According to short biography Copernicus, he was born in the Polish city of Turon in 1473. It is interesting that this city became Polish only a few years before his birth, and earlier it was a Prussian city, which was controlled by the Teutonic Knights. Copernicus early lost both parents, who belonged to the merchant class, and began to live in a family of close relatives of his mother.

In 1491, at the urging of his uncle, Copernicus entered the University of Krakow. There he studied theology, medicine, mathematics and was fond of astronomy. At the end educational institution he began to build a spiritual career (by that time his uncle had become a bishop).

In 1497 he went to the University of Bologna, where he deepened his knowledge of theology and law, and also continued to study astronomy. In 1500 he went to Rome, and then to Padua, where he continued his study of medicine at the local university.

The beginning of a spiritual career and astronomical research

In 1506, Copernicus returned to his homeland and became the personal assistant and secretary of his uncle, the bishop. In addition, he began teaching at the University of Krakow, teaching a course on medicine and astronomy (he continued astronomical observations when he returned home).

In 1512 (after the death of his uncle) he went to Frombock, where he was a canon, began to work in the parish, and astronomy became something of a hobby. It was at this time that he began to create the heliocentric system of the world, which became the work of his whole life.

He worked on a global astronomical work for more than 40 years, rumors about him and his research quickly spread. There is an opinion that Pope Leo X himself drew attention to him. But Copernicus was not attracted by fame (as is usually said in his biography written for children). He worked a lot as a doctor, even took part in the aftermath of the plague in 1519, improved the life of the inhabitants of Frombok (he built a special machine that distilled water to all the houses of the city), and became involved in the Polish-Teutonic conflict, which led to the emergence of the Duchy of Prussia .

last years of life

Copernicus devoted the last five years of his life to his book on the device solar system and its publication, but he never managed to see it printed and replicated. He also worked a lot and free of charge as a doctor. In 1542, he was paralyzed, and in 1543, after several months of a coma after a stroke, he died at his home in Frombok.

Other biography options

• Interestingly, biographers have not yet decided on the national identity of the great scientist. Some believe that he was a Pole, others argue that his mother was German and Nikolai was brought up in classical German traditions.
• Nicholas had two sisters and a brother, who, like Nicholas himself, became a canon. One of the sisters went to a monastery, and the other got married. Copernicus adored his nephews and supported them as best he could until the end of his life.
• Interestingly, it was Copernicus who first spoke about the law of universal gravitation.
• Copernicus was fluent in Greek and Latin and even made literary translations.
• For a long time, the location of the scientist's grave was unknown. Only in 2005, during excavations in the Cathedral of Frombok, a grave was discovered, and DNA analysis showed that this was the grave of Copernicus (DNA analysis was made possible thanks to 2 hairs that were discovered by scientists in the Copernican manuscripts). The remains were solemnly reburied in 2010.

Nicolaus Copernicus was able to freeze and set in motion in the minds of his contemporaries. The researcher has turned ideas about the structure of the universe. Biography, main ideas and the impact of the scientist's discoveries on today's science, Interesting Facts about Copernicus - for your information.

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short biography

Little Nicholas was born on February 19 in the city of Thorn, which is now called Torun and is located on the territory of Poland. The question in which country the scientist was born, Prussia or Poland, causes controversy among researchers. The fact is that the borders of these states are constantly changing.

Childhood and youth

The future researcher was the fourth child in a wealthy merchant family. He was very friendly with his older brother Andrzej. Subsequently, getting an education, young people will travel half top universities Europe, will become comrades-in-arms and great friends.

The fate of the future scientist-researcher was influenced by a number of circumstances, the country where Nicolaus Copernicus was born, and the conditions in which he lived. In 1482, the father fell victim to a severe plague epidemic that crippled Europe, and by 1489 the child was left an orphan - his mother died. The family was left without property and means of subsistence. The children were raised by Lukasz Watzenrode, an uncle on the maternal side.

The guardian was a rather stern man, a priest of the local diocese, but the uncle became very attached to the child and came to grips with his education. Lukas had a doctorate in canon law, and then received the office of bishop. Brilliant for the time, it allowed him to take extra classes with his nephew to prepare him for further studies.

In 1491 Nicholas and his brother Andrzej began student life from the Jagiellonian University under the patronage of an uncle. The Faculty of Arts of the city of Krakow became the starting point on the path of becoming a researcher. After graduating from the university, the young man planned further education, but Lukasz Watzenrode did not have the money for this.

In 1487, in order to earn money for his education, the young specialist accepts in absentia the position of canon in his uncle's diocese. He and his brother, on the fee received in advance, go to study church law. In Bologna (Italy) in 1496, Nicholas first became acquainted with astronomy, a science that later became his life's work, thanks to the teacher Domenico Maria Novara.

Attention! The University of Bologna became the site of the first decisive step of Nicolaus Copernicus on the path of new discoveries, and 1497 was the year of the first astronomical observation.

