'Erasmus, Princes and Patronage' (Week 6) Flashcards
Who was Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam?
was a peripatetic international scholar
What are some of the places he lived in?
Antwerp, Steyn, Paris, Louvain, Londo, Venice, Cambridge, Basel and Freiburg im Breisgau.
In these cities what did he do?
he mixed with important people within these towns.
Why were these towns and cities influential?
were influential places In terms of printing
what were scholars around him doing?
translating his work to ensure that his impact was bigger than ever - enormous influence.
Generally what does he demonstrate in his work?
a criticism towards religion
Where did he live 1511-14 and why is this important?
Queen’s College Cambridge
he had a lot of connection with scholars here and lots of important literary work in Cambridge whilst he was here
When was the first edition of the collection adages released?
1500
What are adages?
they are maxims
What does he bring in these maxims?
teachings of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, precepts for a good and happy life which he anthologises in these Adages
When was The Education of a Christian Prince first edition released?
1516
Who was this dedicated to?
Prince Charles who was just about to become Holy Roman Emperor
Why else was 1516 a significant year?
New Testament annotations (Novum instrumentum omne)
as he travelled Europe what did he do?
wasn’t just speaking to aristocrats or Kings, but was ransacking the libraries he had access to - look at ancient manuscripts he had access to on the Bible.
what was his aim in all this
Trying to take Christianity back to its authentic roots - how to apply roots of Christianity to the problems of the world he was surrounded by.
Who was Johannes Froben?
The leading printer in Basel of Erasmus’s career
- which is why he moved here
he was committed towering for Erasmus and printing his work
What was the message of The Education of a Christian Prince?
Making broader message of what successful and appropriate rules really mean
what does he teach about Christianity and ruling?
Prince must internalise Christianity rather than follow the motions of it
Wants to avoid the mere veneer of Christianity
Professing to be Christian whilst not actually properly presenting it.
what does he argue as essential?
For Erasmus it is essential - for a successful commonwealth the Prince must be rooted in good Christian values.
how does he write his work
Writes in the forms of aphorisms due to his work being of didactic nature.
who does he criticise in his work?
Criticises the way that people do thing ‘justly’ because that is what they think is right
who were the wars in the 16th century between
Wars between the House of Valois - rules France and Habsburg (yellow/orange part of map)
Lots of historic Anglo-French conflict though.
Who was Francis I
King of France, 1515-1547
Head of the House of Valois
That dynasty would rule France until the assassination of Henry III in 1589, whereupon the Crown passed to the Bourbons.
Who was Charles V
Head of the House of Hapsburg
