Andreae, Johann Valentin

ANDREAE, JOHANN VALENTIN. - German Protestant theologian, b. at Herrenberg in 1586, d. at Stuttgart in 1654. Nephew of Jacob, he followed in his footsteps; however, while his grandfather was an ardent Lutheran, the nephew professed Calvinism, though showing himself respectfully attached to Lutheranism. He too studied theology at Tübingen, then from 1607 to 1614 he accompanied some young German noblemen as a tutor in Switzerland, Italy and France. Ordained deacon in 1614, he was later elected superintendent of the district of Calw and in 1639 preacher at the court of Stuttgart; but he renounced this in 1647 for reasons of health. A rather mystical character, he always showed himself very hostile to any quarrel or dogmatic controversy; for him what counted above all was an honest life, the putting into practice, in feelings and in conduct, of the doctrine professed.

(Int. Andrian)

Driven by this ideal he wrote: Reipublicae christiano-politanae descriptio (1619), where he imagines an ideal city, governed entirely by Christian principles, to demonstrate how an association of men could be governed. It is the first evangelical novel, which recalls the Utopia of T. More, The City of the Sun of T. Campanella and the Atlantis of Bacon. To reinforce his pacifying idea, he had other works follow: Invitatio fraternitatis Christi ad amoris candidatos (1617); Christianae societatis idea (1620); Christiani amoris dextera porrecta (1620). Among his other writings, over 100 published and several others in manuscript, the satirical dialogues and the popular poems are worthy of note.

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