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Life
and Times of Tycho Brahe |
Tycho Brahe was a brilliant Danish astronomer and a devout Protestant Christian. In 1576, King Frederick II of Denmark granted him the island of Hven, between Denmark and Sweden, where he built an astronomical observatory.
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Tycho Brahe (1546-1601). |
Unaniborg Castle on the island of Hven was the greatest scientific research institute in the world. |
This was before the invention of the telescope by Hans Lippershey so all his observations had to be done by eyesight.
Without the aid of a telescope he took careful measurements of the stars and planets. His calculations proved that the Ptolemaic and Copernican models of the universe were absolutely untenable.
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Tychonic planetary system. |
By 1584, his observations had enabled him to construct a scientific and comprehensive model of the solar system which placed the earth at the center of the universe with the sun revolving around the earth and the planets revolving around the sun. He called it the Tychonic planetary system. That same year, a self "educated" son of a swineherd named Nicholas Reimers Ursus visited the observatory and managed to copy some of his heavenly charts. This Nicholas Reimers Ursus was appointed court mathematician to the unholy Roman emperor Rudolf II in Prague. The trap was now set to lure Tyco to Prague, murder him, and replace his model with the corrupt Copernican moving earth system. |
In 1588, the Jesuits moved to shut down his observatory. His patron, King Frederick II, died at the young age of 54 (poisoned of course) and he was replaced by a regency.
When Frederick's son, Jesuit puppet "Christian" IV, became king in 1596, the Inquisition really came after Tyco Brahe. He left Denmark for good with his wife and family never to return.
Ursus and Johannes Kepler destroyed the work of Tycho Brahe
2 men were used by the Jesuits to destroy the life and work of the great Dane Tycho Brahe. Their names were Nicholas Reimers Ursus and Johannes Kepler.
Nicholas Reimers Ursus (1551-1600). Unholy Roman empire court mathematician from 1591 to 1600). |
Nicholas Reimers was the son of a swineherd from the present day Holstein region in northern Germany. In 1559, the region was conquered by Denmark and became part of that kingdom with Danish now spoken as well as German. The self "educated" Reimers became an assistant to Eric Lange, a Danish nobleman and relative of Tycho Brahe. Reimers visited Unaniborg and managed to steal the solar model of Tycho. In 1588, Reimers added an additional surname Ursus (bear) to his name and wrote a book based on the Tychonic model. This book got him a job as an astrologer with the unholy Roman emperor Frederick II in Prague. He was the "bait" to lure Tycho to Prague. |
The second of our deadly duo is Johannes Kepler now known as one of the "fathers" of "science."
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Johannes
Kepler (1571-1630). |
This sinister Jesuit managed to become the assistant of the great scientist and astronomer Tycho Brahe. Kepler was an absolutely unknown figure in the world of astronomy until he sent a book to Brahe, who was then in exile from his own country. On the same day as Brahe received Kepler's book, he also received a horribly libelous book by Ursus claiming that he (Brahe) was forced to leave Denmark for some horrible crime. The book by Ursus has a copy of a letter written by JOHANNES KEPLER praising Ursus as one of the best mathematicians and astronomers in Europe!! Tycho began a correspondence with Kepler and eventually invited him to Prague. He sees Kepler as useful for one purpose only: Kepler agrees to help him prosecute Ursus for libel. Tycho never trusted Kepler and refused to show him his charts and calculations. This made Kepler FURIOUS. |
Tycho Brahe in Prague
Forced to flee his native land with the Inquisition hot on his heels, Tycho published his masterpiece entitled: Astronomiae Instaurate Mechanica, and he mailed copies to all the principal courts in Europe. No door opened to him except one: the court of the unholy Roman emperor Rudolf von Habsburg. Rudolf spent several years in Spain with king Philip II and when he arrived back in Vienna he poisoned his father, Emperor Maximilian II. His other brothers hated him and that is why he moved his headquarters to Prague.
