Georg Tannstetter
Georg Tannstetter, humanists name Collimitius (* mid-April 1482 Rain, † March 27, 1535 in Innsbruck ), was a German -Austrian humanist, astronomer, astrologer and physician. He was professor of applied mathematics at the University of Vienna, where Peter Apian and Joachim Vadian were among his pupils. His account of the history of the Viennese astronomer and mathematician ( Viri Mathematici, 1514) is an early attempt to represent science history. His approach to an empirical Astrology ( Libellus consolatorius, 1523) was still unusual. Together with a student he designed a Hungary Map ( Tabula Hung Arie, 1528), which belongs to the UNESCO. He was of royal private physician in the service of several Habsburg rulers. In 1531 he was knighted.
- 2.1 Humanistic work
- 2.2 Cartography
- 2.3 Physics
- 2.4 Astronomy
- 2.5 Mathematics
- 2.6 Viennese mathematician and astronomer to 1514
- 2.7 Astrology
- 2.8 Medicine
Life
Birth 1482 and Name
Georg Tannstetter was born in Rain am Lech. As birth time is Earl Stuhlhofer " mid April 1482 " on, determined on the basis of information ( printed as Artificium ... ) on Tannstetters grave stone on images Tannstetter, in letters to Joachim Vadian and in its medical - astrological lecture.
His father Gabriel was nurse of the monastery Niederschönenfeld ( 1480-1500 ). The son Georg was called (since Rain also means border path) Latinized Collimitius. In his works there are references to his native city, as in the author's name Georgen Tannstetter of Rain am Lech, or as Georgius Tanstetter Collimitius. Sometimes he added his name " Lycoripensis ", composed of Lycus (Lech ) and ripa ( shore ), ie based on the river side.
First study and teaching in Vienna
Tannstetter studied from 1497 in Ingolstadt on the faculty of arts, the so-called liberal arts ( " liberal arts " ), including mathematics and astronomy, and was Master in 1501. He was a pupil there from John Stabius and Andreas Stiborius, whom he followed to the University of Vienna, probably the end of 1502., Where he lectured at the Faculty of Arts, with whose files name as the theme of the planetary theory ( Theo Ricae planetarum ) and him up in the years 1503 1512 repeated mention, for example, as an examiner. About 1513 he held a mathematics lecture, in the winter semester 1514/15 an astronomical- astrological introductory lecture. Bear witness is also an astronomical special lecture on the second book of the Natural History of Pliny ( in the period to 1518 ).
Tannstetter had some prominent students. Peter Apian came to Vienna to study to become a student of Tannstetter. 1528 Apian dedicated to him his edition of the planetary theory of Georg von Peuerbach. Joachim Vadian stressed later that he owed his scientific knowledge of his teacher Tannstetter.
From 1508 Tannstetter still started with a medical degree and a doctorate in 1513 for Dr. med According to the faculty files Tannstetter received on May 11, 1513 doctoralia insignia ( German: the signs of the awarding of the doctorate ). Some historians dated Tannstetters Promotion falsely to earlier years, eg Joseph Aschbach on 1509th
Rector of the University of Vienna
At the Faculty of Arts Tannstetter 1512 was dean during the summer semester. In the following winter semester 1512/13 he was rector of the university. The lasting until April 1513 from October 1512 semester is documented by a Konsistorialbuch, a Resource rarely obtained from those decades. The consistory consisted of the Rector, the procurators of the four academic "nations" as well as the deans of the four schools, and met almost every week for a meeting and this took place on different weekdays, except on Sundays It was about legal and financial issues. University and its relations to the outside, opposite the city and the church.
Tannstetters Rector is also mentioned in the so-called dark men letters; a humanist had this - written letters - ironical. In a letter he leaves a scholastic report that he ( Collimitius ) came to the Rector Tannstetter on January 17, 1513:
Here appears Tannstetter as fanatical followers of the humanist direction.
At that time he was still unmarried, as rector of the University of Vienna to 1534 could only be a celibate ( this celibacy rule was a clerical nature of the university).
Soon after the end of Tannstetters Rector broke out in fierce conflict between students and citizens of the City of Vienna; they lasted from the end of May 1513 to the year 1514.
