Erdmann Copernicus

Erdmann Copernicus (born in the 1520s in Gransee, Margraviate of Brandenburg; † 25 August 1573 in Frankfurt (Oder)) was a German poet, composer, and jurist mainly active in the Margraviate or Electorate of Brandenburg, a precursor to Prussia.

Similar to the unrelated astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus (1473–1543), his name is documented in several partially Latinized variants: Erdmann/Erdmannus/Ertmannus/Erdmanus Kopernikus/Copernicus.

Life

He on 4 May 1545 joined University of Wittenberg in Saxony as Ertmannus Copernicus Granselensis,[1] and graduated on 25 February 1546 as Magister of philosophy. For winter semester 1546-47 he returned to Brandenburg to continue his studies at the state university in Frankfurt (Oder), named Alma Mater Viadrina after the river Oder. Moved upstream in 1811 and merged with the university in Breslau where WW2 put an end to it in 1945, it was in 1991 re-established in Frankfurt/Oder as European University Viadrina.

After being a school principal in the New Town district of Brandenburg an der Havel, Copernicus in 1556 continued law studies at University of Wittenberg until he was appointed professor in Frankfurt/Oder upon the recommendation of Philipp Melanchthon. Being popular among students, they petitioned Joachim II Hector, Elector of Brandenburg (1505-1571) with verses in Latin for a raise of Copernicus' salary.

On 21 April 1573, after having been the university's vice rector during the winter semester, he was promoted to Doctor of Law, and also to head of university for the summer semester of 1573, during which he died. His hymns were published posthumously in 1575.

Work

  • Hymni Ambrosii, Sedulii, Propertii et aliorum, quator vocum.
  • Poems: Gedichte. In: Petrus Albinus, 1535–1598. Meißnische Land vnd Berg-Chronica. Dresden. 1589 (Commend. poems 448) by Erdmannus Copernicus microformguides.gale.com (PDF; 1,1 MB).
  • Johannes Schosser: Elegia Viadri ad albim continens gratulationem  Eichorn, 1560.
  • Ludolph Schrader: Gamēlion Erdmani Copernici scriptum,  Eichorn, 1560.
  • Oratio de prima ivris origine progressionibus & incrementis , Eichorn, 1561.
  • Michael Haslobius, Henricus Iagow: In honorem clarissimi viri  Eichorn, 1563.

Literature

  1. Die Musikforschung. Band 6, Gesellschaft für Musikforschung, Bärenreiter-Verlag, 1953, S. 42 (books.google.com).
  2. Copernicus (Erdmannus) zuletzt Rector Magnificus zu Frankfurt a. d. O., geb. daselbst, wurde auf Melanchthons Empfehlung erst Doktor und Professor der Rechte daselbst, wobey er den Studenten so beliebt wurde, daß sie etliche Male beym Churfürsten Joachim II. um die Verbesserung seines Gehaltes in lateinischen Versen nachsuchten. Er starb am 25. Aug. 1573 in der höchsten Würde der dasigen Akademie, nachdem er von seiner arbeit in den Druck gegeben hatte: Hymni Ambrosii, Sedulii, Propertii et aliorum à 4 voc. 1575.8. Walther und Jöcher.
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