Hegius, Alexander
Hegius, Alexander
Humanist; b. probably in 1433, at Heeck (Westphalia); d. 7 December, 1498, at Deventer (Netherlands). Nothing is known of his earlier studies; but he must have been of quite mature age when ordained to the priesthood. He himself declares that he was a pupil of Rudolph Agricola, the most distinguished exponent of earlier German Humanism; there is no doubt that the latter, though eleven years his junior, exerted over him no small influence, so that he was compelled to admit: “When forty years of age I came to young Agricola, from whom I have learned all that I know, or that others think I know.” He became in 1469 rector of the school at Wesel, and soon afterwards was made head of the monastic school at Emmerich. In 1474, he assumed direction of the school at Deventer, which even in those days had acquired renown. As a Humanist he was an enthusiastic admirer of the ancient classic period; he spoke and wrote a pure Ciceronian Latin. He was equally versed in Greek and sought to instil into his pupils a love for the tongue of Homer. But Hegius earned his claim to recognition chiefly in the domain of pedagogics. He simplified and improved the method of teaching and banished from the schools the ancient books which for centuries had been used therein. He instituted a course which centered about the classics and drew from them a new vitality. The school of Deventer made progress under his guidance; it was common for more than two thousand students to gather there, and these he inspired with zeal not only for their studies, but also for the high calling of an educator. It was his whole personality, his deeply religious mind, moral qualities, modesty and simplicity, the charm of his pure heart, added to his learning, that made such a deep impression. He was a real father to his pupils, particularly to the poor, to whom he gave what he received from the rich. Shortly before his death he distributed all he had among the poor of Deventer, who amid tears and lamentations followed the remains of their benefactor. Among his most distinguished pupils were Erasmus, Murmellius, Mutianus, and others. He did not acquire prominence as a writer. His small treatises, letters and poems were published by Jakob Fabri in 1503, at Deventer.
———————————–
Reichling, Beitrüge zur Charakeristik der Humanisten Alexander Hegius, Joseph Hortenius, &c. In Picks, Monatschrift für rheinisch westfülische Geschichtsforschung., III, 283-303; Molhuysen-Tross, Alexander Hegius in Zeitschrift für vaterlündische Geschichte: XXI, 339-362; Geiger, Allegemeine Deutsch Biographie, XI, 283-285.
PATRICIUS SCHLAGER
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VIICopyright © 1910 by Robert Appleton CompanyOnline Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. KnightNihil Obstat, June 1, 1910. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., CensorImprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York
Fuente: Catholic Encyclopedia
Hegius, Alexander
(the name, according to some accounts, being Latinized from the name of his native village, Heck), a German humanist of the 15th century, was born within the diocese of Mitnster about 1433 or 1455 (the exact date is undetermined), and died at Deventer, Holland, in the latter part of 1498. He claims notice here because of his influence in reviving classical learning, especially by means of the celebrated college which he established at Deventer. This school is named by Hallam (Lit. of Europe, 1, 109, Harpers’ ed.) as one of the three schools thus early established in Western Europe, outside of Italy, for instruction in the classic languages, from which issued the most conspicuous ornaments of the next generation. Hegius is said to have been a friend of Rudolph Agricola, and to have himself received instruction in classical literature from Thomas a Kempis. Among his pupils may be named Erasmus, Hermann von dem Busche, Murmellius, and others, whose labors and success in literature add lustre to their teacher’s fame. Hegius’s writings were but few, and those mainly in the form of poetry and brief grammatical and philosophical treatises; one of a theological type is found in a miscellaneous collection of writings by him, published at Deventer, 1530, 4to, and entitled De Incarnationis Mysterio Dialogi duo, quibus additum de Paschae et Celebratione et inventione. Hallam (1. c. note) attributes to him a small 4to tract entitled Conjugationes Verbornum Graeca, Daventrice Noviter extremo labore collectae et impressae, without date or printer’s name, and which he regards as the first book printed this side of the Alps in Greek. Herzog, Real-Encyklop. 19, 616; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Gneral, 23, 763. (J. W. M.)