Oliger (Holger) Paulli (March 18, 1644 – 1714), also spelt as Olliger Paulli, was a wealthy
Danish
Danish may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark
People
* A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark
* Culture of Denmark
* Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...
merchant from an influential family,
pamphleteer
Pamphleteer is a historical term for someone who creates or distributes pamphlets, unbound (and therefore inexpensive) booklets intended for wide circulation.
Context
Pamphlets were used to broadcast the writer's opinions: to articulate a poli ...
, religious fanatic, and publisher. He was renowned for his over-zealous activities for the return of
Jewish
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...
people to their promised holy land.
He was well known for claiming his great-grandfather, "Simon Paulli (Sr.)",
[Simon Pauli the older one](_blank)
/ref> as a Jew
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""T ...
and descendant of the royal line of David
David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...
. His controversial promulgations and religiously fanatical publications such as ''The Dove of Noah'' and ''The Triumph of the Stone cut without Hands'' created hopes and theological tensions among major religions of those days.
Early life
He was born in 1644 at Copenhagen
Copenhagen ( or .; da, København ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a proper population of around 815.000 in the last quarter of 2022; and some 1.370,000 in the urban area; and the wider Copenhagen metropolitan ar ...
. His father Simon Paulli
Simon Paulli (6 April 1603 – 25 April 1680), was a Danish physician and naturalist. He was a professor of anatomy, surgery and botany at the University of Copenhagen. The genus ''Paullinia'' is named after him. was a reputed Anatomist
Anatomy () is the branch of biology concerned with the study of the structure of organisms and their parts. Anatomy is a branch of natural science that deals with the structural organization of living things. It is an old science, having it ...
and royal physician to Frederick III of Denmark.[Simon Pauli the younger one Paulis sons - Olliger (Holger) Paulli (1644-1714)](_blank)
/ref> His grandfather, Heinrich Paulli (1565-1610), was a
personal physician of queen Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow
Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow (''Sophia''; 4 September 1557 – 14 October 1631) was Queen of Denmark and Norway by marriage to Frederick II of Denmark. She was the mother of King Christian IV of Denmark and Anne of Denmark. She was Regent of Schl ...
.[The Galileo Project - Paulli, Simon - 2. Father - Heinrich Paulli (1565-1610)-personal physician to the Queen-Widow Sophie of Denmark](_blank)
/ref> His great-grandfather, Simon Paulli (Sr.), was a German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
** Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
Lutheran
Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Cathol ...
(assumed)[The Galileo Project - Paulli, Simon - 5. Religion - Affiliation: Lutheran (assumed)] theologian and first superintendent of Rostock
Rostock (), officially the Hanseatic and University City of Rostock (german: link=no, Hanse- und Universitätsstadt Rostock), is the largest city in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and lies in the Mecklenburgian part of the state, ...
.
He was a bookkeeper for the West Indies
The West Indies is a subregion of North America, surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea that includes 13 independent island countries and 18 dependencies and other territories in three major archipelagos: the Greater A ...
and Danish West India Company in Copenhagen
Copenhagen ( or .; da, København ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a proper population of around 815.000 in the last quarter of 2022; and some 1.370,000 in the urban area; and the wider Copenhagen metropolitan ar ...
. With business and commerce prosperity, he was appointed secretary to the Danish West India Company.[He was bred to commerce, and having been appointed secretary to the Indian company, he became one of the richest merchants in Denmark] Over the period, he became one of the richest merchants in Denmark
)
, song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast")
, song_type = National and royal anthem
, image_map = EU-Denmark.svg
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark
...
. Between 1683 and 1688, he started his own ship and cargoes to Guinea
Guinea ( ),, fuf, 𞤘𞤭𞤲𞤫, italic=no, Gine, wo, Gine, nqo, ߖߌ߬ߣߍ߫, bm, Gine officially the Republic of Guinea (french: République de Guinée), is a coastal country in West Africa. It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the we ...
as a result of delivering supplies to the fort or payment of "recognition". It appears, he made lot of fortune on then, prosperous slave trade in the West Indies and on the coast of Guinea. He died at Copenhagen in 1714.
Religious fanaticism
It seems, due to committing many extravagancies and lavish lifestyle, he went bankrupt and eventually became deranged. He then quit his family and went to Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
. Over there, he proposed a plan for the conquest of Judea
Judea or Judaea ( or ; from he, יהודה, Hebrew language#Modern Hebrew, Standard ''Yəhūda'', Tiberian vocalization, Tiberian ''Yehūḏā''; el, Ἰουδαία, ; la, Iūdaea) is an ancient, historic, Biblical Hebrew, contemporaneous L ...
with an aim of rebuilding Jerusalem
Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
. In 1694, he proclaimed himself as new messiah and king of the Jew
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""T ...
s.[The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia - Paulli, Holger (Oliger)](_blank)
/ref> One of the hobby, on which he spent millions of amassed wealth was ''the return of the Jews to Palestine''.
