map)
• Diarium Domini nostri humanitatis Jesus Christ in Terris ... From the holy Empfengnis, birth, life, ... Jesus Christ. Frankfurt / Oder 1600 ( Diatessaron )
• De origine et curatione pestis.