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Martin Remus the younger was born in the mid-1500's in Saxony. There are two known Remus families in Saxony, one was in Grossenhain and the other is from Wiesa near Kamenz (with relatives in nearby Bischhein), both to the east of Grossenhain. It is likely that our Martin Remus the younger was the son of Martin Remus the elder of Grossenhain but we cannot be sure as the earliest birth records here start in 1570. However, we do find potential father Martin Remus the elder living in Grossenhain and fathering other children. Martin Remus the elder was the Lutheran kantor (choirmaster and teacher) in Grossenhain. In that era the title kantor could designate a choirmaster or teacher. I suspect but cannot prove that Martin Remus the elder came from Wiesa near Kamenz where there was a Remus family who were Burgers in Kamenz (Martin also was a common first name used in that family). So the family in Wiesa would have the financial resources to send Martin Remus to study at University of Leipzig (see below). Click here for much more on Martin Remus in Grossenhain.

Click here for more on the Reformation.

Click here for more on nearby Wittenburg where Martin Luther lived and taught.

Grossenhain was an important trading town on the highland trade route connecting Leipzig to the east. Thus, this Remus family may have been linked to the trading Rem(us) family of Augsburg. Remus is the Latinized form of Rem - a change made in 1500's by scholars and churchmen. The early Grossenhain church records show Martin appearing as Martin Remus as well as Martin Reim showing the family name was not yet stable. Click here for more on the Remus family name.

To go to a university in the 1500's, one first went to a Latin school since all higher education was then in Latin. This Latin school attended by the Remus family may have been the Latin School in Grossenhain. For more on Martin Remus the elder, on being a kantor, the Grossenhain church and the Grossenhain Latin School, click here to go to Grossenhain.

Martin Remus the elder attended University of Leipzig. This school prepared students for medicine and theology. This university taught the philosophy of Martin Luther's able colleague Phillip Melanchthon. This Phillipist philosophy sought to bridge the gap between the Reformist views of Martin Luther and John Calvin. As a compromise position, it often turned out to be disliked by both sides so Phillipism was often under fire. Martin matriculated at the University of Leipzig in 1572 and shown by scan from a book of matriculation records (Hainen was the Latin designation for Grossenhain in the below record).

Click here for more on Martin in Leipzig.

Martin Remus the elder was likely to be involved with Jacob Fabricius who headed the first Lutheran School (located in Meissen). Besides heading the school, Jacob Fabricius was instrumental in developing the music used in the Lutheran services so it would be natural that Martin the elder, a kantor, would having a working relationship with Jacob. There also was a Latin school in Meissen that might have played a part in the education of the Remus family. Here is a picture of Meissen.

Click her for more on the first school in Meissen (the former St Afra monastery) and Meissen.

Martin Remus the younger attended the gymnasium (Latin school in that era) in Danzig in 1580, perhaps after earlier attending the Latin school in Grossenhain. Thus, he was a young man in 1580. (How he got to Danzig I have no idea). Then Martin became a teacher in the Pomeranian town of Stolp. Eventually he was ordained as a pastor there. We do know he married before being called to Danzig in 1586 and that probably occurred in Stolp. Click here for more on Stolp.

As in the case of Martin Remus above, much of the Remus family migrated to West Prussia. That story is told on later web pages. Click here for the reasons they went to West Prussia. Click here for the evidence of that migration.

Click here for more on Grossenhain, Saxony.

Click here for more on Wiesa and Kamenz in Saxony.

Click here to move on to Danzig (Gdansk), West Prussia.

Click here to go directly to West Prussia.

Remus@hawaii.edu