Teacher and Dean at the Faculty of Medicine
During his rectorate closed Tannstetter his medical studies. He then worked as a teacher at the medical school, and was there four times Dean: In the summer semesters 1514 and 1520 and in the winter terms 1524/25 to 1528 / 29th For the activities of the medical doctors in the faculty included the check - is at Tannstetter in the years 1515 and 1517, when his friend Vadian has been tested and received his doctorate ( and presented by Tannstetter the insignia doctoralia got ). Tannstetter had at the medical school but no professorship.
From Tannstetters teaching at the Faculty of Medicine is only occupied his medical astrological lecture, held probably in the Summer Term 1526 ( published as a book in 1531 under the title Artificium ... ).
The files of the Faculty of Arts mention Tannstetter often in the period 1502-1513, those of the Medical Faculty of 1512 until his death. Apart from its approximately 1510 obtained professorship, which probably belonged to the poet College, Tannstetter shifted the focus of his work since his medical doctorate from the Faculty of Arts to medical school. The Letters of Obscure Men speak to this shift in focus; the University of Vienna appears in the winter semester 1516/17, during the rectorate of Vadian, as humanistic stronghold:
Family
In a letter from a friend Tannstetters to Vadian in April 1514 states that Tannstetter married - so early 1514 or even 1513, or at least soon after his rectorate. His wife's name was Martha Merusin and was a daughter of Jacob Merus. From this marriage came forth a son who was called Christian, lived from 1516 to 1567 and should be a member of the Vienna City Council. They also had two daughters, Elizabeth and Martha.
1516 Tannstetter bought a house that came up later in the complex of the Franciscan monastery. It was between the housed in the Herzog College Faculty of Arts, the poet College ( St. Anna ) and housed in the House of physicians Faculty of Medicine.
Applied Mathematics in the imperial service
According to the grave stone Tannstetters he was from about 1510 "servants" and "advice" of Emperor Maximilian I. These services related to well different areas.
Approximately 1510 Tannstetter of Maximilian I. professor (Latin: ordinarius ) called for (applied) mathematics and astronomy. Notes on Tannstetters activity as professor of these subjects there are from the period 1511 to 1523 at this time., He published several books, including Editions as Support material. His professorship probably belonged to - Konrad Celtis initiated - humanist poet College. This was indeed part of the University of Vienna, but are not classified in the traditional structures.
In the following years Tannstetter was used by the respective Archduke of Austria for different tasks in the areas of astronomy, astrology and cartography. The obligation to take over such tasks could have been connected to the mentioned professorship. For the Archduke to work, was certainly an honor.
Pope Leo X was concerned with the necessary expectant calendar reform and asked the then emperor, Maximilian I, for assistance. This commissioned in 1514 Andreas Stiborius and Tannstetter to draw up a proposal. This they did and delivered from a report which they made, probably in the following year, Print ( De Romani Calendarii correctione Consilium ).
Even with John Stabius, another teacher Tannstetters, a collaboration resulted. Stabius designed a map of Austria on behalf of Maximilian I, and Tannstetter improved and expanded this - not received - map.
After the death of Maximilian I in 1519 came Tannstetter in connection with his successor, Emperor Charles V, who gave him privileges for the protection of future publications: in 1522 a printing privilege for one to be designed Hungary map, and in 1523 a general printing privilege for Tannstetters books the next 10 years.
Charles' brother Ferdinand took over the rule over the Austrian lands. The population by an astrological reasonable fear that it would in 1524 come to major flooding, distressed trying to appease Tannstetter through a book: This was released in 1523 for the scholars in Latin ( libellus consolatorius, German: calming writing), at the same time but for the general population on German. Already at the beginning of the long title brings Tannstetter expressed that he wanted to serve the interest of calming the population regent: To please the older and (...) Mr. Ferdinando ...
The threat of the Turks made a good card for Hungary required. Tannstetter created such a, together with his students from Hungary originating Lazarus Secretarius. This tab Hung aria was printed in 1528 in Ingolstadt.
