, whose family name was Kochhafe, or Rochhafe, was an eminent Lutheran
, whose family name was Kochhafe, or Rochhafe, was an eminent Lutheran divine, and a
promoter of the reformation. He was born at Ingelsing in
Suabia, in 1530, of parents who, discerning his capacity,
bestowed much pains on his education, and in his ninth
year sent him to Tubingen, where he was placed under the
ablest masters. Such was his proficiency that he was soon
after admitted into the university of that place, and at the
age of fifteen took his master’s degree with the greatest
credit. He then went to Wittemberg, and studied under
Melancthon, who expressed himself surprised at his having
so early attained academic honours, and received him into
his house. There also he heard some of Luther’s lectures.
After Luther’s death, and the interruption which the wars
occasioned to the university of Wittemberg, Chytreeus
went to Heidelberg, where he studied Hebrew, and to
Tubingen, where he took some lessons in mathematics;
but prince Maurice having restored the university of Wittemberg, and recalled Melancthon, Chytraeus went back
also, and completed his theological course. In 1548, having raised some money by private teaching, he visited a
considerable part of Italy, and on his return was invited to
become one of the professors of the university of Rostock,
where he acquired such reputation for learning, that various
offers were made to him by the princes of Germany, and
by the universities, all which he declined; and yet when
prince John Albert offered to increase his stipend as an
inducement for him to remain at Rostock, he refused to
accept it. He travelled, however, occasionally during his
residence here to such places as he was invited to assist the
reformation, or to give advice in founding schools and
colleges, but always returned in time for his regular courses
of lectures; and amidst his many public employments,
found leisure to write a great many works on subjects of
theology, philology, and history, which extended his
fame, he died June 25, 1600. His principal works are,
a commentary on the Revelations, and “C|ironologia historice lierodoti et Thucydidis,
” Strasburgh, Chroniconanni 1593, 1594, etinitii 1595,
” Leipsic, Vita D. Chytraei
memoriae posteritatis orationibus et carminibus consecrata,
”
Rostock, De vitaD. Chytrasi commentariorum libri quatuor, ex editis et ineditis
monumentis ita conpinnata, ut sit annalium instar et supplementorum pist_ Eccles. seculi XVI. speciatim rerum in
Lutherana ecclesia et academia Rostochiensi gestarum,
”
IJamtmrgh, 1720 1728, 4 vols. 8vo, Of so much importance was Chytncus above a century after his death, that hi$
personal history was thought a proper foundation and connecting medium, for a general history of the Lutheran
church,