Sebastian Brant

Sebastian Brant
Sebastian Brant
    Sebastian Brant
     Catholic_Encyclopedia Sebastian Brant
    A German humanist and poet, born at Stasburg in 1457 or 1458; died at the same place, 1521. He attended the University of Basle where he at first studied philosophy, but soon after abandoned this for law, obtaining in 1489 the degree of Doctor of Canon and Civil Law. Prior to this, from 1484, Brant had begun to lecture at the university, practising his profession at the same time. He wrote a number of poems in Latin and German in which he set forth his religious and political ideals. The election of Maximilian as emperor had filled him and many other patriots with high hope. To see the emperor the supreme temporal ruler of Christian nations, and the Church the supreme spiritual ruler on earth was his one great desire and henceforth coloured all his poems. Especially did he hope for the restoration of imperial power in Germany and the strengthening of the realm. But he was doomed to disappointment. In 1499 Basle was separated from the empire and became a member of the Swiss confederacy. Brant's position here now became untenable, and he decided to change his residence. 1494 he had published his poem "The Ship of Fools", which had won him great popularity. Geiler von Kaisersberg, the famous Strasburg preacher, had made it the basis of a series of sermons, and he now recommended the appointment of Brant to the vacant position of city-syndic in Strasburg. The poet accepted the offer, and in 1501 he returned to his native city, where two years later he was appointed town-clerk and soon rose to considerable prominence. The remainder of his life was uneventful. Towards the great religious movement of his time, the Reformation, he maintained an attitude of passive indifference. Repeatly he served his city in an official capacity, the last time in 1520, as spokeman of an embassy sent to the newly elected Emperor, Charles V, to obtain for Strasburg the usual confirmation of its ancient privileges.
    The work to which Brant owes his fame is the "Narrenschiff" (Ship of Fools), a long didactic, allegorical poem, in which the follies and vices of the time are satirized. All the fools are loaded in a ship bound for Narragonia, the land of fools. But this plan is by no means carried out systematically, many descriptions being introduced which have no connection with the main idea. The resulting lack of unity, however, has its advantage; for it enables the poet to discuss all kinds of social, political, and religious conditions. Not only follies in the usual sense of the word are satirized, but also crimes and vices, which are conceived of as follies in accordance with the medieval way of thinking. Hence among the fools appear such people as usurers, gamblers, and adulterers. A chapter is devoted to each kind of folly and there are one hundred and twelve chapters in which one hundred and ten kinds of fools pass muster. As a work of art the poem does not rank high, though its tone is serious and earnest, especially where the poet pleads for his ideals, as in chapter xcix, entitled "Von abgang des glouben" (on the decline of faith). Knowledge of self is praised as the height of wisdom. The "Narrenschiff" enjoyed a tremendous popularity in Germany, which is attested by the numerous editions that appeared in rapid succession. But its fame was not confined to Germany. It was translated into Latin by Jacob Locher in 1497 (Stultifera Navis), into French by Paul Riviere in 1497 and by Jehan Droyn in 1498. An English verse translation by Alexander Barclay appeared in London in 1509, and again in 1570; one in prose by Henry Watson in London, 1509; and again 1517. It was also rendered into Dutch and Low German.
    Besides the "Narrenschiff" Brant wrote religious and political poems in Latin and Gerrnan. He also edited and translated a number of legal and theological treatises. The most complete edition of the "Narrenschiff" is that of Father Zarncke (Leipzig, 1854 ) which contains also selections from Brant's other works. Other editions are by Karl Goedeke (Leipzig, 1872) and F. Bobertag (in Kurschner's Deutsche National Litteratur, XVI). A modern German translation was made by Karl Simroek (Berlin, 1972). A clear edition of the English translation of Barclay, by T. M. Jamieson, appeared at Edinburgh in 1874 in 2 vols.
    ARTHUR F.J. REMY
    Transcribed by Joseph P. Thomas

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VIII. — New York: Robert Appleton Company. . 1910.


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  • Sebastian Brant — (also Brandt) (1457 ndash; May 10, 1521), Alsatian humanist and satirist, was born in Strasbourg.He studied at Basel, took the degree of doctor of law in 1489, and for some time held a professorship of jurisprudence there. Returning to Strasbourg …   Wikipedia

  • Sebastian Brant — (*Estrasburgo, 1457 o 1458 Estrasburgo, 10 de mayo de 1521) fue un humanista alsaciano y escritor de obras satíricas. Es autor del poema satírico La nave de los locos …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Sebastian Brant — Portrait Brants; Zeichnung von Albrecht Dürer (Ausschnitt) Sebastian Brant (* 1457 oder 1458 in Straßburg; † 10. Mai 1521 ebenda), latinisiert Titio, war ein deutscher Jurist, Professor für beide Rechte an der Universität B …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Sebastian Brant — S. Brant, grabado de Durero. Sebastian Brant o Brand (Estrasburgo, 1457 o 1458 Estrasburgo, 10 de mayo de 1521) fue un humanista alsaciano y escritor de obras satíricas. Brant estudió en Basilea, donde hizo un doctorado canónico y civil en 1489.… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Brant — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Berle Brant (* 1989), estnische Fußballspielerin Beth Brant (* 1941), kanadische Schriftstellerin Henry Brant (1913–2008), US amerikanischer Komponist Joseph Brant (1742–1807; Geburtsname Thayendanegea),… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Brant — may refer to:People: * Henry Brant (1913 2008), Canadian born composer, long in U.S. * Joseph Brant (c. 1743 1807), Iroquois leader * Mary Brant (c. 1736 1796), Iroquois leader * Sebastian Brant (1457 1521), a German humanist and… …   Wikipedia

  • Sebastián — Este artículo o sección necesita referencias que aparezcan en una publicación acreditada, como revistas especializadas, monografías, prensa diaria o páginas de Internet fidedignas. Puedes añadirlas así o avisar al auto …   Wikipedia Español

  • Sebastian — /si bas cheuhn/, n. 1. Saint, died A.D. 288?, Roman martyr. 2. a male given name. * * * (as used in expressions) Bach Johann Sebastian Brant Sebastian Cabot Sebastian Coe Sebastian Newbold Kresge Sebastian Spering Sebastian Saint * * * ▪ king of… …   Universalium

  • Sebastián — El origen del nombre Sebastián no es del todo conocido, pero es muy probable que provenga de la palabra griega σεβαστευω (sevastéfo), derivada a su vez del verbo σεβαζω (sevázo) cuyo significado es reverenciar, honrar. El adjetivo griego… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Brant — Brand. Bekannter Namensträger: Sebastian Brant, deutscher Dichter und Jurist (15./16.Jh.) …   Wörterbuch der deutschen familiennamen

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