Aegidius Albertinus
Aegidius Albertinus was a notable figure in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, born in 1560 in Deventer, Netherlands. His early life was marked by his family's nomadic existence as they sought refuge from religious persecution during the Reformation. This context of religious turmoil heavily influenced Albertinus's work, which is characterized by a sermon-like style reflective of his deep devotion to his faith. After moving to Munich, he became secretary to William V, the Duke known as "The Pious," and established a family life there.
Albertinus is recognized as a significant translator during the German Counter-Reformation, particularly for his adaptations of devotional Spanish literature from the "siglo de oro." His most renowned translation is of Mateo Alemán's "La Vida del Pícaro Guzmán de Alfarache," marking a key contribution to the genre of picaresque novels in German literature. His writings often combined Latin influences with the German language, demonstrating his unique literary style tailored for the educated middle class of Bavaria. Throughout his career, he advanced in court roles, ultimately becoming Hof-und geistlicher Ratssekretär shortly before his death in 1620.
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Aegidius Albertinus
- Born: 1560
- Birthplace: Deventer, the Netherlands
- Died: March 1, 1620
Biography
Albertinus Aegidius was born in Deventer, Netherlands, in 1560. Albertinus’s family was nomadic in the 1570’s and 1580’s, and they moved from village to village in the Netherlands, trying to escape the religious persecution that was rampant during the Reformation movement. Religion played a key role in Albertinus’s life from early on, and this can be seen in his writings, which have been stylized in a sermon-like manner. While living in Munich, Albertinus was appointed (on February 19,1593) to be a secretary at the ducal court of William V, who was known as “The Pious.” That same year, Albertinus married Maria Glöckler, the sister of an abbot in Hohenaltaich. He purchased a house called the Schäfflergasse in Munich and resided there with his family from 1602 until his death.
Albertinus was one of the most important and prolific translators of the German Counter-Reformation and focused mainly on translating devotional and inspirational works from the siglo de oro (literally “the century of gold”), a period in the sixteenth century that saw the creation of many great works of Spanish literature. In addition to the twenty-two known works that he adapted from Spanish, he translated six French texts, and eleven of his works were adapted from Latin and Italian sources. His first work was a translation from French, Le Voyage du chevalier errant (1557) which he translated into De{szlig} Irrenden Ritters Rai{szlig} (the knight errant’s journey) in 1594. Although he began writing in 1594, his most famous work was his translation of Mateo Alemán’s La Vida del Pícaro Guzmán de Alfarache (the life of Guzmán de Alfarache), which was the first picaresque novel in the German language.
Albertinus wrote in an earnest, colloquial style that was well-suited to his intended audience: the educated middle-class citizens of Bavaria. In his writing, Albertinus created his own unique style of incorporating his Latin instruction with the German language. He often made up his own titles for the works he translated, forging complicated names to replace the original titles. His perhaps overgenerous use of Latin and latinate vocabulary is one of his trademarks, as is his devotion to the Jesuit faith, which is very evident in his writings (even those that are not of a religious nature). Albertinius Aegidius also managed to advance his position in court while writing and in 1596 was named secretary of the Privy Council and librarian to Duke Maximilian I. In 1618, just two years before his death, he was named Hof-und geistlicher Ratssekretär, court and spiritual privy secretary.