The Scientific Contribution of Anton Maria Schyrle

Anton Maria Schyrle was not the inventor of the telescope, he himself attributed this to Johann Lippersum (Lippershey, Lippersheim, Laprey) from Seeland around 1609. A "binocular" variant, i.e. a telescope with a double tube, can also be traced back to Lippersum, who was urged by the Dutch General States to develop today's binoculars in order to apply for a patent. For a long time, Schyrle was directly credited with this invention of the so-called Dutch telescope, as he was significantly involved in the further development of these optical devices on his own initiative, or at least together with Wiesel. The original Dutch telescopes had only a limited field of view due to their design. It is all the more astonishing that Galileo Galilei was able to use them to discover four moons of Jupiter in 1609. In 1645, three years after Galileo's death, Anton Maria Schyrle presented his innovation: a telescope composed of four lenses. This construction produced upright images and was therefore particularly suitable for observations on Earth. Although Kepler's telescope also provided upright images, it was at a disadvantage compared to Schyrle's "terrestrial telescope". It consisted of a very long tube and was therefore very unwieldy. Telescopes based on Schyrle's principle quickly spread in the seafaring nation of England and were quickly copied. Schyrle's merit for optics seems to be the introduction of the terms “objective” and “ocular” i.e. eyepiece into language. The discovery of other moons of Jupiter after Galileo Galilei had presented the first four moons to the public also speak for the possibilities of his telescope. His earnings were probably only registered by experts at the time. His correspondence with Elector Johann Philipp von Schönborn gives an idea of what Schyrle wanted to publish after 1645. In his correspondence, he addresses things such as: a telescope as an optical distance meter, a periscope similar to a scissor telescope, the first description of the stripe structure of Jupiter's surface, or a European observatory after the beginning of the telescope era – Tycho Brahe had an observatory before but without a telescope – Uraniborg in 1580.

 

A valley and a crater on the Moon are named after Anton Maria Schyrle

In the model, you can see a lunar globe. Since Anton Maria Schyrle rendered outstanding services to the development of the telescope, a valley and a crater on the moon were named after him. His Latinized name "Anton Maria Schyrleus de Reitha" was used for this purpose, with which he had published his books. In the model, the crater and valley are marked on the front of the moon.

Vallis Reitha, the Reitha Valley, is located on the moon at 42° 30' south latitude and 51° 30' east longitude. The valley is about 445 km long and is therefore 9 times as long as the Lech Valley. It would stretch in a straight line from Reutte to Vienna.

Reitha, the crater Reitha, is located next to the Reitha Valley at 37° 06' south latitude and 47° 12' east longitude on the Moon. The crater has a diameter of about 70 km and an area 164 times the size of the Reutte-basin. If Reutte were in the centre of the crater, Telfs would be on the crater rim.

 

392 m to Saturn

220 m to Uranus

 

Father Anton Maria Schyrleus de Reitha (1603/1604 – 1660)

Anton Maria Schyrle was born in Reutte in 1603 or 1604 with the baptismal name Johann Burchard.

1627, 13 March, entered the Capuchin Convent in Passau. From then on, he called himself Anton Maria.

1628, 13 March, profession in the Capuchin monastery in Passau.

In 1636 he was ordered to Linz as a lecturer in philosophy.

1637 confessor to the appointed Elector of Trier, Philipp Christoph von Sötern, Archbishop of Trier and Speyer. He subsequently became a confidant and diplomat for the archbishop.

In 1640 he traveled to Rome on behalf of the archbishop for the "visitatio liminum" to Pope Urban VIII. This trip was the canonical duty of the Roman Catholic bishops to provide a personal report on the state of the respective diocese every five years.

1643, first book "Novem stellae circa Jovem visae, circa Saturnum sex, circa Martem nonullae" printed in Leuven in Flanders. Shortly afterwards, he worked together with Johann Wiesel from Augsburg on setting up an optical workshop. In his books, he uses the Latinized form of his name: Anton Maria Schyrleus de Reitha, where "de Reitha" stands for his place of origin "Reutte".

1645, two books "Oculus Enoch et Eliae sive radius sidereomysticus". His main scientific work on the construction of telescopes. Renewed cooperation with Elector Archbishop Philipp Christoph von Sötern.

1652 von Sötern dies, Schyrle loses his offices and is accused by the Inquisition.

In 1656 he was summoned by the head of his order to Rome.

In 1657 he was exiled to Ravenna by Pope Alexander VII in Bologna.

1659, his last letter is dated 22 July, in which he addressed himself from exile to Elector Schönborn with the request to release him from exile.

1660, on November 14, Anton Maria Schyrleus died in Ravenna.

 

Anton Maria Schyle – Origin

The debate as to whether Schyrle (the spelling of his family name is the most common variant in historical research) was a Tyrolean or even a Bohemian monk has several backgrounds. The question of whether he comes from Bohemia goes back to Anton Maria's affiliation to the Austro-Bohemian province of the Capuchin Order. The addition of the name "de Rheita" also caused discussions; Rheit in Bohemia, Reit in Tyrol, Reith near Salzburg, Rheydt in the Rhineland and Reutte in Tyrol were repeatedly considered as possible places of origin. His record of profession of 13 March 1628 in the profession book of the former Capuchin monastery of Passau, in whose convent he entered in 1627, exactly one year earlier to the day, can be used as a clarifying source:

"Ego fr. Antonius Maria (olim fr. Joann Burchardus Schyrle a Reitta, Tyrolensis, Canonicus Regularis S. Augustini in Mon ́io Uderstorf Professus) aetatis meae 23 annorum, die 13. März anno post Christum natum 1627 habitu seraphico S.P.N Francisci a.P. [...]"

