Nicolaus Copernicus, a Renaissance polymath, formulated a heliocentric model of the universe. His book, De revolutionibus orbium coelestium, published in 1543, sparked the Copernican Revolution. Copernicus, born and died in Royal Prussia, was also known for his contributions to economics and canon law.
Nicolaus Copernicus's great-grandfather received citizenship in Kraków in 1386, with the surname Kopernik tied to the village of Koperniki and possibly derived from the Polish word for 'dill' or the German word for 'copper'.
In 1453, Nicolaus Copernicus published his groundbreaking work 'De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium' (On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres), which proposed a heliocentric model of the universe.
Around 1458, Nicolaus Copernicus's family moved from Kraków to Toruń, a city embroiled in the Thirteen Years' War between the Kingdom of Poland and the Teutonic Order.
In 1462, Lucas Watzenrode the Elder, Barbara Watzenrode's father, passed away, marking a significant event in the family's history.
In the Second Peace of Thorn in 1466, the Teutonic Order formally relinquished all claims to its western province, which became Royal Prussia under the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland.
Nicolaus Copernicus, the astronomer who formulated the heliocentric model of the universe, was born in 1473.
On February 19, 1473, Nicolaus Copernicus, the influential astronomer and mathematician, was born. His work laid the foundation for modern astronomy and challenged the geocentric view of the universe.
Around 1480, the name of Nicolaus Copernicus' father was recorded as Niclas Koppernigk in Thorn, showing the variation in spelling of the surname during that period.
Nicolaus Copernicus, the Polish astronomer, is born in Toruń, Poland (then Prussia).
In 1485, Nicolaus Copernicus became orphaned, facing a significant event in his early life that shaped his future endeavors.
In 1489, Lucas, possibly a significant figure in Nicolaus Copernicus' life, was made Bishop.
In March 1491, Nicolaus Copernicus developed his first interests in astronomy.
In the fall of 1495, Copernicus departed Kraków without completing his degree and went to the court of his uncle, Watzenrode, who was the Prince-Bishop of Warmia. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in Copernicus's life, as he embarked on a journey that would eventually lead to his groundbreaking astronomical discoveries.
In October 1496, Copernicus arrived in Bologna, possibly with the retinue of the chapter's chancellor. He signed himself into the register of the Bologna University of Jurists' 'German nation' a few months later.
On March 9, 1497, Copernicus conducted a memorable observation of the occultation of Aldebaran by the Moon in Bologna. This observation verified certain peculiarities in Ptolemy's theory of the Moon's motion.
After initially studying painting and mathematics at the University of Krakow, Nicolaus Copernicus began to develop an interest in Astronomy.
On October 20, 1497, Copernicus formally succeeded to the Warmia canonry by proxy, which had been granted to him two years earlier. He later added a sinecure at the Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross and St. Bartholomew in Wrocław.
Nicolaus Copernicus most likely used his first observation to check the new and full moon tables, which were used in the Novaras forecast.
Copernicus observed a conjunction of Saturn and the Moon on 4 March 1500.
In Rome during the jubilee year 1500, Copernicus observed a lunar eclipse on the night of 5–6 November 1500, continuing his astronomical work from Bologna.
Nicolaus Copernicus went back to school in 1501.
On January 10, 1503, Copernicus added a sinecure at the Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross and St. Bartholomew in Wrocław. This document was dated at Padua.
In Ferrara, on 31 May 1503, Copernicus was granted the degree of Doctor of Canon Law after passing examinations, marking a significant academic achievement.
In 1506, Nicolaus Copernicus started working as a canon in the bishopric of Frombork.
On November 29, 1508, Copernicus was granted a papal indult to receive further benefices. However, he did not acquire additional prebends and higher stations in his ecclesiastic career.
Nicolaus published Little Commentary, a pamphlet proposing the Earth revolves around the sun, known as the Heliocentric theory. The church opposed this idea.
Before November 8, 1512, Copernicus took on the responsibility of magister pistoriae, overseeing the economic enterprises of the Warmia chapter, demonstrating his administrative capabilities.
In 1514, Nicolaus Copernicus developed his Heliocentric Theory after observing the sky, proposing that the Earth is not the center of the universe and that the Sun is near the center. He advocated for a shift from the geocentric to the heliocentric model.
In 1515, Copernicus made observations of Mars, Saturn, and the Sun, leading to the discovery of the variability of Earth's eccentricity and the movement of the solar apogee in relation to the fixed stars. These observations prompted his first revisions of certain assumptions of his system.
In 1516, Nicolaus Copernicus completed his work 'Commentariolus', which introduced a heliocentric model of the universe. Although not officially published, it circulated among scholars, presenting seven postulates that revolutionized the understanding of planetary motion.