Personal physician to several Habsburg
The 1513 to Dr. med. doctorate Tannstetter was used by Emperor Maximilian I as personal physician. That is, at least for the time immediately before Maximilian's death: 1518/19 Tannstetter was called to catfish. Some historians said that Tannstetter would already have been Maximilian's personal physician since 1510. Although Tannstetter was used for individual services since about 1510, but the text of the grave stone connects Tannstetters work as personal physician not directly with this point:
Here, the personal physician activity is related only to the children of King Ferdinand (whose first child was born in 1526), at least it is not said that Tannstetter would have been the personal physician for 25 years, since about 1510. That the Emperor for this task a medical student ( the Tannstetter was then) had called, is unlikely from the outset.
1521 reached a severe plague and Vienna, so that the university had to be closed. Tannstetter published a Pestverhütungsschrift ( regiment for the lauff the Pestilentz ) and fled to Carinthia. End of the year he was to March dispensed by Anna on behalf of her husband Ferdinand of his language editing, because this need it.
1527 and 1529 Tannstetter to Queen Mary of Hungary, sister of Ferdinand, caused due to physical discomfort. And Ferdinand the end of 1528 made him the offer to be the personal physician of his family; from Christmas, he must therefore hold no more lectures. This offer accepted Tannstetter 1530 and moved with his family to Innsbruck. Thus Tannstetters activity extended as imperial personal physician over several generations of Maximilian I until his great-grandson Maximilian II, the eldest son of Ferdinand ( and emperor from 1564).
Ennoblement in 1531
For its services under Maximilian and Ferdinand Tannstetter was raised to the knightly nobility. The document, dated November 21, 1531, was issued in the name of King Ferdinand; this ennobled " the ersamen gelerten, unnsern love Astronomus Georgen Tannstetter Doctor, unnser and our küniglichen Kynnder Phisicus ". The document then mentions also that Tannstetter doctor ( Physicus ) Maximilian was, and points out that Tannstetter for his art of astronomy is famous. Otherwise, it is generally to services Tannstetters for " Unn and the sacred realms and our dominions " recalls. It was a hereditary ennoblement, which should therefore also be transferred into Tannstetters marital offspring. In addition, he was awarded the right to adopt a new surname if he acquires or built a castle or a country house. With the ennoblement so was not a certain name suffix connected (as in the literature is sometimes claimed ). Surnamed Tannstetters is actually appended a noble -sounding additive on the grave stone then, from Thonau ( in German text) or Thonnau ( in Latin ).
Death 1535
A decade before his death suffered Tannstetter among several physical ailments. 1526 he described this in a letter to Vadian.
Give the Latin text on the grave stone and a German text on a lost wooden plate with approximately the same statements as at the date of death March 26, 1535. The records of the Medical Faculty in Vienna call the same day of death and also contain the hour of death: So he died shortly before the ninth hour of the night ( paululum ante NONAM nocte ), shortly ago 3 clock early. This leads then to the present, beginning with midnight daily data as of March 27 as a day of death.
The place of death was probably Innsbruck; in any case Tannstetter was buried in the cemetery next to the hospital church. The erroneous inclusion " Wiener Neustadt " has its origin probably in the formulation of a later historian, " except Innsbruck on the New Town churchyard " - was meant: outside of Innsbruck, which was even smaller then.
The grave stone can be the approximate year of birth 1482 ( " died ... in 53 Jar of his age " ) refer. In the historical literature, there are also an erroneous inclusion in his lifetime with 1480-1530, sometimes referred to as approximate. The starting point was the Austrian National Enyklopäedie. Their statement was taken over by Poggendorff, but as apparently totally accurate. His statements then took several science historians.
Tannstetter portraits
Graf- Stuhlhofer provides a total of 7 images Tannstetters together. The appearance Tannstetters is thus compared with contemporaries, well documented. A coat of arms appears with a six-pointed star on almost all portraits; see above about the bookplate of Hans Brosamer; another bookplate goes back to Hans Springinklee.
There are two paintings by Bernhard Striegel, which presumably represent Tannstetter and his wife ( see right). The identification of the sitter with no name Tannstetter was first published in 1965 by Fritz Dworschak. This identification was affirmed by Reinhold Baumstark, but doubted by Stephan Kemperdick. The painting is held in the collections of the Prince of Liechtenstein in Vaduz; an exhibition in 1979 used this painting for the cover.
