Nicholas von Kues

Nikolaus von Kues (Lat. Cusanus) was born in 1401 in Kues (near Trier), Germany. He was one of those scholars of the renaissance who worked in many areas from mathematics and natural science to theology and philosophy. His father was a wealthy Mosel River shipper and had risen to a position of extensive influence in the electorate (Kurfürstentum) of Trier. He studied at the Universities of Heidelberg, Padua and Cologne. He was ordained a priest in about 1440. He first rose to international note at the Council of Basel. In the context of that council he wrote “De concordantia catholica” in 1433 in which he espoused the supremacy of general church councils over the authority of the papacy. He later became a legate and tireless supporter of Pope Eugenius IV. He rose to the rank of bishop and cardinal.

Nikolaus died in 1464. In his will he created a foundation in Kues, the city of his birth, which built and supported a hospital, chapel, and cloister. He donated his manuscript library, scientific instruments and altar service to the hospital. The complex is still standing today and continues to house the Cusanus library. The hospital continues to serve as a care facility and continuing education center for the elderly.
 

Nikolaus von Kues (Lat. Cusanus) wurde 1401 in Kues geboren. Sein Vater war wohlhabender Moselschiffer und Kaufmann, der einen weitgehenden Einfluß im Kurfürstentum Trier genieß. Nikolaus studierte and den Universitäten Heidelberg, Padua und Köln. Er wurde 1440 zum Priester geweiht. . Er verfasste 1433 auf dem Basler Konzil seine erste grundlegende Schrift De concordantia catholica. 1448 erhob ihn Papst Nikolaus V. zum Kardinal. 1450 ernannte ihn Papst Nikolaus V. zum Fürstbischof von Brixen. Nikolaus starb am 11.8.1464. In seinem Testament stiftete er das St. Nikolaus-Hospital in Kues (heute Bernkastel-Kues). Seine Bibliothek ist heute noch vollständig in Kues. Die Stiftung dient noch heute älteren Menschen. Sein Leib ruht in Rom, sein Herz ruht im St. Nikolaus-Hospital in Kues