The University of Helmstedt (german: Universität Helmstedt; official Latin name: ''Academia Julia'', "Julius University"), was a university in Helmstedt in the Duchy of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel that existed from 1576 until 1810.

History

Founded by and named after Duke Julius of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel on 15 October 1576, the first university of the duchy and the first Protestant university of the northern Holy Roman Empire quickly became one of the largest

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

universities. In order to train pastors and administrators for work in the Lutheran churches, the duchy needed a university of its own. In 1575, Julius obtained the Emperor's permission to open a university in Helmstedt. One year later the first lectures started. The princes of Wolfenbüttel held the office of the rector, starting with Julius' 12-year-old son John Henry.

Tilemann Heshusius Tilemann Heshusius (also ''Hesshus, Heßhusen, Hess Husen, Heshusen'') (3 November 1527 in Wesel — 25 September 1588 in Helmstedt) was a Gnesio-Lutheran theologian and Protestant reformer. Life Heshusius came from an influential family in W ...

was an important early Lutheran theologian at Helmstedt. He developed a clergy network in the region that supported other Helmstedt professors, including Daniel Hofmann, Gottfried Schulter, Basilius Sattler, and Tilemann's son, Heinrich Heshusius. The university developed four faculties for theology,

law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vari ...

, medicine and philosophy including the seven liberal arts. The great auditorium, the ''Juleum Novum,'' was erected in 1592. In the late 18th century, Helmstedt lost popularity to newer universities, such as the

University of Göttingen The University of Göttingen, officially the Georg August University of Göttingen, (german: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, known informally as Georgia Augusta) is a public research university in the city of Göttingen, Germany. Founded i ...

. It was closed in 1810 on initiative of

Johannes von Müller Johannes von Müller (3 January 1752 – 29 May 1809) was a Swiss historian. Biography He was born at Schaffhausen, where his father was a clergyman and rector of the gymnasium. In his youth, his maternal grandfather, Johannes Schoop (1696–17 ...

, director of public instruction in the Kingdom of Westphalia.

Famous professors and students in Helmstedt

Famous professors include: * Giordano Bruno, philosophy * Georgius Calixtus, theology * Hermann Conring, natural philosophy and rhetoric, medicine, politics (in succession) *

Hermann von der Hardt Hermann von der Hardt (November 15, 1660 – February 28, 1746) was a German historian and orientalist. He was born at Melle, in Westphalia (now in Lower Saxony). He studied oriental languages at the universities of Jena and Leipzig, and in 16 ...

, oriental languages *

Lorenz Heister Lorenz Heister (Latin: ''Laurentius Heister'') (19 September 1683 – 18 April 1758) was a German anatomist, surgeon and botanist born in Frankfurt am Main. Biography From 1702 to 1706 Heister studied at the Universities of Giessen and Wetz ...

, medicine *

, theology *

Anton August Heinrich Lichtenstein Anton August Heinrich Lichtenstein (25 August 1753, Helmstedt – 17 February 1816, Helmstedt) was a German zoologist. He was the father of Martin Hinrich Carl Lichtenstein (1780-1857). He studied theology, philosophy, natural history and Orien ...

, oriental languages *

Duncan Liddel Duncan Liddel (also Duncan Liddell; 1561 – 17 December 1613) was a Scottish mathematician, physician and astronomer. Life Liddel was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. Having received an education in languages and philosophy at the local school an ...

, mathematics (from 1591 to 1607)Omodeo, Pietro Daniel. (2011) Sixteenth Century Professors of Mathematics at the University of Helmstedt: A Case Study on Renaissance Scholarly Work and Networks, Max-Planck-Institut Fur Wissenschaftsgeschicte (in publication), pp. 10-11 * Heinrich Meibom, history and poetry * Johann Friedrich Pfaff, mathematics *

Wilhelm Abraham Teller Wilhelm Abraham Teller (9 January 17349 December 1804) was a German Protestant theologian who championed a rational approach to Christianity. Life and career Teller was born in Leipzig. His father, Romanus Teller (1703–1750), was a pastor at Le ...

