Praetorius

Praetorius was the name of a distinguished family, or possibly two families, of musicians in Germany in the 16th and 17th centuries.

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In Germany in the early modern period it became a fashion that educated people called "Schulze" or "Schulthei?" put their name into the Latin language = "Praetorius".

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The Latin word "Praetor" means "going ahead". It was a title of high officials (Praetor urbanus).

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• Anton Praetorius (1560–1613), protestant pastor, fighter against the persecution of witches and against torture.
• Michael Praetorius (c.1571–1621), composer, music theorist, and organist, was the most famous member of the family.
• Hieronymus Praetorius (1560–1629), composer and organist. It is not known if he was related to Michael.
• Jacob Praetorius (c.1530–1586), composer and organist, was the father of Hieronymus.
• Jacob Praetorius (1586–1651), composer, organist and teacher, was the son of Hieronymus.
• Christoph Praetorius (died 1609), composer, was the uncle of Michael.

:See also Pretorius.

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