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Unholy Roman Emperor Rudolf II (1552-1612). |
Forced to flee his homeland, Emperor Rudolf II welcomed Tycho Brahe to his court. He was thrilled to have such a brilliant mathematician and astronomer at his court and made all kinds of financial promises which never materialized. Tycho's deadly enemy, the plagiarist and slanderer Ursus, had been court astrologer to this superstitious king since 1591. When Ursus heard that Tycho was coming to Prague he left town quickly and died shortly thereafter because dead men tell no tales!! |
Kepler joined Tycho Brahe in Prague
In 1600, Kepler managed to insinuate himself into the confidence of Tycho Brahe and was appointed assistant mathematician. He immediately began to make demands . . . with the good natured and trusting Tycho consenting to most of them. The one demand that Tycho refused to grant was access to his observations....This denial filled Kepler with RAGE.
Tycho attends a banquet . . . and dies 11 days later!!
On Oct. 13, 1601, Tycho attended a banquet with some friends:
"A few weeks after the audience with Rudolf, Brahe accompanied Councilor Ernfried von Minckwitz to a banquet at the mansion of Peter Vok Ursinus Rozmberk across the square from the entrance to the Hradcany Castle. While there, the illness that would take his life came on with alarming rapidity. For the next ten days he would writhe in agony, on the last night feverishly repeating the refrain, "May I not have appeared to have lived in vain!" On the morning of the eleventh day, the most famous astronomer in all Europe drew his last breath" (Heavenly Intrigue, p. 198). .
On Oct. 24, 1601, Tycho Brahe finally succumbed to the poison:
"It was then that Brahe sang hymns and prayed with his family, strongly enjoined them to "have care of all those in want without distinction," commanded them to live piously and honorably and to hope for divine aid. It was also at this time that, conscious of how low the family finances had fallen, he made a special point of bequeathing his observational logbooks and instruments—the most valuable possessions he owned—to his heirs. "Thereafter between prayers and exhortations, he said goodbye to us all and to this life so tranquilly that he was not seen or heard to fail. And so, on the twelfth day from this, which was October 24, when he had lived 54 years, 9 months, and 29 days, the illustrious and most noble Lord Tycho Brahe, a singular gift of nature and an ornament to literature, was taken away."(Heavenly Intrigue, p. 201).
Kepler succeeded Tycho as court mathematician!!
Kepler succeeded Tycho as court mathematician to Emperor Rudolf II. Tycho had specified in his will that his heirs should get all his observations—over 34 volumes representing almost 40 years of hard work. Kepler managed to STEAL all of them. With Copernicus and Galileo, Kepler is now known as one of the "fathers" of "science" thanks to the work of Tycho Brahe.
Official Chronology of Tycho Brahe
| 1529 | The blessed Reformation is established in Denmark by reformer John Taussan— a disciple of Saint Martin Luther. |
| 1546 | Tycho Brahe is born on Dec. 14, in Helsingborg, Denmark. His family belongs to the highest order of nobility in the country. Saint Martin Luther goes home to Heaven. |
| 1559 | Tycho enters the university of Copenhagen. |
| 1566 | Tycho attends the university of Wittenberg but has to leave because of the plague. He attends the university of Rostock instead. |
| 1572 | Tycho marries Kirsten Jorgensdatter, the daughter of a Lutheran pastor. Kirsten was a commoner so her children by Tycho were considered commoners and not entitled to Danish hereditary nobility status. |
| 1576 | King Frederick II of Denmark grants him the island of Hven (heaven!!), between Denmark and Sweden, where he builds an astronomical observatory with a paper mill and printing press. Without the aid of a telescope he takes careful measurements of the stars and planets. His calculations are proving that the Ptolemaic and Copernican models of the universe are absolutely untenable. |
| 1584 | By this time, his observations had enabled him to construct a scientific and comprehensive model of the solar system which places the earth at the center of the universe with the sun revolving around the earth and the planets revolving around the sun. He calls it the Tychonic system. A self "educated" son of a swineherd named Nicholas Reimers visits the observatory and manages to copy some of his heavenly charts. |
| April 1588 |
His patron, King Frederick II, dies at the young age of 54 (poisoned of course) and he is replaced by a regency. |
| July 1588 |
