Hermann of Reichenau

Hermann of Reichenau (* July 18, 1013, † September 24, 1054 called the monastery of Reichenau, also Hermann the Lame, Hermannus Contractus, Herimannus Augiensis or falsely Hermann von Veringen ) was a monk and eminent scientist, composer and writer of the Middle Ages.

• 5.1 Texts
• 5.2 secondary literature

Life

Hermann originated from the Swabian noble family of Altshausen - Veringen. He was born the son of Count II of Wolfrat Altshausen and his wife Hiltrud at Schloss Altshausen in Upper Swabia. Hermann since birth suffered medical-historical studies show that well in a spinal muscular atrophy, which is why he - as his disciple Berthold depicts - never go learned was bound in his whole life to a sedan chair and could only speak difficult to understand. Because of this disability he is known under the nickname contractus, the lame. He came at the age of seven years, in September 1020, in monastic custody, probably in the monastery of Reichenau, where he in 1043 under Abbot Berno passed his monastic vows and he probably did not leave his life again. He learned the then customary monastic education and became an outstanding expert on the history of music as well as mathematics and astronomy.

The division of the hour into minutes (presumably for astronomical observations) might be traced back to him. He was one of the leading figures of his time in the transfer of the hitherto exclusively traditional Arabic knowledge in mathematics and astronomy, he coined the astronomical term " Almukantarat " for the horizon circle parallel to the celestial sphere. Artistically, he emerged as a composer and poet. He died in 1054 and was buried in the family grave lay in Altshausen.

Importance

His chronicle is a major source for the history of the middle 11th century. Given his difficult life circumstances are his performances to be on the level of science and to actively seek, certainly not to be underestimated. Nevertheless, he is not seen as the history of science ingenious and gifted individual phenomenon of the 11th century. He was probably among the leading scholars of his time and was considered by the German medievalists Arno Borst as the universal scholar of his time, but his own contributions and inventions could hardly prevail. Its real significance who became known as a compiler, so someone who made existing knowledge accessible by ordering it useful and clear.

Appreciation

A picture " Hermann the Lame " of the family of Count Altshausen - Veringen emblazoned on the facade of the school building of Veringenstadt. A road on the island of Reichenau is called after him Hermannus - Contractus Street. In the sacred art Hermann is often depicted with crutches or in the drafting of the Salve Regina:

Remembrance

• Evangelical: September 24, in the Protestant calendar name (as teachers of the Church )
• Roman Catholic: September 24 ( a saint )

Works

Historiography

• Chronicon: Among his works as a historian who wrote in Latin, the time of the birth of Christ to the year 1054 be outlined Chronicle Chronicon stands out. In it, he refers not only to himself, one of his birth and his school early, but also his family history in the contemporary history. His Chronicle was continued after the death of Hermann at his request by his disciple Berthold of Reichenau by the year 1080. Berthold's continuation is the life story of a Hermann's lame.
• Gesta Chuoradi et Heinrici probably imperatorum not obtained; probably it was only additions to the Gesta Chuoradi of Wipo presbyter

Music

• De musica: He developed grade theory is laid out in the work De musica.
• Sequences:

• Antiphons: The antiphons Alma redemptoris mater and Salve Regina are attributed to him frequently.
• Histories:

Astronomy / Mathematics

• Liber de mensura astrolabii, probably revised by Gerbert of Aurillac and Hermannus
• De utilitatibus astrolabii libri duo probably only Chapter 1 of Hermannus
• De mense Lunari: the length of the lunar month ( 29d 12h 29m, 348 "atoms" ); ed Meier, Einsiedeln, 1887.
• De horologiorum compositione: Fragment ed Oesch 1961
• Regulae in computum: summary of the ecclesiastical calendar; ed Nadja Germann, De ratione temporum, Leiden 2006
• De conflictu arithmimachiae: ed Wappler, 1892.
• Qualiter multiplicationes Fiant in abaco: ed Treutelein, 1877.
• De geometria (probably no longer receive )

Seal

• Opusculum Heri Manni de octo vitiis principalibus: addressed to nuns didactic poem about the eight capital vices (1722 verses ); New Issue: Hermann the Lame, Opusculum Heri Manni ( De octo vitiis principalibus ), initiated, edited and translated by Bernhard Hollick ( Reichenauer text and images Volume 14 ), Heidelberg 2008
• Versus per Epitaphio matris suae as an insertion in the Chronicle
• Martyrology: ed Dümmler 1885.