AGRIC'OLA, RUDOLPHUS, one of the most learned and remarkable men of the 15th c., and a chief instrument in transplanting the taste for literature, just revived in Italy, into his native country of Germany, was born 1443, in the village of Baflo, near Groningen. His name was properly Rolef Huysmann (i.e., houseman or husbandman), which was Latinized by him into A., after the usage of the time. He was also called Frisius, and Rudolf of Groningen, from his native place; and sometimes Rudolf of Ziloha, from the monastery of Silo, where he spent sonic time. Having been first a disciple of Thomas a. Kempis at Zwolle, he went to Louvain, then to Paris, and thence to Italy, where, during the years 1476 and 1477, he attended the lectures of the most celebrated men of his age. Here he entered into a close friendship with Dalberg, who afterwards became bishop of Worms. Ho was tilt first German who distinguished himself in Italy in public speaking and lecturing, and this he did not only by his erudition, but by the elegance of his language and the correctness of his pronunciation. He likewise acquired reputation as an accomplished musician, and his pieces were popular throughout Italy. On his return to Germany, he endeavored, in connection with several of his former co-disciples and friends, among whom were Alexander llegius and Rudolphus Lange, to promote a taste for literature and eloquence in Germany. Several cities of Holland vainly strove
with each other to obtain his presence, by offering .him public functions; but not even the brilliant overtures made to him by the court of the emperor Maximilian I., to which he had repaired in connection with affairs of the town of Groningen, could induce him to renounce his independence. At length yielding, 1483, to the solicitations of Dalberg, who was now chancellor to the elector palatine, and bishop of Worms,•he established himself in the palatinate, where lie sojourned alternately at Heidelberg and Worms, dividing his time between private studies and public lectures, and enjoying high popularity. Ile distinguished himself also as a painter; and at the age of 40 set with ardor to learn Hebrew, in order to study theology. He went again, 1484, with Dalberg into Italy, and died shortly after his return to Germany, on the 28th Oct., 1485. His fame rests chiefly on the personal influence he exerted. His compositions, which are written in Latin, are neither so numerous nor so important as those of many of his learned contemporaries. The first nearly complete edition of them was that published by Alard (2 vols., Cologne, 1539). Consult Tresling, Vita et .3ferita, R. A. (Groningen, 1830).