Anna Ovena Hoyers
Anna Ovena Hoyers was a notable figure born in Germany in 1584, recognized for her unique contributions to literature and her engagement in religious discourse. As the daughter of astronomer Johannes Ovena, she received an education that was exceptional for women of her time, becoming proficient in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. At fifteen, she married Hermann Hoyers, a prominent citizen in Eiderstaedter, and they had nine children together. Following her husband's death in 1622, Hoyers became actively involved in the religious conflicts of her era, particularly among the Lutherans, Anabaptists, and Mennonites, which ultimately led to a decline in her financial situation.
After relocating to Sweden, she was granted land by the widowed queen, Maria Eleonora, where she continued her literary pursuits. Hoyers produced a significant body of work, including religious and secular poems, some of which offered satire. Her poetry was included in a collective publication in 1650 but faced criticism for its religious viewpoints and commentary on gender relations. Notably, in her writings, she urged older widows to avoid remarriage for financial reasons and instead focus on their spiritual dedication. Hoyers's legacy is largely defined by her critiques of the clergy and her advocacy for women's roles within the church, making her an important figure in early modern literature and religious discussions.
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Subject Terms
Anna Ovena Hoyers
Poet
- Born: 1584
- Birthplace: Koldenbüttel, Germany
- Died: November 27, 1655
Biography
Anna Ovena Hoyers was born in Germany in 1584. She was the daughter of the astronomer Johannes Ovena, and as such she received much more of an education than was common for women of her age. She learned how to read and write in Latin and Greek, and she could read Hebrew. At the age of fifteen, she married Hermann Hoyers, a leading citizen in Eiderstaedter, Germany. The Hoyers had nine children, and after the death of her husband in 1622, Hoyers began to openly participate in the religious disputes between the Lutherans, Anabaspists, and Mennonites. Unfortunately, her involvement in this religious controversy resulted in the loss of her fortune. Hoyers then moved to Sweden, where the widowed queen, Maria Eleonora, gave her a plot of land near Stockholm.
Hoyer wrote many religious and secular poems and songs, as well as poems which were satirical in nature. Her poems appeared in a collection of poetry written by clergy and lay people published in 1650. Hoyers’s poems were strongly criticized for her views on religion and the relationships between men and women. In at least two of her poems, Hoyers admonished older widows to refrain from marrying, stating that men did not love them but only their money, and that they should instead dedicate themselves to God. In addition to her poetry, Hoyers also composed songs and wrote a number of pamphlets. She is best known for her religious writings, which often criticized the clergy of her day for diminishing the role of women in the church.