February 9, 1834 Birth of Felix Dahn in Hamburg, Germany. Dahn was a professor of law at the universities of Munich, Würzburg and Berlin. In addition to his work in law he wrote histories and historical novels. Among his histories are Die Könige der Germanen (11 volumes), Die Urgeschichte der germanischen und romanischen Völker and Deutsche … [Read more...]

February 8, 1487 Birth of Ulrich in Reichenweier, Germany. Ulrich was the Herzog of Württemberg from 1498. Due to political problems he was removed from his position by fellow nobles in 1519. Through political intrigues he regained control of Württemberg in 1534. At that time he dissolved the monasteries, confiscated church lands and invited … [Read more...]

February 7, 1825 Birth of Karl August Möbius (1825-1908) in Eilenburg, Germany. Möbius, a zoologist, discovered symbiosis in marine invertebrates. In 1863 he was one of the founders of the Hamburg Zoo. He designed Germany's first public aquarium. February 7, 1870 Birth of Alfred Adler in Penzing, Austria. Adler earned his M.D. at the … [Read more...]

February 6 Feast Day of St. Amandus von Maastricht (? – ca. 680) St. Amandus was born near Nantes (modern France) in the late 6th century. Resisting his family's desire of a secular life for him he fled and entered a monastery. After years living in isolation as a hermit/monk he was consecrated as a missionary bishop. His first work was in … [Read more...]

February 5, ca. 1015 Death of St. Adelheid von Vilich (ca. 960 – ca. 1015) St. Adelheid was born to a noble family in Vilich near Bonn, Germany. At a young age she entered the conventof St. Ursula in Cologne, Germany. Her family founded a convent at Vilich where she was made the abbess. She instituted the rule of St. Benedict at the convent. She … [Read more...]

February 4, 856 The feast day of Hrabanus Maurus is celebrated on February 4 in Fulda, Mainz and Limburg. He entered the monastery at Fulda (Germany) at age 10. In 801 he began study with Alcuin at the monastery in Tours (France). He then returned to Fulda and became the headmaster of the school there. He was ordained a priest in 814. In 822 he … [Read more...]

February 3, 865 Death of St. Ansgar. St. Ansgar was born on September 8, 801 in Corbie (in modern France). In 823 he became a teacher in the newly founded monastery in Corvey, Westphalia (modern Germany). In 829 he founded the first Christian church in Sweden. He returned to Germany in 831 and became the first bishop of Hamburg. He continued his … [Read more...]

February 2, 962 The Magdeburger Reiter: a tinted sandstone equestrian monument, c. 1240, traditionally intended as a portrait of Otto I (detail), Magdeburg Otto I is crowned as Augustus (Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire) in Rome by Pope John XII. The empire as founded by Karl der Große (Charlemagne) had been divided after his death. Otto … [Read more...]

February 1, 1459 Birth of Conradus Celtis in Wipfeld, Germany. A very successful poet in his day, Celtis was named "Poet Laureate" by the Emperor Friedrich III at Nürnberg in 1487. In 1491 he became professor of poetry at the University of Ingolstadt. In 1497 he was appointed a professor at the University of Vienna. It was he who … [Read more...]

January 30, 1687 Birth of Balthasar Neumann (1687-1753) in Eger, Austrian Empire (now in the Czech Republic). Neumann was the leading architect of the Baroque period in Austria and Germany. In 1711 he moved to Würzburg, Germany, to work for the Bishop/Elector. In 1719 he began work on the palace of the Bishop, a work which would continue … [Read more...]