Nicholas Reimers adopts the additional surname Ursus (the bear) and publishes a book entitled: Foundation of Astronomy in which he claims Brahe's solar model as his own—with some minor alterations. He mails copies of his book to all potential sponsors. |
| 1591 | Unholy Roman emperor Rudolf II appoints Ursus court mathematician. Rudolf is a superstitious Roman Catholic, and the principal task of his court mathematician is the preparation of horoscopes. |
| 1596 | Frederick's son, Christian IV becomes king of Denmark. The new king refuses all financial support to the observatory. Tycho is accused of all kinds of petty offences and he is forced to abandon his island observatory—the best and most advanced research institute in Europe at that time. |
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June 1597 |
Tycho makes his last observation on the island on March 15. He packs up all his belongings and moves to Copenhagen. The new king refuses to help him and his Lutheran pastor on the island is thrown into jail and threatened with beheading....Tycho sees the handwriting on the wall and decides to leave his homeland. |
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August 1597 |
Nicholas Reimers Ursus publishes a book entitled Astronomical Hypotheses in which he makes scabrous, outrageous attacks on Tycho. The book is so libelous that the printer is not even named. He implies that Tycho was never legally married and actually committed incest with his daughters. He implies that Tycho left Denmark because of some horrible crime. The book has a copy of a letter written by JOHANNES KEPLER praising Ursus as one of the best mathematicians and astronomers in Europe!! |
| 1598 | Forced to move from place to place, a friend gives him use of a castle at Wandsburg on the outskirts of Hamburg. Hoping to find a sponsor at some royal court he published his masterpiece entitled: Astronomiae Instaurate Mechanica, and mails copies to all the principal courts of Europe. No door opens to him except one: the court of the unholy Roman emperor Rudolf II. |
| 1598 | On the very same day, Tycho receives a copy of the libelous book by Ursus and a book and letter from an unknown "astronomer" named Johannes Kepler. Kepler praises Tycho's astronomy and is very anxious to join him in his work. He tells Tycho that he never intended for Ursus to publish his letter. |
| 1599 | Tycho arrives in Prague. Ursus— the libelous writer and court astrologer— leaves town in a hurry. He dies shortly thereafter because dead men tell no tales....Tycho was about to prosecute him for his plagiarism and malicious character assassination. Tycho is appointed court mathematician in his stead. |
| 1600 | Kepler join Tycho in Prague. Tycho finds Kepler useful for one purpose only: Kepler agrees to write a book exposing the plagiarism of Ursus. Tycho does not trust Kepler and refuses to show him his charts. Kepler is furious and begins to make all kinds of demands. |
| 1601 | The great astronomer and mathematician Tycho Brahe is poisoned at a banquet by Johannes Kepler. 2 days later, Kepler replaces him as court mathematician. He gains access to all of Tycho's instruments and charts. |
| 1610 | Galileo's book The Starry Messenger arrives in Prague. Kepler lauds Galileo's book with a book of his own entitled:A Converstaion with the Starry Messenger. |
| 1612 | Unholy Roman emperor Rudolf II dies. Kepler had predicted a long life for him in one of his horoscopes!! |
| 1618 | Thirty Years' War begins. This was one of the most devastating wars in the history of the world. When it was over, Germany lost 1/3 of her population; Spain was finally evicted from Holland, and France emerged as the dominant power in Europe. The unholy Roman empire received a deadly blow from which it would never recover!! |
Vital Links
References
Boerst, William J. Tycho Brahe, Mapping the Heavens. Morgan Reynolds Publishing, Greensboro, North Carolina, 2003.
Ferguson, Kitty. Tycho and Kepler. Walker & Co., New York, 2002.
Gow, Mary, Tycho Brahe Astronomer. Enslow Pub., Berkeley Heights, NJ. 2002.
Gilder, Joshua & Gilder, Anne-Lee. Heavenly Intrigue. Johannes Kepler, Tyco Brahe, and the Murder Behind One of History's Greatest Scientific Discoveries. Doubleday & Co., New York, 2004.
Holzer, Hans, The Alchemist, The Secret Magical Life of Rudolf von Habsburg, Stein & Day Publishers, New York, 1974.
Rosen, Edward. Three Imperial Mathematicians: Kepler Trapped Between Tycho Brahe and Ursus. Abaris Books, New York, 1986.
Voelkel, James E. Johannes Kepler and the New Astronomy. Oxford University Press, New York, 1999.
Thoren Victor E. The Lord of Uraniborg : a biography of Tycho Brahe. Cambridge University Press, New York, 1990
Copyright © 2007 Niall Kilkenny