In his hometown of Rain Georg- Tannstätter Street reminded of him, and a 1988 -built chest relief portrait at the Birthplace.
Naturalist and author
Tannstetter was a versatile scholar who published works in various fields. As a printer, he commissioned especially the Viennese John Sing Riener. An alleged, incomplete Edition of the Works Tannstetters never existed.
The literature expects Tannstetter with his teachers and Stabius Stiborius the so-called " second Viennese school math ", where " mathematics " is meant in a broad sense, scientific applications of mathematics including. The first, more significant in respect Wiener astronomical mathematical school include John of Gmunden, Georg von Peuerbach and Regiomontanus.
Humanistic work
Tannstetter considered as representative of Renaissance humanism. This is seen in the so-called dark men 's letters, but also to his friends, such as with Vadian. The theologian Johann Eck, Luther's later opponent, dedicated in 1516 the imprint of two lectures " his friends " in Vienna, including Tannstetter. Tannstetters mathematics professorship probably belonged to the humanist Konrad Celtis of initiated poets College. In addition, Celtis had founded in Vienna Danube a society, which was an association of scholars and probably also students who met on certain evenings. Perhaps the continuation of this Sodalitas was that county, who later met in the house of Tannstetter and Sodalitas Collimitiana was called. It is mentioned in 1520 in letters to Vadian often.
The journalistic work Tannstetters corresponds to - partially - the classic picture of humanism, about the fact that he relied in his astrology mainly due to Claudius Ptolemy and sometimes expressed reservations against the Arab astrologers. But in medical terms, is for him next to Galen and Hippocrates and Avicenna an authority. Among the 12 edited by Tannstetter - throughout science and mathematics - texts was only one of an ancient author ( the Neoplatonist Proclus ), the other 11 were from late medieval Western writers, especially by Georg Peuerbach.
Cartography
Tannstetter put together with his disciple Lazarus Secretarius from Hungary establishes a 1528 printed in Ingolstadt map of Hungary, called Tabula Hung aria. The importance of the map lies in the great precision of the position of the localities in the water data and other name registrations as well as in the innovative introduction of a scale. The map was included in the World Documentary Heritage by UNESCO.
A map of Austria ( Austriae descriptio ) was designed by Emperor Maximilian I of Stabius and enlarged by Tannstetter and improved ( Stabius pinxerat, et Collimitius auxerat et perfecerat ); them tell John Cuspinian in the preface and the epilogue of his work, Austria, and announced the impression this card for the planned second part of his work to. It never came, Cuspinian died in 1529, and perhaps this Map of Austria was never printed. She has not been preserved in any case.
Physics
Tannstetter introduced a new tray into the academic classes, namely, the physical geography. As a basis for such teaching, he printed the work De natura locorum ( German: On the Nature of places ) after of Albertus Magnus, provided with their own explanations ( 1514). Albertus wants to show how the properties of a place from its geographical position dependent.
Another Edition concerned the presentation of the perspective optics of Vitelo; Tannstetter put the template available, and Peter Apian took over the preparation of printing ( 1535).
Sometimes Tannstetter is erroneously attributed to a co-editor at the Libellus Linconiensis (Nuremberg, 1503), in which Robert Grosseteste treated the reflection. But this edition is solely due to Andreas Stiborius.
Astronomy
On behalf of Emperor Maximilian I and his teacher wrote Tannstetter Andreas Stiborius 1514 a report on the planned reform of the calendar. To long term to retain the correct length of the year, they suggested, skip a leap day in each 134 years. The manuscript of probably soon after printed proposal ( De Romani Calendarii correctione Consilium; German proposal for correction of the Roman calendar ) is still preserved; the title page of this manuscript was written personally by Tannstetter, the more probably by Andreas Perlachturm, who studied at Tannstetter.
Tannstetters first - and only one ancient author in question - was the Sphaera Edition ( German: celestial sphere ) of the Neo-Platonist Proclus Diadochus 1511 Tannstetters best-known edition is that of astronomical tables of Georg Peuerbach and Regiomontanus ( Tabulae Eclypsium ... German: Shadows ... tables. , 1514). He also gave the Sphaera 1518 by Johannes de Sacrobosco together with Theo Ricae planetarum ( German: Planetary Theory ) by Georg Peuerbach out.