, theology Famous students include: *

Caspar Abel Caspar Abel (14 July 1676 – 11 January 1763) was a German theologian, historian and poet. Abel was born in Hindenburg in der Altmark, the son of a pastor, and gained his theological education in Braunschweig and Helmstedt. In 1696 he becam ...

, theologian *

Valens Acidalius Valens Acidalius (156725 May 1595), also known as Valtin Havekenthal, was a German critic and poet writing in the Latin language. Life Acidalius was born in Wittstock, the son of a Lutheran pastor. He studied at the universities of Rostock, Greifsw ...

, writer *

Anton Wilhelm Amo Anton Wilhelm Amo or Anthony William Amo (c. 1703 – c. 1759) was an African philosopher originally from what is now Ghana. Amo was a professor at the universities of Halle and Jena in Germany after studying there. He was brought to Germany by ...

, first black student in Europe *

Johann Arndt Johann Arndt (or Arnd; 27 December 155511 May 1621) was a German Lutheran theologian who wrote several influential books of devotional Christianity. Although reflective of the period of Lutheran Orthodoxy, he is seen as a forerunner of Pietism, a ...

, theologian * Christian Heinrich Bünger, anatomist *

Sethus Calvisius Sethus Calvisius or Setho Calvisio, originally Seth Kalwitz (21 February 1556 – 24 November 1615), was a German music theorist, composer, chronologer, astronomer, and teacher of the late Renaissance. Biography He was born into a peasant family ...

, musician * Joachim Heinrich Campe, writer * David Caspari, theologian *

Carl Friedrich Gauss Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss (; german: Gauß ; la, Carolus Fridericus Gauss; 30 April 177723 February 1855) was a German mathematician and physicist who made significant contributions to many fields in mathematics and science. Sometimes refer ...

, mathematician *

Wilhelm Gesenius Heinrich Friedrich Wilhelm Gesenius (3 February 178623 October 1842) was a German orientalist, lexicographer, Christian Hebraist, Lutheran theologian, Biblical scholar and critic. Biography Gesenius was born at Nordhausen. In 1803 he became ...

, philologist *

Carl Benedict Hase Carl Benedict Hase (french: Charles Benoît Hase; 11 May 1780 – 21 March 1864) was a French Hellenist, of German extraction. Life Hase was born at Sulza near Naumburg. Having studied at Jena and Helmstedt, in 1801 he made his way on foot to ...

, classicist *

Hoffmann von Fallersleben August Heinrich Hoffmann (, calling himself von Fallersleben, after his hometown; 2 April 179819 January 1874) was a German poet. He is best known for writing "Das Lied der Deutschen", whose third stanza is now the national anthem of Germany, an ...

, writer *

Johann Georg Jacobi Johann Georg Jacobi (September 2, 1740 – January 4, 1814) was a German poet. Biography The elder brother of the philosopher Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi, Johann Georg was born at Pempelfort near Düsseldorf. He studied theology at Göttingen and ...

, writer *

Augustus Quirinus Rivinus Augustus Quirinus Rivinus (9 December 1652 – 20 December 1723), also known as August Bachmann or A. Q. Bachmann, was a German physician and botanist who helped to develop better ways of classifying plants. Life and work Rivinus was born in ...

(August Bachmann), physician and botanist

References

External links

District of Helmstedt - The University (in German)
{{Authority control

Helmstedt Helmstedt (; Eastphalian: ''Helmstidde'') is a town on the eastern edge of the German state of Lower Saxony. It is the capital of the District of Helmstedt. The historic university and Hanseatic city conserves an important monumental heritage o ...

1576 establishments in the Holy Roman Empire 1810 disestablishments in Germany

Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel Protestant universities and colleges in Europe

History

Famous professors and students in Helmstedt

See also

References

External links