The Academic Gymnasium Danzig (german: Akademisches Gymnasium Danzig, pl, Gdańskie Gimnazjum Akademickie, Latin: ''Gymnasium Dantiscanum'') was a school founded in

Gdańsk Gdańsk ( , also ; ; csb, Gduńsk;Stefan Ramułt, ''Słownik języka pomorskiego, czyli kaszubskiego'', Kraków 1893, Gdańsk 2003, ISBN 83-87408-64-6. , Johann Georg Theodor Grässe, ''Orbis latinus oder Verzeichniss der lateinischen Benen ...

, Poland. It was founded in 1558 by

Johann Hoppe Johann, typically a male given name, is the German form of ''Iohannes'', which is the Latin form of the Greek name ''Iōánnēs'' (), itself derived from Hebrew name ''Yochanan'' () in turn from its extended form (), meaning "Yahweh is Gracious" ...

(1512–1565), who had previously worked at schools in Chełmno and

Elbląg Elbląg (; german: Elbing, Old Prussian: ''Elbings'') is a city in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Poland, located in the eastern edge of the Żuławy region with 117,390 inhabitants, as of December 2021. It is the capital of Elbląg County. ...

until Catholic Prince-Bishop Stanislaus Hosius closed them. For most of its existence it had a character similar to that of a university.

History

It was in operation as educational gymnasium for Lutheran clergy until 1817. It was one of the most developed educational centers in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. It also was the site of Collegium Medicum-one of the first associations of doctors in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. In the 16th century, as many cities in the Polish province of Royal Prussia became Lutheran, the population began to seek a Lutheran education. The University of Königsberg in neighbouring Ducal Prussia, founded in 1544, was not big enough to educate all the new Protestant clerics and administrators needed for the newly Lutheran state in addition to arrivals from other parts of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, so local Latin schools in the Commonwealth were upgraded. The future home of the Gymnasium would be the former Franciscan monastery turned into a school. In 1539, a ''Schola Dantiscana'' program was started by

Andreas Aurifaber Andreas Aurifaber (born Goldschmidt, 1514 – 12 December 1559) was a German physician of some repute, but through his influence with Albert of Brandenburg, last grand-master of the Teutonic Knights, and first Protestant duke of Prussia, became ...

. In 1558

founded a secular gymnasium that would become the Academic Gymnasium Danzig. Achatius Curaeus (1531–1594), from the University of Wittenberg, was made the first rector, but due to the theological conflicts between

Gnesio-Lutherans Gnesio-Lutherans (from Greek γνήσιος nesios genuine, authentic) is a modern name for a theological party in the Lutheran churches, in opposition to the Philippists after the death of Martin Luther and before the Formula of Concord. In t ...

and Philippists, he soon left. In 1580, the school received the title Academic Gymnasium. Along with similar schools in

and Toruń, the gymnasium transformed the province of Royal Prussia into a center of classical studies in the 16th century. The university ambitions of the Gymnasium can be proved by the fact that in 1580-1611 the following chairs were created: theology, philosophy, law and history, rhetoric, mathematics, medicine with anatomy, Greek, Hebrew and oriental languages. In 1589 a Polish language course was created. In 1817, after the

Partitions of Poland The Partitions of Poland were three partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth that took place toward the end of the 18th century and ended the existence of the state, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland and Lithuania for 12 ...

, when Gdańsk became part of the Kingdom of Prussia, the municipal gymnasium was founded and named ''Städtisches Gymnasium Danzig'' (City High School of Danzig), in contrast to the earlier (royal) ''Königliches Gymnasium''. The Academic Gymnasium Danzig was in operation until March 1945, when Danzig fell to the Red Army. Subsequently, the city as

, became again part of Poland.

Notable people

Notable lecturers of the Academic Gymnasium include

Bartholomäus Keckermann Bartholomäus Keckermann (c. 1572 – 25 August (or July) 1609) was a German writer, Calvinist theologian and philosopher. He is known for his ''Analytic Method''. As a writer on rhetoric, he is compared to Gerhard Johann Vossius, and consider ...

, Peter Crüger,

Krzysztof Celestyn Mrongovius Krzysztof Celestyn Mrongovius (german: Christoph Cölestin Mrongovius; pl, Krzysztof Celestyn Mrongowiusz) (July 19, 1764 – June 3, 1855) was a Protestant pastor, writer, philosopher, distinguished linguist, and translator. Mrongovius wa ...

, , Abraham Calovius,

Michael Christoph Hanow Michael Christoph Hanow (also Hanov, Hanovius) (12 December 1695, in Zamborst near Neustettin, Pomerania – 22 September 1773, in Danzig) was a German meteorologist, historian, professor of mathematics and since 1717 rector of the Academic Gym ...

(Hanovius),

Gottfried Lengnich Gottfried Lengnich ( pl, Gotfryd Lengnich) (4 December 1689 – 28 April 1774) was an 18th-century historian, lawyer and politician. He became known for writing the 9-volume ''History of Royal Prussia'' and for teaching Stanisław August Poniatow ...

