Johann Jacob Grasser

Who is Johann Jacob Grasser?

Johann Jacob Grasser was a scholar and polyhistor of Basel. He studied theology and was active as a poet, in the sciences and in geography. He was Magister Artium and Poeta laureatus in Basel in 1601. He travelled across Switzerland and in Europe during 1603 to 1608. When he was in Nîmes, he wrote a treatise on the Roman antiquities there which was reprinted several times. In 1607, he was given the title of Count Palatine by the Imperial Commissioner in Padua, from which time he styled himself as Ioannes Iacobus Grasserus, Civis Romanus, Comes Palatinus.

He was pastor in Bennwil and Hölstein during 1610 to 1612, and sacristan at St. Theodore church in Basel during 1612 to 1627. He published various editions and translations, besides his own works of moderate Calvinist theology, historiography and travel literature. His 1624 Swiss Heldenbuch is without historiographical value but noted for its social criticism.