Hector Gottfried Masius


Hector Gottfried Masius was a German-Danish Lutheran theologian. He was rector of the University of Copenhagen from 1691 to 1692 and again from 1700 to 1701. He married rich and owned a number of the estates. His children were ennobled in 1712 with the surname von der Maase.

Early life and education

Masius was born in Schlagsdorf in Mecklenburg. He went to school in Lübeck. In c. 1668, he came to Giessen where he obtained a theologian degree in 1675. He later continued his studies in Strasbourg, Tübingen and Basel where he studied Hebrew under Johannes Buxtorf. He then went to then continued his studies in Leiden and Utrecht.

Career in Danish service

He then continued to Copenhagen where he won the favour of Grand Chancellor Frederik Ahlefeldt who arranged for him to give private lectures at the University of Copenhagen. In 1682, he was promised the next vacant professorship in theology. In 1682, he accompanied diplomat Henning Meyercrone to France where he served as chaplain to the Danish embassy in Paris until 1687. He published Defense de la religion luthérienne in 1685. After a short visit to Oxford, he was called back to Copenhagen and was made a professor of theology at the University of Copenhagen.

Personal life and property

Masius obtained great wealth through his two marriages. In 1692, he married Birgitte Magdalene Engberg. In 1695, he married Anna Catharine Dröge. He owned the estates Ravnstrup, Gunderslevholm, Førslevgaard, Fuglebjerggaard and Lundbygård.
He died during 1709 at Ravnstrup and was buried at Gunderslev Church
His children were ennobled in 1712 with the surname von der Maase.

Written works