The Group of Students: Geographical Origins

Silesian Origins

Different from the average student population at the university of Wittenberg, the largest part of Sennert's students came from Silesia, a neighboring protestant eastern part of the Holy Roman Empire. In the 17th century, German was the dominating language in Silesia, but by far not the only one spoken.

Today, most of the former Silesian territories are part of Poland and Czechia. Cities and landscapes changed names accordingly with the new governments and languages.  The archives are in very good shape, each city has its own archive.

Notes for further research:

- If from a large town such as Breslau, the students might have received scholarships to study: many opportunities for work, once the student would come back.

- In Wittenberg: relation among traditionally linked fellow countrymen: Silesian bond led students (and professors) to collaborative work (celebratory literature such as Festschriften; liber amicorum).

- Cities involved:

• Bolkenhayn, Silesia (today: Bolków, Poland)
• Breslau (Vratislavia), Silesia (today Wroclaw, Poland)
• Brieg, Silesia, Holy Roman Empire (today Brzeg, Poland)
• Bunzlau, Silesia (today: Bolesławiec, Poland)
• Crosna in Silesia, Holy Roman Empire (today: Krosno Odrzańskie, Poland)
• Franckenstein, Silesia (today Ząbkowice Śląskie, Poland)
• Fraustadt, Silesia (today: Wschowa, Poland)
• Freistadt, Silesia, Holy Roman Empire (today: Fryštát, Karvina, Czechia)
• Glogau, Silesia (today: Glogow, Poland)
• Habelschwerdt, Silesia, Holy Roman Empire (today: Bystrzyca Klodzka, Poland)
• Hirschberg in Silesia (today: Jelenia Góra, Poland)
• Liegnitz [de Ligio-Silesio], Silesia, Holy Roman Empire (today Legnica, Poland), near Wroclaw
• Münsterberg, Silesia, Holy Roman Empire (today: Ziębice, Poland)
• Neustadt in Silesia (today: Prudnik, Poland)
• Nimptsch, Silesia, Holy Roman Empire (today: Niemcza, Poland)
• Reichenbach, Silesia (today: Dzierżoniów, Poland)

Brandenburg and the Fiefdom of Prussia

From Wikipedia: "The House of Hohenzollern ruled Brandenburg as Prince-Elector, and were subjects of the Holy Roman Emperor. Since 1618, the Electors of Brandenburg had also ruled the Duchy of Prussia, which lay outside the empire, in a Personal union. The dual state was known unofficially as Brandenburg-Prussia. Originally the dukes of Prussia held the fief as vassals of the King of Poland, until the Treaties of Treaty of Labiau (1656) and Treaty of Bromberg (1657), with which Frederick William I, Elector of Brandenburg, the Great Elector, achieved full sovereignty from the Polish Crown. In 1701 Elector Frederick III, wanted to show his greatness by adopting the title "King in Prussia"."