The results of the fateful study were the first steps towards the creation of a new system based on the observation of the full and new moon. The young scientist realized that the distance between natural companion and the Earth was equal during the passage of these points, which indicated the movement of the night star in a circle.

The scientific activity of Copernicus, hobbies, research were very versatile. Nikolay was engaged in painting, studied Greek language studied mathematics. After graduating from the University of Bologna, the young scientist taught exact sciences to people high society Rome, helped Pope Alexander VI to comprehend astronomy.

Social activity

1506 marked the end of education. At the age of 33, Nikolai received a medical, ecclesiastical and theological education and the position of a churchman from Frombork.

1512 turned out to be a year of losses. Brother Andrzej falls ill with leprosy and leaves the city, Lukasz Watzenrode dies, and the scientist becomes a canon of the Fraenburg cathedral. After 1516, Nikolai received the honorary position of Chancellor of the city of Olsztyn. Here he shows himself to be a brilliant military strategist, taking command in the war against the Crusaders.. The fortress managed to survive with a significant superiority of enemy forces..

By 1521, the scientist returned to serve in the diocese of Frombork. The talent of the inventor helped Nikolai build a hydraulic machine that provided water to all the houses in the city.

The scientist also did not leave his passion for medicine. After retiring in 1531, in order to focus on writing the main book, he provided medical assistance to all those in need free of charge, helped many people cope with ailments. In 1519, the scientist fought the plague epidemic.

Scientific developments

Nicolaus Copernicus was absorbed in his main ideas and discoveries all his life. He spent 40 years writing the main work of his life "On the rotation of celestial bodies", invaluable for the development of astronomy. He scrupulously collected information, data from his observations, systematized information, compiled tables, and made amendments. He completed work on the book 3 years before his death.

The position of canon allowed parallel practice scientific research. For astronomical observations, the scientist equipped the tower of the Frombork fortress.

The discoverer of the doctrine of the heliocentric system was lucky not to meet persecution from the adherents of dogmatism. The Copernican theory was an important step in the history of science, making a real revolution in the best minds of that time. The views of the scientist for that time were very radical, but he lived a fairly quiet life.

Important! The doctrine of the motion of celestial bodies was banned and declared heresy only in 1616, much later than the death of its author, by which time the theory had already spread widely throughout Europe.

The idea of ​​the heliocentric system was developed by a young scientist closer to 1500. The theory had a lot of supporters. Among like-minded people, the researcher distributed the Commentariolus manuscript, where he outlined a brief essence of his hypothesis.

The scientist died of a stroke in his native Frombork in 1543. In recent months, Copernicus' health was critical. He suffered paralysis of one half of his body and was in a coma before his death.

The last years of Copernicus' life

We list interesting facts about Copernicus

1. The position of canon, as a church figure, assumed a vow of celibacy. Fascinated by science, Nikolai at first did not attach any importance to this. In 1528, being a mature man, he suddenly fell in love with Anna, the daughter of his friend Matz Schilling from his native city of Torun. The girl soon had to leave the scientist because of the discontent of the Church.
2. The grave of the researcher was considered not found until the heyday of genetics and the corresponding examination in 2005. Frombork, which meant a lot to the scientist, became the last refuge.
3. The year 1535 was marked by the recognition of the work of the researcher by the church, this was facilitated by the Pope himself. The truths that Copernicus revealed to the world were at first favorably perceived by the ministers. Afterwards, conservative religious leaders saw the doctrine as a threat to existing dogmas.
4. A meteorite and an element are named after the researcher.
5. In Torun, Frombork there are museums dedicated to his memory.
6. Throughout life, Nikolai was accompanied by a faithful student named Retik, who helped conduct research, published works, and was a good friend.
7. The discoverer would hardly have seen the first edition of the work of a lifetime, but friends brought him a printed copy.

Description of the theory

The book "On the rotation of celestial bodies" consists of 6 volumes, where the author described his ideas about the device:

• the first is devoted to proving the spherical shape of the Earth and the Universe;
• the second talks about the rules for calculating the location of celestial bodies;
• the third part describes the annual cycle of the Earth's motion;
• the fourth tells about the satellite of our planet, the Moon;
• the fifth tells about the properties of celestial bodies in general;
• the sixth is about the causes of changes in latitudes.

The book "On the rotation of celestial bodies"

The main ideas of the heliocentric system can be briefly described in 7 theses:

1. There is no common center of rotation for all celestial bodies.
2. The earth is not the center of the world.
3. The stars are motionless on the surface of the sphere that bounds the Cosmos.
4. The earth rotates on its own axis and around the sun.
5. The trajectory of the movement of celestial bodies is a circle.
6. The distance between the Sun and the stars is immeasurably greater than the distance of the luminary from the Earth.
7. The movement of the Sun observed from the Earth is a consequence of the rotation of the planet itself.

Later, the teachings of Copernicus were supplemented by Johannes Kepler, who calculated that the trajectory of the movements of celestial bodies is not a circle, but an ellipse. It was also found that the stars are not at all devoid of motion.

