Prophecy, madness, and Holy war in early modern Europe a life of Ludwig Friedrich Gifftheil / Leigh T.I. Penman.
| Author/creator | Penman, Leigh |
| Other author | Oxford University Press. |
| Format | Electronic |
| Publication Info | New York, NY, United States of America : Oxford University Press, [2023] |
| Description | xii, 274 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm. |
| Supplemental Content | Full text available from Oxford Scholarship Online |
| Subjects |
| Series | Oxford STU western esotericism series |
| Abstract | "This book documents the political and religious turmoil of seventeenth century Europe by exploring the life and doctrines of the German barber surgeon turned prophet, Ludwig Friedrich Gifftheil (1595-1661). Inspired by family tragedy and theosophical religious writings, between 1624 and 1661 Gifftheil stalked Europe's battlefields, petitioning kings, princes, and emperors to end the warfare endemic on the continent. Convinced that all conflict was prompted by 'false prophets'-by which Gifftheil meant the clergy of Europe's Christian confessions-he pleaded with rulers to abjure the counsel of their advisors and institute instead a godly peace. When this approach proved fruitless, Gifftheil reinvented himself by taking up his sword as 'God's warrior.' Thereby he embarked on a quest to recruit an army of the righteous to wage holy war, and establish peace with the blade of his sword. This work examines the growth and fallout of Gifftheil's mission and its reception among Europe's religious dissenters-including figures such as Abraham von Franckenberg and Quirinus Kuhlmann-as well as the results of his strivings in European political circles. Gifftheil's story reveals an alternative transnational history of religious and political dissent in the seventeenth century. It casts new light on the place of prophecy and madness in the negotiation of religious authority, the origins of the theosophical current, and the stranger apocalyptic impulses at the roots of Pietism and missionary Christianity"-- Provided by publisher. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (pages 221-262) and index. |
| Access restriction | Available only to authorized users. |
| Technical details | Mode of access: World Wide Web |
| Genre/form | Electronic books. |
| LCCN | 2022058612 |
| ISBN | 9780197623930 (hardback) |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Resources | Access Content Online | ✔ Available |