Franz Xaver von Baader

German theologian
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Quick Facts
Born:
March 27, 1765, Munich, Bavaria [Germany]
Died:
May 23, 1841, Munich (aged 76)
Subjects Of Study:
mysticism

Franz Xaver von Baader (born March 27, 1765, Munich, Bavaria [Germany]—died May 23, 1841, Munich) was a Roman Catholic layman who became an influential mystical theologian and ecumenicist. Abandoning a profitable career as a mining engineer in 1820, he turned his attention to a study of politics and religion. His earlier efforts to achieve ecumenical and political unity contributed to the formation in 1815 of the Holy Alliance, a security pact among Russia, Austria, Prussia, and France. This alliance sought to inaugurate a community of Christian nations resolved to prevent the recurrence of large-scale conflicts. Although the alliance eventually failed, ...(100 of 192 words)