Background
Geldenhouwer descended from a patrician family from Nijmegen. His father, also named Gerard, was chamberservant at the court of Arnold of Egmond and Adolf of Egmond, dukes of Guelders.
historian theologian university professor
Geldenhouwer descended from a patrician family from Nijmegen. His father, also named Gerard, was chamberservant at the court of Arnold of Egmond and Adolf of Egmond, dukes of Guelders.
After this he studied at Leuven.
Here he wrote his first publications, amongst which are a collection of Satires in the trend of Erasmus" Praise of Folly. In this period he also oversaw the printing of several works of Erasmus and Thomas More. Between 1515 and 1524 he was in service of Philip of Burgundy.
This illegitimate son of Philip the Good was first Admiral of Flanders and later bishop of Utrecht.
After Philip"s death, he travelled through the Low countries and Germany, and visited amongst others the city of Wittenberg to hear Luther. Six years later he became Professor at the newly founded Lutheran University of Marburg, first as professor of history and later as professor of theology, specializing in the new testament.
Geldenhouwer has earned a place amongst history writers with, amongst others, two studies on the history of the Batavians and their historical importance for the Duchy of Guelders and the city of Nijmegen. Gerard died on 10 January 1542, probably from the plague.