Editing Rodolphus Agricola (section)

== Biography ==
[[Image:Rudolf Agricola 2.jpg|thumb|Rodolphus Agricola|right]]
Agricola was born in [[Baflo]] in the Dutch province of [[Groningen (province)|Groningen]] as the illegitimate son of the cleric and future abbot Hendrik Vries and Zycka Huesman, a rich farmer's daughter.<ref>[https://www.kb.nl/themas/filosofie/rodolphus-agricola/het-leven-van-rodolphus-agricola Biography] at the Dutch [[National Library of the Netherlands|Koninklijke Bibliotheek]] {{in lang|nl}}</ref> He was originally named ''Roelof Huesman'', or ''Huisman'', his mother's surname. The Latin adjective ''Phrisius'' identifies him as a [[Frisians|Frisian]].

Educated first by the school of St. Maarten in [[Groningen (city)|Groningen]], Agricola matriculated at the [[University of Erfurt]] with his father's assistance and received a BA in 1458. He then studied at [[Old University of Leuven|University of Louvain]], receiving an MA in 1465; he was renowned for the purity of his Latin and skill in disputation. He concentrated his studies on [[Cicero]] and [[Quintilian]], but also added French and Greek to his ever-growing list of languages during his university years. At the end of his life, he would learn Hebrew to be able to read the Old Testament, especially the Psalms, unadulterated by translation.

In the 1460s Agricola travelled to Italy, where he became associated with humanist masters and statesmen. From circa 1468 until 1475, he studied civil law at the [[University of Pavia]] and later went to [[Ferrara]] (1475–1479). There, he became the protégé of Prince d'[[House of Este|Este]] of Ferrara, and was a pupil of [[Theodor Gaza]]<ref>{{MathGenealogy|id=128012|title=Rudolf Agricola}}</ref> and attended lectures by [[Battista Guarino]]. He devoted himself to the study of classical texts and gained fame for the elegance of his Latin style and his knowledge of philosophy. While in Ferrara, Agricola gained formal employment as the organist to the opulent ducal chapel. He held that post until 1479, after which he returned to the North, becoming secretary to the city of Groningen. Here, at the Cistercian Abbey of St Bernard at Aduard, near Groningen, and at 's-Heerenbergh near Emmerich in the south-east, he was at the center of a group of scholars and humanists, with whom he kept up a lively exchange of letters. His correspondents included the musician and choirmaster of Antwerp [[Jacobus Barbireau|Jacobus Barbirianus]] (Barbireau), rector of the Latin School at Deventer [[Alexander Hegius von Heek]] and [[Johannes Reuchlin]], the humanist scholar and later student of Hebrew.

In 1470, he taught a deaf child how to communicate orally and in writing; his work, ''De inventione dialectica,'' documents this pioneering educational effort.

Once in Germany again, he spent time in [[Dillingen an der Donau|Dillingen]], where he continued to correspond with humanist friends and colleagues throughout Europe. In correspondence, he primarily advocated for his project to promote the study of classical learning and the ''[[Studia humanitatis]]''. Agricola remained an independent scholar, unattached to a university or religious establishment. This independence became a hallmark of humanist scholars. In 1479, Agricola completed his ''De inventione dialectica'' (''On Dialectical Invention'') in Dillingen, which argued for the precise application of ''[[topical logic|loci]]'' in scholarly argumentation.

From 1480 to 1484 he held the post of secretary of the city of Groningen.

In 1481, Agricola spent six months in Brussels at the court of Archduke Maximilian (later [[Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor|Maximilian I]], the Holy Roman Emperor). Friends attempted to dissuade him from accepting the archduke's patronage as they feared that the archduke's influence would undermine his philosophical ideals. He also declined the offer to become the head of a Latin school at Antwerp.

In 1484, Agricola moved to [[Heidelberg]] by invitation of [[Johann von Dalberg]], the Bishop of Worms. The two men had met in Pavia, and they became close friends in Heidelberg. The bishop was a generous benefactor of learning. At this time Agricola began studying Hebrew, and he is said to have published an original translation of the Psalms.

In 1485, Dalberg was sent as an ambassador to [[Pope Innocent VIII]] in Rome, with Agricola accompanying him; the latter was struck gravely ill on their journey. He died shortly after their return to Heidelberg and [[Ermolao Barbaro]] composed an epitaph for him.<ref>Contemporaries of Erasmus a biographical register of the Renaissance and Reformation, v.1-3, A-Z”, Peter G Bietenholz; niv. of Toronto Press 2003, pg.16 [https://books.google.com/books?id=hruQ386SfFcC], {{ISBN|0-8020-8577-6}}</ref>