, , , . Among its students and alumni were Johannes Hevelius, Andreas Gryphius,

Hugo Münsterberg Hugo Münsterberg (; June 1, 1863 – December 16, 1916) was a German-American psychologist. He was one of the pioneers in applied psychology, extending his research and theories to industrial/organizational (I/O), legal, medical, clinical, edu ...

Daniel Gralath Daniel Gralath (30 May 1708 – 23 July 1767) was a physicist and a mayor of Danzig. Gralath was born and died in Danzig (Gdańsk) in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. He came from a well-to-do trade family. He studied law and philosophy ...

, , Christian Hoffmann von Hoffmannswaldau, , , . In June 2008, the National Museum in Gdańsk unveiled a memorial table dedicated to Academic Gymnasium to mark the 450th anniversary of its founding.

Rectors

Rectors of Akademic Gymnasium Danzig: First rector Humanist Achatius Curaeus, advisor

*1580-1629 Jacob Fabritius *1602-1609

- co-rector with Fabritius *1631-1643

Johann Botsack Johann, typically a male given name, is the German form of ''Iohannes'', which is the Latin form of the Greek name ''Iōánnēs'' (), itself derived from Hebrew name ''Yochanan'' () in turn from its extended form (), meaning " Yahweh is Gracio ...

*1643-1650

Abraham Calov Abraham Calovius (also Abraham Calov or Abraham Kalau; 16 April 161225 February 1686) was a Lutheran theologian, and was one of the champions of Lutheran orthodoxy in the 17th century. Biography He was born in Mohrungen (Morąg), Ducal Prussia ...

*1651-1669

Johann Maukisch Johann, typically a male given name, is the German form of ''Iohannes'', which is the Latin form of the Greek name ''Iōánnēs'' (), itself derived from Hebrew name ''Yochanan'' () in turn from its extended form (), meaning " Yahweh is Gracio ...

*1670-1682 Aegidius Strauch *1685-1715 Samuel Schelwig *1717-

(Hanovious) *1717-1730

Johann Georg Abicht Johann Georg Abicht (21 March 1672 – 5 June 1740) was a German Lutheran theologian, born at Königsee, Schwarzburg-Sondershausen. After finishing his studies at the universities of Jena and Leipzig, Abicht became teacher of oriental langu ...

*1732-1752

Albert Menon Verpoorten Albert may refer to: Companies * Albert (supermarket), a supermarket chain in the Czech Republic * Albert Heijn, a supermarket chain in the Netherlands * Albert Market, a street market in The Gambia * Albert Productions, a record label * Alber ...

*1753-1769 Ernst August Bertling *1770-1794 Wilhelm Paul Verpoorten *1799-1809 Daniel Gralath ? relative of

*1810-1811

Friedrich Theodor Rinck Friedrich may refer to: Names *Friedrich (surname), people with the surname ''Friedrich'' *Friedrich (given name), people with the given name ''Friedrich'' Other *Friedrich (board game), a board game about Frederick the Great and the Seven Years' ...

*1812-1813

Nicolaus Gottfried Eckermann Nicolaus is a masculine given name. It is a Latin, Greek and German form of Nicholas. Nicolaus may refer to: In science: * Nicolaus Copernicus, Polish astronomer who provided the first modern formulation of a heliocentric theory of the solar syst ...

*1814-1817 Christian Gottfried Ewerbeck

References

Literature

*L.Mokrzecki: Studium z dziejów nauczania historii. Rozwój dydaktyki przedmiotu w Gdańskim Gimnazjum Akademickim do schyłku XVII, Gdańsk 1973 * Sven Tode: Bildung und Wissenskultur der Geistlichkeit im Danzig der Frühen Neuzeit, in: Bildung und Konfession, hg. v. H.J. Selderhuis/ M. Wriedt, Siebeck Mohr Tübingen 2006, S. 61 ff. * Martin Brecht u.a. (Hg.): Geschichte des Pietismus, Bd. I., Göttingen 1993 * Siegfried Wollgast: Philosophie in Deutschland zwischen Reformation und Aufklärung 1550-1650, Akademie-Verlag Berlin 1993 * 425 Jahre Städtisches Gymnasium Danzig. 1558 - 1983. Gedenkschrift für die Ehemaligen und Freunde der Schule, hg. v. Bernhard Schulz, Gernsbach 1983 * Reinhard Golz, Wolfgang Mayrhofer: ''Luther and Melanchthon in the Educational Thought of Central and Eastern Europe'', 1998,
Luther and Melanchthon in the Educational Thought of Central and Eastern Europe

External links

*
Leopold von Winter
mi
Building at the Danzig Wintermarkt, 19th century
{{DEFAULTSORT:Danzig, Academic Gymnasium 1558 establishments in Poland History of Gdańsk Educational institutions established in the 1550s Defunct schools in Poland Educational institutions in Gdańsk