Nicolaus Copernicus

Birth

Feb 19, 1473

Copernicus was born on February 19, 1473 in Poland.

1483

Jan 1, 1483

Upon his father's death, young Nicolaus's uncle, Lucas Watzenrode, the Bishop, took the boy under his protection and overlooked to his education and career.

1491

Jan 1, 1491

After completing his education in St John's parish school, Copernicus began his studies in Krakow at the age of 18.

1491-1495

Period: Jan 28, 1491 to Feb 28, 1495

As a student of the Krakow Academy, Copernicus was introduced to astronomy, medicine, arithmetic and geometry.

1496

Feb 28, 1496

At the age of 23, young Nicolaus enrolled in the Law Department of the University of Bologna. A thorough knowledge of canon law was to secure him a future ecclesiastical career carefully planned by his uncle, Bishop Lucas Watzenrode. Copernicus devoted much of his time at Bologna University to pursuing his interest in astronomy. Under the supervision of Professor Domenico Mario Novarra he conducted observations of the sky.

1497

Feb 28, 1497

Copernicus became a member of the Warmian chapter and, by proxy, formally succeeded to a Frombork/Frauenburg canonry. This gave him a steady income allowing him to continue his studies and pursue his interests in scientific research.

1500

Feb 28, 1500

Copernicus spent the jubilee year in Rome. At the time he was undertaking his apprenticeship at the Roman Curia and delivered a series of public lectures devoted to mathematics.

1501

Feb 28, 1501

Copernicus returned to Frombork from Italy in order to request leave of absence to continue his studies abroad. After having secured permission from the Warmian chapter, he went to Padua to study medicine for two years.

1503

Feb 28, 1503

Copernicus moved from Padua to Ferrara where he earned a doctorate in canon law but soon returned to Royal Prussia.

1504-9

Period: Feb 28, 1504 to Feb 28, 1509

Copernicus resided at the ducal court of the Bishop of Warmia in Lidzbark Warmiński/ Heilsberg) and worked as a physician there. He also accompanied his uncle to sessions of the Royal Prussian Diet in Malbork/Marienburg, Elbląg/Elbing and Toruń. It was in the Bishop's castle that he wrote his Commentariolus, an initial outline of his heliocentric theory, and a Latin translation of Theophylact Simocatta's Letters.

1509-10

Period: Feb 28, 1509 to Feb 28, 1510

Copernicus left the Castle in Lidzbark and settled on the cathedral hill in Frombork. Despite the chapter's animosity to Bishop Watzenrode, he was elected its chancellor (8 November 1510).

1510-12

Period: Feb 28, 1510 to Feb 28, 1512

Copernicus drew a map of Warmia and the western borderlands of Royal Prussia meant for an assembly of the Royal Council in Poznań. He also held such high-ranking offices as that of chancellor and 'visitor' to the chapter's estates. In 1511 he was entrusted with the office of magister pistoriae or 'provisions fund' administrator.

1513

Feb 28, 1513

Cardinals attending the Fifth Lateran Council requested Copernicus' assistance in the proposed reform of the Julian calendar. The astronomer devoted several years to research and observations related to the task and, although his proposals were sent to Rome, they have been lost.

1516-19

Period: Feb 28, 1516 to Feb 28, 1519

Copernicus held the office of Administrator of the Warmian chapter estate. He was then residing in Olsztyn/Allenstein from where he supervised the vast estates of the chapter in the Olsztyn (Kammeramt Allenstein) and Pieniężno fiscal districts (Kammeramt Mehlsack), repopulated deserted areas with new settlers and wielded judicial control over the population.

1519-24

Period: Feb 28, 1519 to Feb 28, 1524

Copernicus's time in war/military purposes.

1543

Feb 28, 1543

Without his consent, Copernicus' work was published in Nuremburg under a changed title (De revolutionibus orbium coelestium) and a preface written by Andreas Osiander which belittled the significance of his theory. This is also the day when he died reading his own publishing.