Attention! Now the main ideas of Nicolaus Copernicus do not look so revolutionary, but for the 16th century they were an important step in the development of astronomy, they changed the ideas of people of that time about the greatness of the world, the mysteries of nature, the place of man in the universe. These were important discoveries, taking into account the geocentric theory dominant in the era.

Polish university

The inhabitants of Poland are proud of the achievements of their compatriot, who lived 4 centuries ago. There is a Nicolaus Copernicus University in the city of Toruna, which trains young scientists. The educational institution was founded in 1945 and ranks fifth in terms of prestige among other universities in Poland. The university classrooms are equipped with the latest technology. The university opened its doors to future doctors, chemists, biologists, physicists, astronomers, mathematicians and artists.

Nicolaus Copernicus Biography

Nicolaus Copernicus and heliocentrism

Conclusion

Any educated person knows perfectly well who Copernicus is, the scientist lived a long life, managed to change the worldview of people on the planet, made an invaluable contribution to astronomy. His revolutionary discoveries became the basis for the development modern science. Nicolaus Copernicus lived a long life and left an indelible memory of himself.

(1473-1543) Polish astronomer

Nicolaus Copernicus was born in the Polish city of Torun in the family of a merchant who came from Germany. He was orphaned early and brought up in the house of his uncle, the famous Polish humanist Bishop Lukasz Wachenrode. In 1490 he graduated from the University of Krakow and became a canon of the cathedral in Frombork, a fishing town at the mouth of the Vistula. He remained in this position (with interruptions) until the end of his life.

In 1496 Copernicus went on a long journey to Italy. At first he studied at the University of Bologna, where he became a master of arts, and also studied ecclesiastical law. It was in Bologna that he developed an interest in astronomy, which determined his scientific fate.

He then returned briefly to Poland, but soon returned to Italy, where he studied medicine at the University of Padua and obtained a doctorate in theology from the University of Ferrara. Nicholas Copernicus returned to his homeland in 1503 as a comprehensively educated person. He settled first in the city of Lidzbark, where he served as a secretary and doctor for his uncle, and after his death he moved to Frombork, where he lived until the end of his life.

Nicolaus Copernicus was an amazingly versatile scientist. Simultaneously with astronomy, he was engaged in translations of the works of Byzantine authors, as well as medicine, earning a reputation as a wonderful doctor. Copernicus treated the poor free of charge: day and night he was ready to rush to help the sick. In addition, he participated in the management of the region, was in charge of its financial and economic affairs. But most of all he was interested in astronomy, which he presented in a slightly different way than was customary.

By that time, the world order system proposed by the ancient Greek scientist Claudius Ptolemy had existed for almost one and a half millennia. It consisted in the fact that the Earth rests motionless in the center of the Universe, and the Sun and other planets revolve around it. Ptolemy's theory did not allow explaining many phenomena well known to astronomers, in particular the looping motion of the planets across the visible sky. Nevertheless, its provisions were considered unshakable, since they were in good agreement with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Long before Copernicus, the ancient Greek scientist Aristarchus argued that the Earth moves around the Sun. But he could not yet experimentally confirm his teaching.

Observing the movement of celestial bodies, Nicolaus Copernicus came to the conclusion that Ptolemy's theory was incorrect. After thirty years of hard work, long observations and complex mathematical calculations, he convincingly proved that the Earth is only one of the planets and that all planets revolve around the Sun. True, Copernicus still believed that the stars are motionless and are located on the surface of a huge sphere, at a great distance from the Earth. This was due to the fact that at that time there were no such powerful telescopes with which one could observe the sky and stars.

Having discovered that the Earth and the planets are satellites of the Sun, Nicolaus Copernicus was able to explain the apparent movement of the Sun across the sky, the strange entanglement in the movement of some planets, as well as the apparent rotation of the firmament. He believed that we perceive the movement of celestial bodies in the same way as the movement of various objects on Earth when we ourselves are in motion. When we sail in a boat on the surface of the river, it seems that the boat and we are motionless in it, and the banks are floating in reverse direction. Similarly, to an observer on Earth, the Earth appears to be stationary and the Sun moves around it. In fact, it is the Earth that moves around the Sun and makes a complete revolution in its orbit during the year.

Sometime between 1510 and 1514, Nicolaus Copernicus wrote short message, in which he first informed scientists about his discovery. It gave the impression of a bombshell and caused misfortune not only for its author, but also for his followers. To accept such a theory meant to destroy the authority of the church, since this concept refuted the theory of the divine origin of the universe.

The theory of Copernicus was fully expounded in his work "On Conversions celestial spheres". The author did not live to see this book spread all over the world. He was dying when friends brought him the first copy of his book, printed in one of the Nuremberg printing houses. His book aroused interest among progressive scientists.

Church leaders did not immediately understand what a blow to religion the book of Copernicus deals. For some time, his work was freely distributed among scientists. Only when Nicolaus Copernicus had followers, his teaching was declared heresy, and the book was included in the Index of Forbidden Books. Only in 1835 did the Pope exclude the book of Copernicus from this index and thereby, as it were, acknowledge the existence of his teaching in the eyes of the church.