In January 1520, Copernicus's astronomical instruments were likely destroyed during a raid against Frauenburg by the Teutonic Order, causing a setback to his astronomical observations.
Copernicus begins writing his book “De revolutionibus orbium coelestium” (“On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres”).
Nicolaus Copernicus finished his observations of the sky and applied them to mathematics to identify the structure of the universe. He completed his book 'De revolutionibus orbium coelestium' (The Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres) during this time, but chose not to publish it.
In 1533, Johann Widmanstetter explained Copernicus's heliocentric system to Pope Clement VII and two cardinals. The Pope was impressed and rewarded Widmanstetter. This event marked an important step in the acceptance and dissemination of Copernicus's revolutionary ideas.
Prince-Bishop of Warmia Mauritius Ferber passed away on July 1, 1537. This event led to Copernicus participating in the election of his successor, Johannes Dantiscus.
Johannes Dantiscus was elected as the successor to the Prince-Bishop of Warmia on September 20, 1537. Copernicus was one of the candidates, but Dantiscus ultimately secured the position with the support of Poland's King Sigismund I.
In 1538, Copernicus relinquished the Wrocław sinecure despite having been granted a papal indult earlier. It is uncertain whether he was ever ordained a priest.
During a dinner conversation in 1539, Martin Luther expressed skepticism towards Copernicus's ideas, emphasizing his belief in the biblical account of Joshua commanding the sun to stand still.
In 1541, Philipp Melanchthon strongly criticized Copernicus's theory, advocating for its suppression by authorities and dismissing it as a 'crazy thing' that goes against established beliefs.
On October 30, 1541, when the Heliocentric hypothesis was published, Nicolaus Copernicus' name was not credited. Instead, Georg Rheticus claimed the fame for the hypothesis.
In 1542, Copernicus agreed to publish his book 'De revolutionibus' with the persuasion of mathematician Rheticus and publisher Petreius before his death. This publication of his radical idea greatly contributed to the field of astronomy and marked the beginning of the Scientific Revolution.
In 1543, Nicolaus Copernicus published his groundbreaking work proposing a heliocentric model of the universe, challenging the prevailing geocentric view. This theory placed the Sun at the center of the solar system, with the planets, including Earth, orbiting around it.
On April 11, 1543, Nicolaus Copernicus passed away.
Nicolaus Copernicus published his most significant work, 'De revolutionibus orbium coelestium' ('On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres'), just before his death on May 24, 1543. This work argued for the heliocentric model of the universe.
Giovanni Maria Tolosani, a Dominican theologian-astronomer, wrote a treatise denouncing Copernicanism in 1545, criticizing its scientific basis and methodology.
After the death of Bartolomeo Spina in 1546, the cause against Copernicanism fell to his friend, Giovanni Maria Tolosani.
In 1551, eight years after Copernicus's death, astronomer Erasmus Reinhold published the Prussian Tables, based on Copernicus's work, under the sponsorship of Copernicus's former military adversary, the Protestant Duke Albert.
Copernicus's book was included in the scholarly curricula at the University of Salamanca in 1561, becoming one of the four textbooks that students of astronomy could choose from. It later became mandatory in 1594.
In a letter to a Catholic defender of Copernicus, Cardinal Robert Bellarmine condemns the heliocentric theory, stating that the sun revolves around the earth. He argues that this interpretation is supported by the Holy Fathers and various biblical passages.
In 1616, Copernicus' 'De revolutionibus' was put on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum.
On March 5, 1616, the Congregation of the Index issued a decree against Copernicanism, marking a significant event in the history of the controversy surrounding the heliocentric theory.
Genus of palm trees native to South America and the Greater Antilles, named after Copernicus in 1837. Some species have leaves coated with carnauba wax.
Germany became a nation-state in 1871, long after Nicolaus Copernicus' time, highlighting the complexity of assigning a modern nationality to historical figures.
In 1976, a book titled 'The Copernican Achievement' edited by Robert Westman was published. It discusses the impact and significance of Copernicus' contributions to astronomy.
Established by the City of Kraków, this prize has been awarded since 1995 to individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields.
Using facial reconstruction based on his located skull, an image of Copernicus was created, giving a glimpse into his appearance.
In August 2005, a team led by Jerzy Gąssowski discovered what they believed to be Copernicus's remains beneath Frombork Cathedral. The announcement of the discovery was made on November 3, 2008, after further research and forensic analysis.
On May 22, 2010, Copernicus was given a second funeral in a Mass led by Józef Kowalczyk, where his remains were reburied in Frombork Cathedral. A black granite tombstone now identifies him as the founder of the heliocentric theory.