The Strange And Terrible Visions Of Wilhelm Friess: The Paths Of Prophecy In Reformation Europe (cultures Of Knowledge In The Early Modern World)

Although nearly forgotten today, the prophetic writing of Wilhelm Friess was the most popular work of its kind in Germany in the second half of the sixteenth century. While the author “Wilhelm Friess” was a convenient fiction, his text had a long and remarkable history as it moved from the papal court in fourteenth-century Avignon, to Antwerp under Habsburg oppression, to Nuremberg as it was still reeling from Lutheran failures in the Schmalkaldic War, and then back to Antwerp at the outbreak of the Dutch revolt.Dutch scholars have recognized that Frans Fraet was executed for printing a prognostication by Willem de Vriese, but this prognostication was thought to be lost. A few scholars of sixteenth-century German apocalypticism have briefly noted the prophecies of Wilhelm Friess but have not studied them in depth. __The Strange and Terrible Visions of Wilhelm Friess__ is the first to connect de Vriese and Friess, as well as recognize the prophecy of Wilhelm Friess as an adaptation of a French version of the__Vademecum__ of Johannes de Rupescissa, making these pamphlets by far the most widespread source for Rupescissa’s apocalyptic thought in Reformation Germany. The book explains the connection between the first and second prophecies of Wilhelm Friess and discovers the Calvinist context of the second prophecy and its connection to Johann Fischart, one of the most important German writers of the time. Jonathan Green provides a study of how textual history interacts with print history in early modern pamphlets and proposes a model of how early modern prophecies were created and transmitted. __The Strange and Terrible Visions of Wilhelm Friess__ makes important contributions to the study of early modern German and Dutch literature, apocalypticism and confessionalization during the Reformation, and the history of printing in the sixteenth century. Studying the prophecies of Wilhelm Friess and the interconnectedness of textual and print history | Although nearly forgotten today, the prophetic writing of Wilhelm Friess was the most popular work of its kind in Germany in the second half of the sixteenth century. While the author "Wilhelm Friess" was a convenient fiction, his text had a long and remarkable history as it moved from the papal court in fourteenth-century Avignon, to Antwerp under Habsburg oppression, to Nuremberg as it was still reeling from Lutheran failures in the Schmalkaldic War, and then back to Antwerp at the outbreak of the Dutch revolt. Dutch scholars have recognized that Frans Fraet was executed for printing a prognostication by Willem de Vriese, but this prognostication was thought to be lost. A few scholars of sixteenth-century German apocalypticism have briefly noted the prophecies of Wilhelm Friess but have not studied them in depth. The Strange and Terrible Visions of Wilhelm Friess is the first to connect de Vriese and Friess, as well as recognize the prophecy of Wilhelm Friess as an adaptation of a French version of the Vademecum of Johannes de Rupescissa, making these pamphlets by far the most widespread source for Rupescissa's apocalyptic thought in Reformation Germany. The book explains the connection between the first and second prophecies of Wilhelm Friess and discovers the Calvinist context of the second prophecy and its connection to Johann Fischart, one of the most important German writers of the time. Jonathan Green provides a study of how textual history interacts with print history in early modern pamphlets and proposes a model of how early modern prophecies were created and transmitted. The Strange and Terrible Visions of Wilhelm Friess makes important contributions to the study of early modern German and Dutch literature, apocalypticism and confessionalization during the Reformation, and the history of printing in the sixteenth century. Although Nearly Forgotten Today, The Prophetic Writing Of Wilhelm Friess Was The Most Popular Work Of Its Kind In Germany In The Second Half Of The Sixteenth Century. Frans Fraet Was Executed For Printing A Prognostication By Willem De Vriese, But This Prognostication Was Thought To Be Lost. The Strange And Terrible Visions Of Wilhelm Friess Is The First To Connect De Vriese And Friess, As Well As Recognize The Prophecy Of Wilhelm Friess As An Adaptation Of A French Version Of The Vademecum Of Johannes De Rupescissa, Making These Pamphlets By Far The Most Widespread Source For Rupescissa’s Apocalyptic Thought In Reformation Germany. The Book Explains The Connection Between The First And Second Prophecies Of Wilhelm Friess And Discovers The Calvinist Context Of The Second Prophecy And Its Connection To Johann Fischart. A Strange Prognostication -- A Seditious Prophecy -- From Avignon To Antwerp And From Antwerp To Nuremberg -- From Protest To Propaganda -- A Horrible And Shocking Prophecy -- Wilhelm Friess In Strasbourg -- The Last Emperor And The Beginning Of Prophecy. Jonathan Green. Includes Dutch And German Versions Of Willem De Vriese's Prophecies From The Years 1558 And 1577 Respectively, Adaptation Of A French Version Of The Vademecum Of Johannes De Rupescissa. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.