Caspar Barlaeus

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Caspar Barlaeus (February 12, 1584—January 14, 1648) was a Dutch polymath, humanist theologian, poet, and historian.

Born Caspar (Kaspar) van Baarle (he is more commonly known by his Latin name), he was a theology student and clergyman before becoming professor of logic at the University of Leiden.

From 1631, he was active at the Amsterdam Athenaeum, Athenaeum Illustre), which is commonly regarded as the predecessor of the University of Amsterdam; the Athenaeum had its seat in the fourteenth-century Agnietenkapel, . In January 1632, Barlaeus, along with Gerard Vossius, held his inaugural speech at the Amsterdam Atheneum. Barlaeus later encouraged Martinus Hortensius to lecture –and give an inaugural speech- at the same institution.

Barlaeus also worked as a physician. He lived in Caen for a time. He also championed the Arminian cause, and preached at Nieuwe-Tonge.

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[edit] Writings

Barlaeus published many volumes of poetry, particularly Latin poetry. He also wrote the eulogy that accompanies the 1622 portrait of cartographer Willem Blaeu.

Barlaeus was involved in various aspects of cartography and history. He translated Antonio de Herrera's Description of the West Indies in 1622. In 1627, Barlaeus provided the text for the atlas of Italy created by Jodocus Hondius. In 1647, he wrote an account of the Dutch colonial empire in Brazil, inspired by the leadership of John Maurice of Nassau (Johan Maurits) at Recife. The Rerum per octennium in Brasilia et alibi nuper gestarum sub praefectura, as it is called, contains numerous maps and plates of the region. Franciscus Plante wrote a similar work in the same year called Mauritias, and included the maps already published in Barlaeus' work. These were maps of Ceará, Pernambuco, Paraíba, and Pernambuco Borealá. Plante also incorporated a portrait of John Maurice that had already been included in Barlaeus' work.

In 1638, Barlaeus wrote Medicea Hospes, sive descriptio publicae gratulationis, qua ... Mariam de Medicis, excepit senatus populusque Amstelodamensis. Published by Willem Blaeu, it includes two large folding engraved views of the ceremonies on the occasion of the French queen mother Marie de Medici's triumphal entry into Amsterdam in 1638. Considered an important moment in Dutch history, Marie's visit lent de facto international recognition of the newly formed Dutch Republic. Marie de Medici actually traveled to the Netherlands as exile, but spectacular displays and water pageants took place in the city's harbor in celebration of her visit. There was a procession led by two mounted trumpeters; a large temporary structure erected on an artificial island in the Amstel River was built especially for the festival. This building was designed to display a series of dramatic tableaux in tribute to her once she set foot on the floating island and entered its pavilion.

[edit] Death and legacy

Barlaeus died at Amsterdam. Franciscus Plante wrote Barlaeus' obituary and epitaph in 1648.[1]

Barlaeus Gymnasium, in Amsterdam, is named after him. There is a Van Baerlestraat (Van Baerle Street) in both Amsterdam and Nieuwe-Tonge.

[edit] Works

  • Manes Auriaci (1625)
  • Hymnus ad Christum (1628)
  • Medicea hospes (1638)
  • Faces augustae (1643)
  • Rerum in Brasilia et alibi gestarum (1647)
  • Verscheyde Nederduytsche gedichten (1651)
  • Mercator sapiens, sive Oratio de coniungendis mercaturae et philosophiae studiis

[edit] Sources