Wawrzyniec z Raciborza

Lawrence of Ratibor (also from Lorenz Ratibor; Laurentius Nicolai Neuschin; Latin Laurencius de Raciborz; Polish Wawrzyniec z Raciborza; * 1381 Ratibor, Duchy Ratibor, † April 14, 1448 in Kraków ) was a Silesian mathematician and astronomer, and theologian. 1428/29 he held the post of rector at the University of Krakow.

Life

Lawrence came from the Ratiborer branch of wealthy middle-class family of Kaczer, which probably came from Katscher and their further line had moved to Krakow. From the Kraków line are known, inter alia, the Cistercian Markus de Kaczer and the Dominican Martin de Kaczer.

Lawrence 's father was Nicholas de Radbor (also Neuschin or Nueschin ). It is not known why Lawrence until 1411, at the age of 30 years, enrolled at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Cracow, which had been rebuilt in 1400. Three years later, his two years younger brother Augustine also took up studies at the Krakow University. 1414 Lawrence put the test as a bachelor from 1416, he obtained a master's degree. He then taught in Krakow to 1433 arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, optics, and music theory on a chair that had been donated in 1410 by John Krakauer citizens Stobner. 1421/22 and 1426/27 he was Dean of the Faculty of Arts. Already in 1424 or earlier, he had turned to the study of theology in addition to his teaching activities. 1426 an altar Foundation at the Cracow Cathedral, he was assigned as a benefice, which he returned for unknown reasons a year later. In the same year he built with his brother Cyprian, who served as pastor of Katscher, a church choir at the Ratiborer Collegiate and St. Mary's Church ( Church of Our Lady ), where he had a canonry. Him a canonry in the collegiate church of St. Florian in Krakow was 1428 or earlier transferred their academic Kanonien were reserved for members of the Faculty of Theology. For the academic year 1428/29 he was elected rector. He also worked as an astronomer at the King Władysław II Jagiello, constructed astronomical instruments yard and created astronomical tables. He obtained with the prediction of a solar eclipse for 1433 Special Recognition.

After theological Bachelor he received his doctorate in 1433 as a doctor of theology. As he belonged to the Faculty of Theology, he had to give up the foundation chair of mathematics and astronomy. His theological career is poorly understood, but may be from the writings, he used tapped. He commented, for example, the Sentences of Peter Lombard. After 1439 he gave for the Council of Basel formulate an opinion on the question of the schism which had been requested by the Council at the Cracow theologians. The report consists of nine Conclusiones, each explained. So far could not be determined whether Lawrence personally appeared in Basel. In the conciliar documents, his name is missing. 1441 he held himself to give it back in Silesia, as he gave the Ratiborer Church of Our Lady books and liturgical vestments. His Ratiborer home he remained connected to the last. The directory of members of the Guild of Our Lady Ratiborer he is listed as a canon of Ratibor.

He was the last time mentioned source standard 1446. A necrology of the Krakow theologian and rector Mattheus de Labiszan (Matthew of Łabiszyn ) it can be seen that Lawrence died in 1448. In the obituary especially his mathematical and scientific achievements are highlighted. His burial place is not known.

Works

• Determinatio Basiliensis