26 Facts About Ludvig Holberg

Ludvig Holberg was influenced by Humanism, the Enlightenment and the Baroque.

Ludvig Holberg was a prominent Neo-Latin author, known across Europe for his writing.

Ludvig Holberg was educated in Copenhagen, and was a teacher at the University of Copenhagen for many years.

Ludvig Holberg began to study theology at the University of Copenhagen and later taught himself law, history and language.

Ludvig Holberg was not particularly interested in theology as a career, settling for an attestats, which gave him the right to work as a priest; he did not attempt a baccalaureus, magister or doctorate in the subject, nor did he follow a career as a theology professor, priest, or bishop.

In 1736 the Danish Lawyer degree was established at the University of Copenhagen, a degree which continued to be granted for 200 years, and for which Ludvig Holberg's writings remained common reading material throughout this time.

Ludvig Holberg was formally appointed assistant professor after having first worked as one without pay.

Ludvig Holberg had to accept the first available position, which was teaching metaphysics.

Ludvig Holberg was not formally admitted to Oxford University, but spent his time there using the libraries and participating in Latin discussions with the English students.

Ludvig Holberg let himself be inspired by old Latin comedies and newer French comedies he had seen in Paris, and street theaters in Rome.

Ludvig Holberg believed in people's inner divine light of reason, and to him it was important that the first goal of education was to teach students to use their senses and intellect, instead of uselessly memorising school books.

Ludvig Holberg was interested in intellect because he felt that this is what binds society together.

Ludvig Holberg wondered why there was so much evil in the world, especially when one could let reason lead the way.

Ludvig Holberg was open to biblical criticism, and his religious representation was, for the most part, deism.

Ludvig Holberg was critical of the notion of original sin, instead subscribing to the notion of man's free will.

Ludvig Holberg's declared intentions with his authorship were to enlighten people to better society.

Ludvig Holberg had to live a modest life in his youth and early adulthood.

Ludvig Holberg earned a living as a tutor and as a travel companion for noblemen and tried to work as a private sports coach at the university.

Ludvig Holberg received further support from a grant to travel to other universities in other countries, namely Protestant universities, but it was a condition he did not respect since he searched out those places where the discussion were the loudest and the experiences were the largest.

Ludvig Holberg lived modestly and was able to invest a large part of the profits from the sale of his books on the side and lend them out or invest them in more active ventures.

Ludvig Holberg ate reasonably and did not use his money on being driven around.

Ludvig Holberg said that his travelling on foot, and continued walking, was the reason he could keep his malaria, which had plagued him in the south, under control.

Ludvig Holberg was both unmarried and childless, but in the end of his life had a small fortune.

Ludvig Holberg supported the idea of the academy, worked out suggestions to which academic direction it would take and was asked by the king's superintendent to refer some professors for the school.

The agreement with the king included that Ludvig Holberg would be free of taxes from any income from the farms he owned, because the amount donated to the school should be larger than the amount he would pay in taxes.

Ludvig Holberg commented several times that he was willing to use money if it were put to good use, for example, he would use money on medication and supplies for his farm hands if they suffered from injury or illness.