In 1600, the Italian scientist Giordano Bruno was burned at the stake for promoting the views of Copernicus. But this could not stop the development of science.

Soon after the death of Nicolaus Copernicus, the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei established that the Sun also rotates around its axis, which confirmed the correctness of the conclusions of the Polish scientist.

Obviously, the laws discovered by Copernicus contributed to the further development of astronomy, in which more and more new discoveries are still taking place.

It is impossible to say unequivocally who Copernicus is. It is believed that this is a theorist, astronomer, mathematician, mechanic, economist, canon, humanist, who lived from 1473 to 1543. He is the alleged creator modern theory planetary system, according to which the sun is in the center. However, information about his life and work is very contradictory, which does not allow an unambiguous answer to the question: "Who is Copernicus?" There is a strong possibility that it was a figurehead. The name Copernicus, moreover, could denote a whole group of innovators in the field of astronomy who were hiding from persecution. However, we will present the official biography of this scientist. You will find out who Copernicus is, according to the most common version. Sometimes there are several popular versions, and then we will give them all.

Date of birth, origin of Copernicus

Nicolaus Copernicus, according to Polish historians of the 19th century, was born in 1473, on February 2. This event took place in the Prussian city of Thorn (modern Torun, Poland). According to the astrological calculations of the teacher Galileo and Kepler (M. Mastlin), he was born at 4 hours 48 minutes. February 19, 1473 in the afternoon. It is this date that is repeated by most of the scientific sources of our time.

The father of the future scientist is his namesake. There are many versions of who Copernicus Sr. is and what he did. He was either a merchant, or a peasant, or a doctor, or a brewer, or a baker. This man came from Krakow to Torun around 1460. In Torun, Nikolai's father became a respected man. He served for many years as an elected city judge. In addition, he was the bearer of the honorary title "brother of the tertiary" (a lay assistant to the monks belonging to this order).

What does the name Copernicus mean?

It is impossible to say exactly what the name Copernicus means, but historians believe that in the family of Nicholas, distant ancestors were copper merchants (in Latin, copper is "cuprum"). Another version is that the surname comes from the name of villages in Silesia that have the same name. Presumably they got their name from the dill that grew in the area (Polish for dill is "koper"). However, the exact location of these villages is unknown. Polish historians first discovered this surname in Krakow documents dating back to 1367. It is known that later its bearers were artisans of various professions, among them - a coppersmith, a stonemason, a gunsmith, a bathhouse attendant, a watchman.

The fate of Nikolai's relatives

Nicolaus Copernicus Sr. in Torun married Varvara Watzenrod, the daughter of the president of the court. It is believed that the wedding took place before 1463. Four children were born in the family. Nicholas was the youngest of them.

In Poland, even today they indicate the house where Nicolaus Copernicus was allegedly born, whose biography we are interested in. This building, shown in the photo below, became an object of pilgrimage for many Poles at the end of the 18th century. Plaster and bricks from it are national relics that are kept in museums.

Children in the Copernicus family studied in their hometown, where they received a good education. Andrei, the older brother, born around 1464, accompanied Nicholas everywhere almost until his death (he died in 1518 or 1519). He helped him in his studies and religious career. In 1512, Andrei fell ill with leprosy, and A. Copernicus died a few years later. We will briefly tell about the fate of the sisters of our hero. The first, Varvara, was tonsured a monk in Kulm. She died around 1517. And Catherine left for Krakow with her husband, the merchant Bartholomew Gertner. After that, her traces are lost. And what about our hero, Nicolaus Copernicus? His biography and his discoveries are worthy of detailed study. First we will talk about life path Nicholas Copernicus, and then - about his achievements.

Death of parents, care of uncle

In 1483, Nikolai's father died from a transient illness (presumably the plague). Mother died in 1489. After her death, Luca Watzenrode, mother's brother (pictured below), took care of the family. He was a canon of the local diocese, and after some time became its bishop. This man was educated for that time. He was a master of Krakow and also a doctor at another university - Bologna.

Training of brothers Nikolay and Andrey

Soon Andrew and Nicolaus Copernicus followed in the footsteps of their uncle. The biography of our hero continues with a long period of study. After graduating from the city school (around 1491), the brothers went to the Jagiellonian University. Nikolai and Andrei chose the Faculty of Liberal Arts. In this educational institution, they joined the humanism that spread at that time. The university allegedly even preserved a certificate indicating the payment of tuition fees (for 1491) by Nikolaus Copernicus. After studying Latin, astronomy, mathematics and other sciences for 3 years, the brothers decided to leave Krakow without receiving a diploma. Perhaps they made such a decision due to the fact that the scholastic party, whose representatives belonged to the Hungarian community, won at the university in 1494.

