Jacobus Revius

Jacobus Revius born when Jacob Reefsen, (* November 1586 in Deventer, † November 15, 1658 in Leiden ) was a Dutch Calvinist preacher, poet and church historian.

Life and work

Revius father Ryck Reefsen was the mayor of Deventer, who fled with his family to Amsterdam when the city came under the rule of the Spaniards (see: Spanish Netherlands). He studied theology from 1604 to 1607 in Leiden and from 1607 to 1610 in Franeker. From 1610 to 1612 he was on a study trip to France, where he came up with the poetry of the Renaissance in contact, which should have a major influence on his own work. From 1614 to 1641 he served as assistant pastor in his native city of Deventer, who had financed his studies with a scholarship. During this time he was involved in the recording of the history of the state and in 1630 published his most important work, de - Over ysselsche Sang en densities, which are regarded as a highlight of the Dutch Baroque. In 1615 he married Christina Augustine, the daughter of the mayor of Deventer.

He was Head of the State Colleges in Leiden, a boarding school for students of theology end 1641. During this time, Revius employed less with poetry, but only published in 1651 a book on the history of Deventer ( Deventer Illustrata ) and polemicised otherwise violently in several pamphlets with the philosopher Heereboord Adriaan ( 1614-1661 ) about the pernicious philosophy in his eyes René Descartes.

Revius work is read and sung to this day. This may also be the fact that the poet has published mainly in his native language. With the Renaissance, yes articulate scholarly endeavors, neuzubegründen poetry, and poetry in Latin won throughout Europe new weight. While it was in the 17th century poetry in the national languages ​​on the topic in European scholarship, but French became a literary language - to Latin the second language of learning. Revius however, wrote mainly Dutch and so reached the common people and people who just mastered their mother tongue.

In Liedboek voor de Kerken, the Dutch songbook for church worship, seven of his poems are included in an updated version. His most famous poem is Hy droegh sett smerten ( he bore our sorrows ) with the beginning of " T'en sijn de Joden rivet, Army of Jesus, u cruysten " ( It is not the Jews, Lord Jesus, the crucified you ).

Different places have roads named after the poet, such as Reviusdreef in Leiderdorp or Reviusstraat in Hazerswoude - Rijndijk.