Jewish fondness
In spite of presumed Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
descendency, he appears to have claimed his great-grandfather, Simon Paulli (Sr.), was a Jew
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""T ...
and descendant of David
David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...
's royal house. He justified his claim showing the name ''Paulleli'' as a combination of Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
''Paulus'' and Hebrew
Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...
''Eli''; thus, meaning ''God supplies the inadequacy.'' He also claimed that, at the age of 13, he made a blood covenant with God, who exchanged a ''yodh'' for the ''he'' in his baptismal name, thereafter, renaming his original name from ''Holiger'' to ''Oliger'' (Olliger), to connote "through him Jesus would be brought to the Jews." In addition, the name Oliger is also held as an allusion to the olive leaf of Noah's dove. He apparently seems to have raised theological controversy that Jesus didn't cry out "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34), but instead "Why hast thou glorified me!"
He proclaimed his intention of establishing a new Jewish
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...
kingdom in Palestine. He even wrote letters to several European
European, or Europeans, or Europeneans, may refer to:
In general
* ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe
** Ethnic groups in Europe
** Demographics of Europe
** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe ...
rulers apprising and assuring them that Jerusalem
Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
will be rebuilt in 1720, in which year messiah would descend from heaven to officiate as high priest of Jerusalem
Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
, the holy city. He sent mystical letters to William III of England
William III (William Henry; ; 4 November 16508 March 1702), also widely known as William of Orange, was the sovereign Prince of Orange from birth, Stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel in the Dutch Republic f ...
and Dauphin of France urging them to undertake the restoration of Jews.
Eventually, he was imprisoned at Amsterdam
Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...
in 1701, for publishing a book ridiculing Christianity
Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...
and announcing a plan and project to establish a new religion on its ruins. His family secured his release in 1702 with a condition that they would keep him away from Holland
Holland is a geographical regionG. Geerts & H. Heestermans, 1981, ''Groot Woordenboek der Nederlandse Taal. Deel I'', Van Dale Lexicografie, Utrecht, p 1105 and former province on the western coast of the Netherlands. From the 10th to the 16th c ...
. From 1702 to 1706, he travelled across Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
continuing the publication of religious pamphlets and propaganda about his cause. However, it appears, he had less success in Germany than in Holland, forcing him to return to Copenhagen in 1706.
Upon returning Copenhagen, he continued his Jewish
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...
missionary propaganda at home too. A number of Jews encouraged his efforts to establish a new kingdom of Israel
Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
with frequent Jewish assemblage at his home and several meetings where Oliger spoke on his holy mission. Further to his cause, he published several books and pamphlets angering local Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
populace. When the local Christians' anger reached its peak to the extent of a possible outbreak against Jews, king Frederick IV of Denmark
Frederick IV (Danish: ''Frederik''; 11 October 1671 – 12 October 1730) was King of Denmark and Norway from 1699 until his death. Frederick was the son of Christian V of Denmark-Norway and his wife Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel.
Early lif ...
had to step in, ordering Copenhagen police chief to admonish Oliger and put an end to Oliger's demonstrations and meetings.
Works
* ''The Dove of Noah''
* ''Good News from Canaan''
* ''The Triumph of the Stone Cut Without Hands''
Literature
Jeannine Kunert: 'I who knows no Hebrew': On the relation of language, identity and millenarian expectations as exemplified by Oliger Paulli", in Sabine Sander (Ed.): Language as Bridge and Border – Linguistics, Cultural, and Political Constellations in 18th to 20th Century German-Jewish Thought, Berlin 2015. 51-69.
Jeannine Kunert, Alexander van der Haven: “Jews and Christians United: The 1701 Prosecution of Oliger Paulli and his Dutch Printers”, Studia Rosenthaliana: Journal of the History, Culture and Heritage of the Jews in the Netherlands 46 no. 1–2 (2020): 71–95. https://doi.org/10.5117/SR2020.1-2.004.KUNE.
References
External links
The Present State Of The Jews
Jews and Christians - Holger Paulli (d 1714)
PAULLI, HOLGER (OLIGER)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Paulli, Oliger
1644 births
1714 deaths
17th-century Danish people
18th-century Danish people
Danish merchants