View source for Spanheim, Frederick, Sr. (1600-1649)

Frederick Spanheim Sr. (Fredericus Spanhemius), born 1600 at Amberg in [[Bayern Federal State (Germany)|Bavaria, Germany]], died 1649 at [[Leiden (Zuid-Holland, Netherlands)|Leiden, Holland]], and his son Frederik Spanheim Jr. (born [[Geneva (Switzerland)|Geneva]] 1632, died Leiden 1707), both Reformed Theologians and professors at the University of Leiden, attacked the Mennonites in their writings. Spanheim Sr. wrote <em>Varie disputationes anti-anabaptisticate </em>(1643-48) and <em>Diatribe Historica de Origine, Progressu et Sectis Anabaptistarum</em> (Franeker, 1645; 2nd edition 1656), in which he maintained the old and false theory that the Dutch Mennonites were the descendants of the [[Münster Anabaptists|Münsterite Anabaptists]]. Spanheim Jr. in the second chapter of his book <em>Controversiarum de Religione Elenchus historico-theological </em>(Leiden 1687, reprinted 1694 and 1757) repeated the assertians of his father. His contentions were opposed by the Mennonites [[Dooregeest, Engel Arendszoon van (1645-1706)|E. A. van Dooregeest]] in <em>Briefaan den Heer F. Spanhemius </em>(Amsterdam, 1693, 2nd edition 1693, 3rd edition augmented with a letter by [[Schijn, Herman (1662-1727)|Herman Schijn]], 1700), and [[Galenus Abrahamsz de Haan (1622-1706)|Galenus Abrahamsz]] in <em>Verdediging der Christenen, die Doopgezinden genaamd worden </em>(Amsterdam 1700).


= Bibliography =
Glasius, B. <em>Godgeleerd Nederland </em>III. s’Hertogenbosch, 1856: 383-86.

Schijn, Hermann. <em>Uitvoeriger Verhandeling van de Geschiedenisse der Mennoniten.</em> Amsterdam: Kornelis de Wit, 1744: v. II, 568, 569.


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