Brothers are elected to the seats of canons

Andrei and Nikolai intended to continue their studies in Italy. However, my uncle, who by this time had become Bishop of Ermeland, did not have extra funds for this. He advised his nephews to take the places of canons (members of the government chapter) in the diocese subordinate to him in order to receive the salary necessary for long-distance travel and study abroad. However, this plan was not implemented immediately - it was prevented by the brothers' lack of diplomas. Even strong protection did not help. Nevertheless, the brothers in 1496 nevertheless went to study as lawyers at the University of Bologna. They were chosen in absentia for canons in 1487, with a salary, as well as a 3-year leave to continue their education.

Continued studies at the University of Bologna

The scientist Nicolaus Copernicus studied not only law, but also astronomy. His biography of this time is marked by his acquaintance with Dominic Maria di Navar. This is a teacher at the University of Bologna, a famous astrologer of that time. Copernicus, whose biography can only be reconstructed on the basis of indirect sources, in his future book allegedly mentions astronomical observations that he jointly made with his teacher. At the University of Bologna, Nicholas also learned the Greek language, which was quite popular among humanists, but aroused suspicion of heresy on the part of Catholic scholastics. In addition, he fell in love with painting - a painting has been preserved, which is considered a copy of a self-portrait made by Copernicus.

Lectures in Rome, study of medicine

The brothers studied in Bologna for 3 years, again without receiving a diploma. According to historians, for a short time Nicholas worked as a mathematics teacher in Rome, at the same time giving astronomical lectures to Alexander VI Borgia, the Pope, as well as to Italian scientists. However, there is no evidence for this opinion.

In 1501, the brothers returned for a short time to Frauenburg, to their place of service. They wanted to ask for a deferral to continue their studies. Having received it, the brothers went to study medicine at the University of Padua. They remained here until 1506 and again did not receive a diploma. However, in 1503, the brothers passed the exams externally at the University of Ferrara and became doctors of law.

Homecoming, serving with a bishop

The Copernicans returned to their homeland in 1506 after graduation. By this time, Nikolai was already 33 years old, and Andrei was 42. At that time, it was considered normal to receive diplomas at this age. Moreover, many scientists recognized in the scientific community (for example, G. Gallilei) did not have diplomas. This did not prevent all of them from getting professorships.

Nicolaus Copernicus, after a year of service as a canon in Frombork, became an adviser to the bishop (his uncle), and then the chancellor of the diocese. He helped his relative fight the Teutonic Order, which was headed in 1511 by Albrecht von Hohenzollern, his future renegade. Nicholas also helped in negotiating with Sigismund I, the Polish king, who was Albrecht's uncle. It is believed that Luke Watzelrode wanted to make Nicholas his successor. However, he did not have sufficient activity and ambition for this kind of activity.

Moving to Fraenburg

Copernicus at this time began to create an astronomical theory. In February 1512, Bishop Luke Watzelrode died. Since that time, the sinecure of Copernicus ends. The bishop's chair is occupied by Fabian Losainen, a classmate of the brothers at the University of Bologna. Nikolai has to leave Lidzbarg. N. Copernicus returns to Frauenburg, where he becomes a canon of the cathedral. Tiedemann Giese, his supporter and friend, becomes chancellor of the diocese. However, Nikolai's duties do not yet burden him very much. He was in charge of economic affairs and the collection of taxes. Around this time, his brother Andrei falls ill with leprosy and decides to leave for Italy.

Copernicus becomes famous

Copernicus continues his studies in astronomy. The scientist acquires fame in this field as if at the end of the 15th century. His lectures become very popular, they are attended by Alexander VI Borgia, as well as Nicholas da Vinci. Historians note that Pope Leo X in 1514 asked the scientist what he thought about the calendar reform. Nicolaus Copernicus expressed his opinion in a letter to Paul of Middelburg, the papal curator of the matter. He advised to postpone this venture for some time, until he had completed the creation of his theory (which, by the way, Copernicus had been working on for 30 years). However, there is no written evidence to prove this.

Nicolaus Copernicus in the fall of 1516 was elected to replace Tiedemann Giese. He becomes manager of the southern possessions belonging to the Diocese of Warmia. Giese, from that time on, has been the Bishop of Kulm. Copernicus, in connection with the new appointment, moves to Olsztyn for 4 years. Here he is forced to take up military craft - the troops of the Teutonic Order attack Warmia and capture part of it. And once they even besiege the residence of Copernicus himself. Nicholas returns to Frombork in 1521, after peace has been made with the Teutonic Order.

First treatise, proposals for monetary reform

It is believed that it was then that he wrote his first treatise called "Small Commentary". This essay made his theory known in a narrow circle. Copernicus' proposals for the monetary reform of Prussia date back to 1528. It was then that he presented them at the Elbląg Diet.

The accusation against Copernicus

After Ferber's death in 1537, Johann Dantiscus, a former humanist and Epicurean, became bishop of Warmia. Subsequently, he became a hypocrite and a retrograde, and it was thanks to this that he made a religious career. A lot of grief and trouble brought Copernicus to his reign. Dantiscus allegedly accused Nicholas of immoral cohabitation with Anna Schilling, a married housekeeper. The woman was allegedly forbidden to appear in Frombork by a special decree of the bishop, since this dangerous person seduced the "venerable astronomer."