This entry shows that in the year of his transfer to Passau Abbey, Schyrle had previously been baptized Johann Burchard as a regular canon in the Bavarian Augustinian monastery "Undersdorf" (today Markt Indersdorf), came from Reutte in Tyrol and was twenty-three years old. It is from this source that we are reconstructing not only his place of birth but also his date of birth. If Schyrle was twenty-three years old in March 1627, this means 1603/04 as the year of birth, which unfortunately cannot be further proven by the lost church books.

 

Anton Maria Schyrle in the service of the Elector Archbishop Philipp Christoph von Sötern

The first major biographical turning point in the life of the young canon took place in 1636, when his order seconded him to Linz as a lecturer in philosophy. There he was appointed from 1637 as confessor to the Elector of Trier, Philipp Christoph von Sötern, Archbishop of Trier and Speyer, who had been put under arrest by Emperor Ferdinand III. The Elector von Sötern took an opportunistic stance during the Thirty Years' War and was a problem case for the Emperor. Schyrle went from confessor to confidant and ultimately to diplomat on behalf of von Sötern, who negotiated with the imperial administration on his behalf for his release. Also on behalf of the Elector, he took on episcopal duties and travelled to Rome in 1640 for the "visitatio liminum" to Pope Urban VIII. This trip was the canonical duty of the Roman Catholic bishops to provide a personal report on the state of the respective diocese every five years. However, all the activities in the name of the imperial prisoner aroused displeasure. The emperor repaid Schyrle's commitment with the banishment from the Habsburg lands and the expulsion of the monk from the Austro-Bohemian province of the Capuchin Order.

 

Anton Maria Schyrle as a scientist

Separated from his employer von Sötern, Schyrle devoted himself entirely to science. The following years were an extremely fruitful time for his astronomical studies and the improvement of the construction of telescopes. In 1643, his first scientific work "Novem stellae circa Jovem visae, circa Saturnum sex, circa Martem nonullae" was published. In this publication, published in Leuven in Flanders, he presented evidence that Jupiter has nine moons instead of four, and Saturn has six. Shortly afterwards he met Johann Wiesel, twenty years his senior, in Augsburg. Together, they most likely developed the prototype of what would later become a telescope, for which Schyrle is still known in specialized circles today. Together with Wiesel, Schyrle set up a production facility for optical apparatus in Augsburg. In 1645, Schyrle presented his main scientific work: "Oculus Enoch et Eliae sive radius sidereomysticus". Among other things, it presented a design of a telescope composed of four lenses, which could deliver upright images and had a larger field of view than the previously known types of telescopes. From a scientific point of view, Schyrle gave preference to the theories of Tycho Brahe over those of Copernicus, perhaps also as a tactic not to evade the professional world on the one hand and not to come into conflict with the church on the other. In addition, the terms "objective" and "ocular” i.e. eyepiece were used for the first time, they seem to be a creation of Schyrle.

 

Anton Maria Schyrle again in the service of the Elector Archbishop Philipp Christoph von Sötern

Although Schyrle presented himself as a churchman loyal to the Pope and a zealous counter-reformer, there was another biographical turning point in his life. In 1645, the Elector Archbishop Philipp Christoph von Sötern, who had now been released by the Emperor, returned to Trier and Schyrle followed him. In the end, the Elector's rule was not under a lucky star and Schyrle, as a close confidant, was increasingly associated with his politics. However, he was able to continue his scientific research. However, he was forbidden to publish further by the imperial administration. From 1650 Schyrle also corresponded with the Archbishop of Mainz and Elector Johann Philipp von Schönborn, which initially dealt with diplomatic topics. Schyrle increasingly campaigned for support for his science and he offered Schönborn some optical apparatus for different purposes. When Philipp Christoph von Sötern, who was inconvenient to the emperor, died in 1652, Schyrle lost his offices, employment and reputation. In addition, he was subjected to an inquisition trial with changing accusations – he was accused of embezzlement, dishonesty and fornication. This put an end to Schyrle's further academic career and publishing activities once and for all.

 

Anton Maria Schyrle was persecuted in place of the deceased archbishop

From that point on, he was on the run, in captivity and had to defend himself. In 1656 he was summoned to Rome by the general of his order and later ordered to Bologna, only to be exiled to Ravenna in 1657 by Pope Alexander VII himself. During his imprisonment, Schyrle returned to scientific work on optics and had his newly developed lunar telescope delivered to the Elector of Mainz. The last letter from Anton Maria Schyrle, dated 22 July 1659, was addressed directly to the Elector Schönborn. In it, he addressed the Elector's attempt to release him from exile. The Pope was to be asked in a petition of the Rhenish Capuchin Province to release Schyrle. The year 1660, the last in Schyrle's life, is largely undocumented. On November 14, 1660, Anton Maria Schyrleus de Rheita died suddenly and unexpectedly. His estate officially consisted of only two unpublished manuscripts of theological content. There is no trace of his further research results.