The Tessera of Antilia: Utopian Brotherhoods & Secret Societies in the Early Seventeenth Century (Brill's Studies in Intellectual History)

This is a study of the Protestant utopian movement that began in Germany, inspired in large measure by the writings of Johann Valentin Andreae and came to England through the efforts of the emigre Samuel Hartlib. The first chapters examine Andreae's utopian writings, including the Rosicrucian manifestos, as part of his lifelong commitment to found a Societas Christiana, a spiritual elite that would improve religious and intellectual life. His writings sparked a transnational movement in early modern Europe. The most significant of the German learned societies are discussed: The Societas Ereunetica, Unio Christiana and Antilia. The latter chapters consider Hartlib's English circles and various utopian and learned societies in the 1650s. The text seeks to contribute to the understanding of the role that "secret" societies and epistolary networks had in the republic of letters. A Study Of The Protestant Utopian Movement That Began In Germany, Inspired In Large Measure By The Writings Of Johann Valentin Adreae, And Came To England Through The Efforts Of The Emigre Samuel Hartlib. The First Chapters Examine Andreae's Utopian Writings, Including The Rosicrucian Manifestos, As Part Of His Lifelong Commitment To Found A Societas Christiana, A Spiritual Elite That Would Improve Religious And Intellectual Life. His Writings Sparked A Transnational Movement In Early Modern Europe. The Most Significant Of The German Learned Societies Are Discussed: The Societas Ereunetica, Unio Christiana, And Antilia. The Latter Chapters Consider Hartlib's English Circles And Various Utopian And Learned Societies In The 1650s. This Study Contributes To Our Understanding Of The Role That Secret Societies And Epistolary Networks Had In The Republic Of Letters. -- Publisher's Website. Secret Societies, Natural Magic & The Historiographers -- Johann Valentin Andreae's Christian Utopia. Andreae's Family, Education, And Ministry ; Intellectual Circles At Tubingen ; Andreae's Protestant Brotherhoods & The Republic Of Letters -- Andreae And The Fable Of The Rosicrucian Brotherhood. Chymische Hochzeit -- Fama Fraternitatis And Confessio Fraternitatis ; Andreae's Satiric Self-defense -- Utopian & Learned Societies In Seventeenth Century German. Jungius And The Societas Ereunetica ; Saubert, Andreae And The Unio Christiana ; Pomer, Hein And Antilia ; Morsius's Dissemination Of Andreae's Utopianism -- Samuel Hartlib And The Utopian Movement. Hartlib's Societas Reformatorum Et Correspondency ; Comenius, Macaria, & The Collegium Lucis ; The Dissemination Of Andreae's Utopian Tracts In England -- Utopian & Learned Societies In England In The 1650s. Henshaw And Vaughan's Christian Learned Society ; Vaughan's The Fame And Confession Of The Fraternity Of R:c: ; Bengt Skytte's Universum Collegium ; Antilia Rediviva -- Afterword: Philosophicall And Mathematico-mechanical King: Charles Ii And The Royal Society -- Appendix A: Leges Societatis Ereuneticae -- Appendix B: The Laws Of A Christian Society (leges Antilianae) -- Appendix C: The Cambridge Essentials -- Appendix D: Skytte's Design For A Universum Collegium. By Donald R. Dickson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [265]-282) And Index. A study of the Protestant utopian movement that began in Germany, inspired in large measure by the writings of Johann Valentin Adreae, and came to England through the efforts of the émigré Samuel Hartlib.The first chapters examine Andreae's utopian writings, including the Rosicrucian manifestos, as part of his lifelong commitment to found a Societas Christiana, a spiritual élite that would improve religious and intellectual life. His writings sparked a transnational movement in early modern Europe. The most significant of the German learned societies are discussed: The Societas Ereunetica, Unio Christiana, and Antilia. The latter chapters consider Hartlib's English circles and various utopian and learned societies in the 1650s.This study contributes to our understanding of the role that'secret'societies and epistolary networks had in the republic of letters.