Last years of life, death

I. Retik came to Copernicus in 1539 to study his theory. After some time, he published a book where a new theory was presented, and then published a book by his teacher.

Copernicus died on May 24, 1543. Death occurred after a stroke and paralysis of the right half of the body caused by it. In 1655, Pierre Gassendi wrote a biography, according to which, in the cold hands of Copernicus, his friends put the original of his book. Nicholas, according to modern historians, was buried in Frombork Cathedral (his photo is presented above). In 1581, opposite his grave, a portrait was installed, and near the cathedral there is a monument to Nicholas.

Acts of Nicholas

N. Copernicus is known primarily as the creator of the heliocentric theory. However, he is also credited with many other activities inherent in the gifted and highly educated humanists of that time. Let us briefly describe the main discoveries of Copernicus.

Translation from Greek

In 1509, Nicholas, who was fluent in Greek, translated into Latin an essay of the 6th or 7th century. BC e. "Moral, rural and love letters of Theophylact Simokatta, scholastic". It is believed that the creator of this work was the last historian who belongs to the ancient tradition. Unfortunately, it is not known whether this translation was published, but its text is known. It is interesting that historians report that this correspondence with historical and mythical persons is filled with anachronisms and does not represent anything outstanding. However, the "boring" "rubbish" for some reason delighted Copernicus, inspired Nicholas to translate. He dedicated his work to his uncle. In addition, the heirs of the case of Nicholas published other works of Theophylact Scholasticus.

Cartography lessons

And in this area Copernicus left his mark. He created a map of Prussia, which, unfortunately, has not been preserved. Using a self-made parallactic ruler made of fir cones, Nikolai determined the latitude of Frauenburg with an accuracy of 3 ". These sticks, called the triquetra, are today at the University of Krakow. According to historians, at the end of the 16th century this precious relic John Ganovius , Bishop of Warmia, handed over to Tycho Brahe through Elias Olai Cimber, the latter's disciple.

Other activities of Copernicus

During the period of governing the lands of Warmia (from 1516 to 1520), Nicolaus Copernicus mastered the craft of a commander, military engineer and administrator. His occupation with public finance dates back to the end of the 1520s. In addition, they write that Nikolai was a famous doctor, treated artisans and peasants for free. Copernicus' discoveries allegedly even include his invention of the sandwich.

"Small comment"

Three essays set out the astronomical works of Nicolaus Copernicus. Two of them were published only in the 19th century. The first essay is the "Small Commentary", which briefly outlines the theory of Nicholas. A copy of this manuscript was found in the Vienna Court Library in 1877 or 1878. A few years later, in 1881, the same notebook was found with notes of Copernicus himself. It consists of 16 sheets and was found at Uppsala University, in its library. However, it is sometimes reported that she was discovered in Stockholm.

"Epistle of Copernicus against Werner" and "On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres"

"The Epistle of Copernicus against Werner" is the second time essay by Nicholas on astronomy. This is his letter to Bernard Wapowski, rector of the Krakow Cathedral. The work is doubly interesting, as it presents the author's chronological reasoning, which is based on an analysis of the precession of stars in accordance with medieval and ancient sources. In 1543, the main book of Copernicus "On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres" was printed. The place of publication of this work is either Regensburg or Nuremberg. It contains the results of the author's observations, as well as a catalog of 1025 stars, compiled by him personally.

Copernican theory

The ideas of this scientist were very bold for their time. The world of Copernicus radically differed from the generally accepted views of his predecessors and contemporaries. Nicholas rejected the geocentric one that Ptolemy created. At the time, this was a bold move, as this model was rarely questioned. She was supported by the then very influential Catholic Church. According to her, the center of the universe is the Earth, and the Sun, the sphere fixed stars and all the planets revolve around it. The heliocentric system of Copernicus radically diverged from this idea. The scientist believed that the Earth, like other planets, moves around the Sun. Nikolai noted that the movement of the firmament, which we observe during the day, is a consequence of the movement of our planet around its axis. The discoveries of Copernicus are set forth by him in his work On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres, which was published in the year of his death. The book was banned by the Catholic Church in 1616. Nevertheless, new ideas steadily made their way. The discovery made by Nicholas gave a powerful impetus to natural science. Many scientists subsequently turned to him.

So, we outlined the biography and discoveries of Nicolaus Copernicus briefly. As you understand, there is only a certain degree of probability that certain facts from his life are true. Recreating the biography of people who lived long before us is always difficult. However, we have tried to present the most probable information about such a person as Copernicus. Biography and his discoveries are still the subject of study by historians. Perhaps after a while they will be able to get more accurate information.

Copernicus Nicholas (1473-1543) - an outstanding Polish astronomer, physician, mechanic, theologian, mathematician and economist. Lived and made discoveries during the Renaissance. He is the author of the heliocentric system of the world, Nikolai refuted the geocentric system of the ancient Greeks and suggested that the Sun is the central celestial body in the Universe, and the Earth and other planets revolve around it. Thus, having changed the model of the universe, Copernicus laid the foundation for the first scientific revolution.

