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Nikolaus von Schönberg (11 August 1472 – 7 September 1537) was a German Catholic cardinal and Archbishop of Capua.
Nikolaus von Schönberg
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Archbishop of Capua | |
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Archdiocese | Capua |
Appointed | 12 September 1520 |
Term ended | 28 April 1536 |
Predecessor | Ippolito d'Este |
Successor | Tommaso Caracciolo |
Other post(s) |
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Orders | |
Created cardinal | 21 May 1535 byPope Paul III |
Rank | Cardinal-priest |
Personal details | |
Born | 11 August 1472 (1472-08-11) |
Died | 7 September 1537 (1537-09-08) (aged 65) Rome, Papal States |
Born in Rothschönberg (now part of Klipphausen) near Meissen to a noble family which already had several Bishops of Meissen, Nikolaus became Canon at the Cathedral of Naumburg (as would later his brothers Hans and Dietrich) and became a doctor of law (Dr. jur.) when studying in Italy.
Impressed by the speeches held by SavonarolainPisa in 1495, Schönberg became a priest in 1497 and a member of the Ordo Praedicatorum (Dominican Order) on 31 October 1498. In Florence he promoted to Dr. theol., but also studied mathematics, astronomy, medicine and geography. Speaking several languages, and serving his order, he travelled around Europe, to Jerusalem and the Ottoman Empire before settling in Rome in 1508 to serve Pope Julius II. As professor at the Sapienza in Rome, he held speeches that were published in 1512.
George, Duke of Saxony, made Schönberg his procurator for the Fifth Council of the Lateran (1512–1517). Pope Leo X sent him as papal legate around Europe to find support for a crusade against the Ottoman Turks.
Other missions sent him to Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, at Innsbruck, to the courtsofHungary, Poland, Muscovy, and to the Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, Albert of Brandenburg. In 1891 this mission was the subject of a doctoral thesis in Greifswald.
On 12 September 1520, Schönberg was appointed Archbishop of Capua by Pope Leo X, and on 21 May 1535 elevated to CardinalbyPope Paul III. On 28 April 1536 he resigned from his office at age 63.
On 1 November 1536, Schönberg wrote a "Letter to Copernicus" from Rome,[1] which Copernicus made famous by including it in De revolutionibus orbium coelestium: