Tycho Brahe
Tyge Ottesen Brahe entered the world on the 14th of December 1546 at Knutstorp Castle, an ancestral seat located north of Svalöv in then Danish Scania. He was the oldest of twelve siblings born to Otte Brahe and Beate Bille, both members of Denmark's most influential noble families. His paternal grandfather Thyge Brahe had died during the 1523 Siege of Malmö while serving as lord of Tosterup Castle. His maternal grandfather Claus Bille participated in the Stockholm Bloodbath against Swedish nobles. Tycho lost his twin brother before baptism and later wrote a Latin ode to him that appeared in print in 1572 as his first published work.
At age two, Tycho was taken from his mother’s care to be raised by childless uncle Jørgen Thygesen Brahe and wife Inger Oxe. The arrangement left Tycho as the only sibling not raised at Knutstorp. He grew up at Tosterup, Tranekær on Langeland island, Næsbyhoved Castle near Odense, and finally Nykøbing Castle on Falster. Jørgen Brahe treated Tycho as his own son and made him heir until Tycho turned eighteen. From ages six to twelve, he attended Latin school likely in Nykøbing. At twelve years old on the 19th of April 1559, Tycho began studies at the University of Copenhagen where he studied law under his uncle’s wishes while also exploring other subjects including astronomy.
Aristotle dominated scientific theory at the university and Tycho received thorough training in Aristotelian physics and cosmology. On the 21st of August 1560 he experienced a solar eclipse that had been predicted incorrectly by current observational data. The prediction based on existing records proved one day off from actual observation. This discrepancy impressed Tycho deeply and led him to realize that more accurate observations would enable better predictions. He purchased an ephemeris along with books by Johannes de Sacrobosco, Petrus Apianus, and Regiomontanus to deepen his understanding.
In early 1562 fifteen-year-old Tycho embarked on a study tour of Europe mentored by nineteen-year-old Anders Sørensen Vedel. They arrived in Leipzig on the 24th of March where they matriculated at Lutheran Leipzig University. In 1563 Tycho observed a close conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn and noticed that Copernican and Ptolemaic tables used to predict it were inaccurate. This realization drove him to maintain detailed journals of all astronomical observations using systematic rigorous methods night after night. He combined astronomy studies with astrology during this period laying down horoscopes for famous personalities.
On the 29th of December 1566 at age twenty Tycho lost part of his nose in a sword duel with third cousin Manderup Parsberg. The conflict erupted during an engagement party hosted by Professor Lucas Bachmeister on the 10th of December when the two cousins drunkenly quarreled over who was the superior mathematician. They resolved their feud in darkness later that month. Though reconciled afterward Tycho sustained loss of the bridge of his nose and gained a broad scar across his forehead. He received excellent care at Rostock university and wore a prosthetic nose made initially of silver and gold for the rest of his life.
Modern analysis revealed the prosthesis was actually brass. Danish and Czech researchers reported findings in November 2012 after chemically analyzing bone samples from the nose exhumed in 2010. Despite losing part of his face Tycho returned home in April 1567 with firm intention to become an astrologer. His family supported his decision despite expectations he enter politics or law like most kinsmen. Denmark remained at war with Sweden yet Tycho traveled to Augsburg where he built a great quadrant then Basel and Freiburg before returning.
King Frederick II offered Tycho the island of Hven in Øresund along with funding to establish an observatory in 1576. Construction began immediately and Tycho moved there soon after. The island lay between Zealand and Scania provinces and was then administratively part of Denmark though it became Swedish territory after the Peace of Roskilde in 1658. Tycho lived on Hven approximately twenty-one years while developing what would become one of northern Europe’s first Renaissance-style buildings inspired by Venetian architect Andrea Palladio. He named it Uraniborg after Urania muse of astronomy.
The castle housed an alchemical laboratory in its basement containing sixteen furnaces for distillation experiments. It functioned as both home and research center where nearly one hundred students and artisans worked from 1576 to 1597. A printing press and paper mill among Scandinavia’s earliest enabled Tycho to publish manuscripts locally using paper bearing his own watermark. Ponds and canals ran wheels powering the paper mill machinery. One resident included Jeppe a man with dwarfism whom Tycho believed could predict future events or recovery chances for ill people on Hven.
When towers proved inadequate due to instrument exposure to elements and building movement Tycho constructed underground Stjerneborg Star Castle nearby in 1584. This facility contained hemispherical crypts holding great equatorial armillary large azimuth quadrant zodiacal armillary largest steel azimuth quadrant and trigonal sextant. Seclusion allowed complete control over research without interruptions enabling groundbreaking discoveries. Instruments included brass azimuthal quadrants sixty-five centimeters radius built either 1576 or 1577 specifically to track comet paths crossing solar system orbits.
On the 11th of November 1572 Tycho observed from Herrevad Abbey a very bright star now numbered SN 1572 unexpectedly appearing in constellation Cassiopeia. It shone brighter than any known star or planet yet Aristotelian belief held celestial realms beyond Moon orbit eternally unchangeable. Other observers claimed phenomenon belonged terrestrial sphere below Moon but Tycho noted no daily parallax against fixed stars background implying distance at least greater than Moon. Over several months object showed no positional change relative to fixed stars unlike planets exhibiting periodic orbital motions even outer ones lacking detectable daily parallax.
This suggested not planet but fixed star within stellar sphere beyond all planets. In 1573 he published small book De nova et nullius ævi memoria prius visa stella coining term nova for new star located seven thousand five hundred light-years from Earth. Publication made him well-known among European scientists though critics dismissed implications. He wrote strongly critical preface addressing thick wits blind watchers of sky who ignored evidence. Lordship over Hven came later when King Frederick II offered island plus funding after Tycho declined other castles like Hammershus or Helsingborg preferring science instead.
Tycho continued detailed observations often assisted by younger sister Sophie Brahe his first assistant student. By November 1577 through January 1580 great comet visible Northern sky challenged solid celestial spheres theory. Distance calculations placed comet approximately two hundred thirty times Earth radius closest approach suggesting orbit between Mercury and Venus. Tail always pointed away Sun confirming anti-Aristotelian conclusions about fixed nature sky beyond Moon. Comet likely traveled freely vast emptiness where rigid spheres previously thought impossible.
Frederick died in 1588 leaving eleven-year-old Christian IV as heir until coronation in 1596 under regency council headed Christoffer Valkendorff who disliked Tycho after personal conflict. Influence at Danish court steadily declined despite Dowager Queen Sophie affirming late husband’s promise to endow Hven to heirs. Young king interested war rather than science refusing father’s commitments while curbing noble power confiscating estates accusing nobles misuse offices heresies Lutheran church. Tycho sympathized Philippists followers Philip Melanchthon falling out grace alongside other nobles.
Enemies included Peter Severinus king’s doctor with personal gripes plus gnesio-Lutheran Bishops suspecting heresy due to medicine alchemy pursuits without church approval prohibiting local priest exorcism baptismal ritual. Accusations ranged failure maintain royal chapel Roskilde harshness exploiting Hven peasantry. Mob commoners possibly incited enemies rioted front house Copenhagen prompting departure from Hven 1597 bringing instruments to Copenhagen entrusting others caretaker island. Completed star catalogue giving positions one thousand stars shortly before leaving wrote famous poem Elegy to Dania chiding Denmark for not appreciating genius.
In 1599 obtained patronage Rudolf II Holy Roman Emperor moving Prague Imperial Court Astronomer built new observatory castle Benátky nad Jizerou fifty kilometers away working year there. Emperor brought back final years until death where wife children treated like nobility never experienced Danish court. Financial support came several nobles including Oldrich Desiderius Pruskowsky von Pruskow dedicated famous work. Duties included preparing astrological charts predictions births weather forecasting interpretations significant astronomical events supernova 1572 called Tycho’s Nova Great Comet 1577.
Tycho suddenly contracted bladder kidney ailment after attending banquet Prague dying eleven days later the 24th of October 1601 age fifty-four. Kepler first-hand account stated refused leave banquet relieve himself breach etiquette returning home unable urinate except small quantities excruciating pain night before died suffered delirium frequently heard exclaim hoped live vain. Before dying urged Kepler finish Rudolphine Tables expressing hope adopt planetary system rather polymath Nicolaus Copernicus. Contemporary physician attributed death kidney stone no stones found autopsy performed body exhumed 1901 modern medical assessment likely burst bladder prostatic hypertrophy acute prostatitis prostate cancer leading urinary retention overflow incontinence uremia.