Childhood

Nicholas was born in Torun, Royal Prussia, on February 19, 1473. His father, Nicolaus Copernicus Sr., was a merchant from Krakow. Mom, Barbara Watzenrode, was of German descent.

More than five hundred years have passed, the borders of states and their names have changed, so there are still disputes in which country the great astronomer was born and who he is by nationality. The city of Torun, only seven years before the birth of Copernicus, became part of the Kingdom of Poland. The nationality of the father is not known for certain.

The roots of the mother give full grounds for the assertion that ethnically Nikolai was at least half German. Perhaps because of his political and territorial affiliation, he himself considered himself a Pole. Only one thing is certain: Copernicus never wrote a single document in Polish, only in Latin and German.

Nikolai was the fourth child in the family. Two girls and a boy were born before him. One of the sisters (Barbara), becoming an adult, took her hair as a nun; the second (Katerina) got married and left Torun. She had five children, whom Nikolai loved very much. He took care of them until the end of his life, as if they were his own. Brother Andrzej became Nikolay's faithful companion and colleague, together they studied at universities, then traveled around half of Europe.

Since the father was a merchant, the family lived in abundance. But this happiness did not last long. When the youngest of the children, Nikolai, was only nine years old, a plague broke out in Europe, which claimed tens of thousands human lives. A terrible disease overtook the head of the Copernicus Sr. family, as a result of which he died. All worries about the family now fell on the shoulders of Barbara. It was hard for a woman to cope with everything, and her brother Lukasz Watzenrode took care of her children. In 1489, the mother also died, the children remained complete orphans in the care of their uncle.

Lukash was a local Catholic bishop, he was considered a skilled diplomat and was entrusted with various delicate assignments. political nature. Uncle was very well-read and intelligent, doctor of canon law at the University of Bologna, master at the Krakow Jagiellonian University. Lukash's temperament was cool, while he loved his younger nephew Nikolai very much, gave him fatherly warmth and often spoiled him. In the younger Copernicus, the uncle saw his successor, so he instilled in him an interest in learning and a desire for education.

Education

Nikolai was fifteen years old when he graduated from the school of his native city, he received further education at the cathedral school of Vlotslavsk. It was here that he began to take a keen interest in astronomy. This was facilitated by a teacher who had an unusual surname Vodka. The teacher himself adhered to a sober lifestyle and asked his colleagues and students to call him Abstemius, which in Latin means "abstaining." Teacher Vodka did an excellent job sundial. Communicating with him, Copernicus first thought about the fact that the Earth in relation to the Sun is located mutually.

In 1491, uncle Lukash made a patronage for his nephews Nicholas and Andrzej to enter the Krakow Jagiellonian University. This institution at that time was famous for its curricula in astronomy, mathematics and philosophy. The guys were admitted to the university at the faculty of art. Here an approach to science from a philosophical point of view was encouraged. The Copernicus brothers were engaged in an in-depth study of mathematics, theology, astronomy, medicine and theology. There was an intellectual atmosphere in the educational institution, which developed students' critical thinking.

At the University of Krakow, young Copernicus took up astronomy no longer on the level of idle interest, but quite seriously. He attended lectures by famous scientists.

In 1494, Nicholas graduated from the university, but did not receive any academic title. Together with his brother, he wanted to go to Italy to continue his studies. But there was no money for such a trip, and the brothers planned that their uncle Lukash, who by that time had become the Bishop of Emerland, would help them financially. However, the uncle said that he had no free money. He offered his nephews to earn money by becoming canons in his diocese, and then go to study abroad with the funds received.

Copernicus worked for a little over two years and in 1497 went to Italy. Uncle Lukash contributed to the fact that the nephew was given a three-year leave for study, was given an advance salary, and was also elected a canon in absentia to the diocese of Warmia.

Nikolai entered the oldest educational institution in Europe - the University of Bologna. He chose the Faculty of Law, where he studied canon ecclesiastical law. Students were taught ancient languages ​​(especially Nicholas was fascinated by the Greek language) and theology, and he again got the opportunity to study astronomy. The young Copernicus was also fascinated by painting, since then a canvas has survived to this day, which is considered a copy of his self-portrait. In Bologna, Nicholas met and began to communicate closely with the Italian scientist Scipio del Ferro, whose discoveries marked the beginning of the revival of European mathematics.

But decisive in the fate of Copernicus was the meeting with Professor of Astronomy Domenico Maria Novara de Ferrara. Together with a teacher, Nikolai made the first astronomical observation in his life, as a result of which they concluded that on the full moon and the new moon the distance to the Moon in quadrature is the same. After this observation, Copernicus for the first time doubted the validity of Ptolemy's theory, according to which the Earth is the center of the Universe with rotating around it celestial bodies.