Mathematics
In the area of mathematics in the strict sense Tannstetter published only as an editor. 1515 he published a textbook for university study with treatises, " which include the entire territory of the former higher mathematics ". This " union of the five most important writings of the medieval mathematics " began almost as a book title, same with the table of contents by the contained writings five are enumerated ( Contenta in hoc libello, in German: This booklet contains the following ), namely:
Viennese mathematician and astronomer to 1514
Tannstetter represented the life and work of about 30 astronomers and mathematicians in Vienna - worked ( or were) - mainly at the university. The title of his rather brief presentation, Viri Mathematici, points out that he is in the tradition of works " about famous men " ( " De viris illustribus " ) stemmed. His chronologically arranged bio - and bibliographical catalog ranged from Heinrich Lange stone, which had started to teach in 1384 in Vienna, to print in 1514, in which this historical perspective in the context of edited by Tannstetter Tables ( Tabulae eclypsium ... ) appeared. In these 130 years, worked at the University of Vienna excellent astronomers, such as Georg von Peuerbach and Regiomontanus. Such a representation of a portion of natural science history was then still rarely practiced.
Astrology
In most - perhaps all - of the period from 1504 to 1526 wrote Tannstetter a calendar (often Judicium or Practica ) applies to each next year. They appeared partly in German, partly in Latin. Such calendars were common in the population; after the end of that year they were then but barely noticed, so they are now only sporadically in libraries. In the early 16th century there were in the German language area about 5 to 10 calendar year; therefore is Tannstetter through its annual calendar - especially in Vienna and the neighboring regions - have been a noted author in the population.
In 1523 he published a " calming Scripture " ( libellus consolatorius ). Since the February 1524 an unusual number of conjunctions in the constellation of Pisces were to be expected, some astrologers feared that there would be major flooding. Tannstetter argued, inter alia, empirically against this fear - by a look back at moments in previous centuries with similar planetary configurations (and without simultaneous floods).
Under Tannstetters editions there are no astrological; therefore he saw no need in this area.
Medicine
As part of Tannstetters publication activities, the medicine was merely a minor. In 1521 he published a little book with medical advice with regard to the current plague: Regiment for the lauff the Pestilentz. It noted Tannstetter psychological factors: the resistance to infection is being promoted by joy and affected by sadness or anger. In addition, some handwritten recipes pharmaceutical Tannstetters are obtained.
Had a greater aftereffect held to his 1526 lecture on the application of astrology to medicine. A lecture transcript was published in 1531 by Otto Brunfels ( Artificium ... ). It was the first published in Germany more extensive book, which very specifically with the Iatromathematics itself - the application of astrology to medicine - busy.
Works (selection)
- As Eds.: Tabulae eclypsium magistri Georgii Peurbachii. Tabula primi mobilis Ioannis de Monte Regio. Joannes winter burgers, Vienna 1514 ( in the section Viri Mathematici, aa3v to aa6v of p ).
- Andreas Stiborius: De Romani Calendarii correctione Consilium. Joannes Singrenius, Vienna o.J. (probably 1515).
- In Gratiam Serenissimi ac potentissimi (...) domini Ferdinandiova (...) Georgii Tannstetter Collimitii Lycoripensis Medici et Mathematici libellus consolatorius quo, opinionem iam Dudum animis hominum ex quorundam Astrologastrorum divinatione infidentem, de futuro diluvio et multis aliis horrendis periculis XXIII anni a fundamentis extirpare conatur. Joannes Singrenius, Vienna 1523 (20 pp. ). at the same time in German language. " " ( to older and like the ... Mr. Ferdinando (...) Has Georg Tannstetter of Rayn (...) diss gegenwurtigs let ausgeen buechlen The leut hard furgenomene verwänung so sy output from of several dy is for Astro Nomos, vorsagung, chamfered by ainem kunfftigen Synfluss, and anndern abominable Vällen auffs XXIIII Jar avert. ) John Sing Riener, Vienna 1523 (22 pp. ).