Investigations 1990s suggested possible mercury poisoning intentionally administered. Two main suspects assistant Johannes Kepler motives gain access laboratory chemicals cousin Erik Brahe order friend-turned-enemy Christian IV rumors affair Christian mother. February 2010 Prague city authorities approved request Danish scientists exhume remains November 2010 Czech Danish scientists Aarhus University collected bone hair clothing samples analyzed beard hairs again team reported November 2012 insufficient mercury present substantiate murder lethal levels poisons present concluded impossible Tycho Brahe murdered.
Findings confirmed University Rostock examining sample taken 1901 traces mercury found outer scales only therefore mercury poisoning cause death ruled out study suggests accumulation came precipitation mercury dust air during long-term alchemistic activities buried Church Our Lady before Týn Old Town Square near Prague Astronomical Clock.
First biography written Gassendi 1654 also first full-length scientist biography followed Tycho de Hoffmann history Brahe family 1779 Johann Dreyer published collected works 1913 facilitating further research Early modern scholarship saw shortcomings astronomical model painting mysticist reluctant accept Copernicanism valuing mostly observations allowing Kepler formulate laws planetary movement especially Danish scholarship depicted mediocre scholar traitor nation perhaps important role Danish historiography Christian IV warrior king second half twentieth century scholars reevaluated significance studies Kristian Peder Moesgaard Owen Gingerich Robert Westman Victor E. Thoren John R. Christianson C. Doris Hellman focused contributions science demonstrated admired Copernicus simply unable reconcile basic theory physics Copernican view Christianson work showed influence Uraniborg training center scientists studying Tycho went on make contributions various scientific fields.
Tycho last major astronomer invention telescope described greatest pre-telescopic astronomer Tycho Brahe Prize inaugurated 2008 awarded annually European Astronomical Society recognition pioneering development exploitation European astronomical instrumentation major discoveries based largely instruments discovery new star inspired Edgar Allan Poe poem Al Aaraaf Sky Telescope magazine published article Donald Olson Marilynn S. Olson Russell L. Doescher arguing part supernova same star westward pole Shakespeare Hamlet lunar crater named honor as crater Mars minor planet 1677 asteroid belt bright supernova SN 1572 known Tycho’s Nova Tycho Brahe Planetarium Copenhagen named palm genus Brahea planet Brahe named 2015 NameExoWorlds campaign Brahe Rock Antarctica named after him.
Up Next
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When and where was Tycho Brahe born?
Tyge Ottesen Brahe entered the world on the 14th of December 1546 at Knutstorp Castle, an ancestral seat located north of Svalöv in then Danish Scania. He was the oldest of twelve siblings born to Otte Brahe and Beate Bille.
What happened to Tycho Brahe nose during his youth?
On the 29th of December 1566 at age twenty Tycho lost part of his nose in a sword duel with third cousin Manderup Parsberg. Modern analysis revealed the prosthesis he wore for the rest of his life was actually brass despite initial reports claiming it was silver and gold.
How did Tycho Brahe die and what caused his death?
Tycho suddenly contracted bladder kidney ailment after attending banquet Prague dying eleven days later the 24th of October 1601 age fifty-four. Investigations concluded that mercury poisoning was impossible and likely attributed death to burst bladder prostatic hypertrophy acute prostatitis prostate cancer leading urinary retention overflow incontinence uremia.
Where did Tycho Brahe build his observatory Uraniborg?
King Frederick II offered Tycho the island of Hven in Øresund along with funding to establish an observatory in 1576. The island lay between Zealand and Scania provinces and was then administratively part of Denmark though it became Swedish territory after the Peace of Roskilde in 1658.
What major astronomical discovery did Tycho Brahe make in 1572?
On the 11th of November 1572 Tycho observed from Herrevad Abbey a very bright star now numbered SN 1572 unexpectedly appearing in constellation Cassiopeia. It shone brighter than any known star or planet yet Aristotelian belief held celestial realms beyond Moon orbit eternally unchangeable.