After studying at the University of Bologna for three years, Nikolai had to return to his homeland, as the period of leave granted to him for study had ended. He again did not receive a diploma and a title. Arriving in 1500 at the place of service in the city of Frauenburg, they, together with their brother, again asked to postpone their return to work and provide leave in order to complete their studies.

In 1502, the request of the Copernicus brothers was granted, and they again went to Italy for further education. medical science at the University of Padua.

In 1503, at the University of Ferrara, Nicholas nevertheless passed the exams and left the educational institution with a doctorate in canon law. Uncle Lukash allowed him not to return home, and Nikolai took up medical practice in Padua, Italy.

Scientific activity

In 1506, Copernicus received a letter stating that his uncle's condition had worsened (perhaps it was far-fetched). Nikolai went home. For the next six years, he lived in the bishop's castle of Heilsberg, acting as a confidant and secretary for Uncle Lukas, and was also his doctor. At the same time, he managed to engage in teaching activities in Krakow, conducted astronomical observations and developed a treatise on monetary reform.

In 1512 uncle Lukash died. Nicholas had to move to a small town on the banks of the Vistula Lagoon Frombork, where he was listed as a canon. Here he began to fulfill his church duties, and continued to engage in scientific observations. He worked alone, did not use any outside help or advice. There were no optical instruments then, and Copernicus conducted all his research from the northwestern tower of the fortress, which was located near the wall of the monastery. Here he set up his observatory.

When the new astronomical system clearly presented itself to his mind, Nikolai set to writing a book in which he decided to describe a different model of the world. He did not make a secret of his observations, he shared them with his friends, among whom there were many like-minded people.

By 1530, Nicholas had completed his first great work, On the Revolution of the Heavenly Spheres. In this work, he assumed that the Earth rotates around its axis during one day, and around the Sun during a year. For the time, it was an unimaginably fantastic idea. Until then, everyone considered the motionless Earth to be the center of the Universe, around which the stars, planets and the Sun revolve.

The news of a new outstanding astronomer quickly spread throughout Europe. At first, there was no persecution of the concept he proposed. First, Nikolai formulated his ideas very carefully. Secondly, for a long time the church fathers themselves could not decide whether to consider the heliocentric model of the world a heresy. So Copernicus was more fortunate than his followers Galileo Galilei and Giordano Bruno.

Copernicus was in no hurry to publish his book, since he was a perfectionist by nature, and believed that his observations should be double-checked several times. In total, he worked on the book for forty years, made changes, corrections and clarifications, and was engaged in the preparation of new calculated astronomical tables. The main work of the scientist was published in 1543, but he never found out about it, because he was already in a coma on his deathbed. Some details of this theory were corrected and finalized by the German astronomer Johannes Kepler in the future.

Copernicus was engaged not only in scientific, but also practical activities:

• He developed a project, according to which a new monetary system was introduced in Poland.
• During the Polish-Teutonic War, he became the organizer of the defense of the bishops from the Teutons. After the conflict ended, he took part in peace negotiations, which resulted in the creation of the first Protestant state - the Duchy of Prussia.
• Designed new system water supply in the city of Frombork, thanks to which a hydraulic machine was built and all houses were supplied with water.
• In 1519, as a doctor, he threw his forces into the elimination of the plague.

Since 1531, Nicholas devoted all his time only to the heliocentric system and gratuitous medical practice. As his health was getting worse, in many ways Copernicus was helped by like-minded people, friends and students.

Personal life

Nikolai was already over fifty years old when he first truly fell in love. In 1528 he met the young girl Anna, who was his daughter. good friend Matz Schilling, who worked as a metal carver. Anna and Nikolai met in Copernicus' hometown of Torun.

Since he was a Catholic clergyman, it was forbidden for Nicholas to have relations with women and marry. Then he settled the girl in his house as a distant relative and housekeeper. But soon Anna was forced to leave the scientist's house, as the new bishop clearly and clearly explained to his subordinate that the church does not welcome such actions.

Illness and death

In 1542, Copernicus became much worse, completely paralyzed on the right side. In March 1543, he fell into a coma and remained in it until his death. On May 24, 1543, as a result of a stroke, the heart of the great scientist stopped.

For a long time the place of his burial was unknown. In 2005 in the city of Frombork there were archaeological excavations, as a result of which human remains were discovered - leg bones and a skull. The reconstruction of the skull, carried out by special methods, corresponded to the signs of Copernicus himself. It is known that the scientist had a broken bridge of the nose, and there was a scar above his left eye, such marks were also found on the found skull. The examination also determined that the skull belonged to a man who died at the age of seventy. We conducted a comparative DNA analysis of the discovered remains and hair found earlier in one of the books of Copernicus (this rarity was kept in the library of the Swedish University). As a result, it was revealed that these are indeed the remains of a great astronomer.

In 2010 they were reburied in Frombork Cathedral. A lot of monuments were erected to Copernicus throughout Poland, the university in Torun and the international airport in the city of Wroclaw bear his name. On one of the monuments there is an inscription: "He who stopped the Sun - moved the Earth."