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Asseburg, Rosamunde Juliane von

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Asseline, Jean. Rene

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a German visionary, was born in November, 1672, at Eigenstedt, near Magdeburg. According to her own statement, she had visions at different times. When seven years of age she saw the Savior, who told her of his sufferings and the future of his kingdom. The news concerning the visionary soon reached Magdeburg, and Pfeiffer, a young theologians of Lauenburg, sought the opportunity of becoming acquainted with Friaulein Asseburg. Pfeiffer wrote to Petersen concerning the visionary, and the latter, after some correspondence, in company with his wife paid a visit to her. As the result of his visit he published Species facti von dem adeligen Fraulein Rosamunda Juliana con Asseburg, with an appendix (1691). This was intended as an address to the most prominent theologians, in order to ascertain whether they accepted the revelations of Rosamunde as divine inspirations or not. Some assented, others violently opposed. Spener, whose opinion was asked, was too cautious to commit himself in any way. Meanwhile Fraiulein Asseburg's name became known in France, England, and Denmark. The consistory, however, at the instance of the preachers of Luneburg, who accused Petersen because he allowed the visionary to stay at his house, took the matter into consideration, and in accordance with a decision of the theological faculty at Helmstidt, deposed Petersen, in 1692, from his office, and banished him from the country. With this verdict, an opinion was publicly pronounced upon Fmraulein Asseburg, who accompanied her friend first to Wolfenbiittel, then to Magdeburg. From Magdeburg she went to Berlin, where she lived in the house of a countess. In 1708 she saw once more her friend Petersen at Berlin, but after this she rapidly lost her prestige, and sank into oblivion. Not even the date of her death is known. The famous Leibnitz defended her moral and religious character, and as to her visions he compared her to Brigitta, Hildegard, and Melchthildis, who were regarded as saints among the more faithful of the Middle Ages. See Petersen, Autobiography (2d ed. 1719); Bertram, Reformattions- und Kirchenhistorie Luneburgs (Braunschweig, eod.); Planck, Geschichte der protest. Theologie von der Konkordienformel an bis in die Mitte des 18. Jahrhutnderts (Gottingen, 1831), page 248 sq.; Barthold, Die Erweckten im protestantischen Deutschland, in Raumer's Histor. Taschenbuch (1852); Dibelius, in Herzog-Plitt's Real-Encyklop. s.v. (B.P.)