Bonifacius Amerbach

Born on the 11 October 1495, he was the youngest son of the printer Johannes Amerbach^[3] who immigrated to Basel from Amorbach in Bavaria and Barbara Ortenberg.^[4] He was baptized in the Theordorchurch [de] and had two godfathers and one godmother.^[5] He received his primary education in Basel^[4] from where he was sent away from the family in 1502 and 1507 into safety from the plague.^[6] On the second occasion he went to the monastery of Engental in Muttenz, where his teacher was Conrad of Leonberg.^[7] In 1507, he was sent to the famous Latin school in Schlettstadt, where he was accommodated by its principal Hieronymus Gebwiler.^[8] He studied in Schledtstadt until November 1508.^[9]

He returned to Basel where he enrolled studied law at the University of Basel, earning a B.A. in 1511 and an M.A. in 1513.^[10] From 1510 onwards, he was taught Greek by the Dominican Johannes Cuno, who became the private teacher of Johann Amerbach's sons and also of Beatus Rheanus.^[11] Between 1513^[10][12] and 1519 he studied law with Ulrich Zasius in Freiburg im Breisgau, with whom he established a close relationship.^[13] It was also in Freiburg that he developed a friendship with Erasmus of Rotterdam.^[3] He followed up on his studies with Andreas Alciatus in Avignon from 1520 onwards.^[2]

In 1519, before his departure to Avignon, Amerbach was painted by Hans Holbein the Younger in order to leave his family a memory, should he die on his travels.^[2] In Avignon he made the acquaintance of Guillame Budé, whose writings he had studied in Freiburg and who was an influential scholar of and proponent for French legal humanism.^[14] When in 1521 the plague reigned in Avignon, he relocated to Basel for a year.^[4] In 1522 he returned to Avignon, where he received his doctorate in 1525.^[15][16] His doctoral adviser was Francesco Ripa.^[17]

As the successor of Claudius Cantiuncula [de],^[18] he taught at the University of Basel from 1525^[19][20] onwards and was a main force behind the re-opening of the university following the closure during the Reformation in 1529.^[20] During the Reformation he abstained to accept the teachings of the reformator of Basel Johannes Oecolampadius and for a while was determined to leave Basel if those views on the Lord's supper would become to official views by the cities Government.^[21] Even though Oecolampadius's views came through, he then stayed but the requirements to be assigned as a professor at the University of Basel were adapted and he was excepted from the duty to attend the Lord's supper.^[21] He was assigned with teaching Roman Law in 1530^[15] and by 1532 he was the sole Professor teaching at the Faculty of Law in Basel.^[15] In 1544, Johann Ulrich Zasius, the son of his former teacher, taught at the faculty of law at the University of Basel.^[22] In 1539 he again fled the plague in Basel and stayed for a while with his stepfather in Neuenburg.^[23] He was elected the rector of the University of Basel five terms, the first term being in 1526^[2] and established the chair for Aristortelic Ethics.^[15] He was a professor for law until his death in 1562.^[24]

He became a prominent legal humanist of Europe during the 15th century, and has corresponded with a vast number of contemporary humanists.^[25] Throughout his career he was a moderate voice between the defenders of the mos italicus and those of the mos gallicus.^[24] He was not satisfied with just knowing what a texts content was, but was also interested in what the scholars said about the text.^[24]

Together with the Catholic Erasmus he had a conciliar approach towards the Lutheran and Zwinglian reformists. He was also not an active supporter of the Reformation, which was introduced in Basel in 1529^[15] and as the Bildersturm reached Basel, he was able to save several paintings by Hans Holbein the Younger^[26] whose works he had collected for years.^[27] As he was opposed to the Reformation, Amerbach left Basel for some months, but eventually returned.^[28] It was only in 1534 when he gave in and formally became a Reformist, also partaking in the Lord's Supper.^[15] Despite his official adherence to the Reformation, his friendship with Erasmus perdured^[20] and in 1535 Amerbach convinced him to return to Basel from Freiburg im Breisgau.^[15] He was an expert and delegate at the Christian synod of Strasbourg in 1533^[15] and became the heir of the estate of the Christian scholar and humanist Erasmus of Rotterdam following his death in 1536.^[2] As such he also became the caretaker of the Legatum Erasmianum, a foundation set up to support widows, orphans and students.^[29]

He maintained good relations to the composers Hans Kotter and Sixt Dietrich [de] since he had stayed in Freiburg.^[1] From both he ordered compositions.^[30] The musician and poet Heinrich Loriti was also known to be close to him.^[31]

Bonifacius Amerbach has assembled a large number of artifacts, coins and medallions during his life.^[32] From his father he inherited the vast library upon his death in 1513.^[33] He was interested in the goldsmiths designs and works.^[32] The collection came into possession of his son Basilius Amerbach and was the foundation of the Amerbach Cabinet.^[15]