David Hilchen | |
|---|---|
 Rendition of the coat of arms of David Hilchen after his ennoblement in 1591 | |
| Born | 1561 |
| Died | 4 June 1610 |
| Occupation(s) | Renaissance humanist Syndic of the city council of Riga |
David Hilchen (Latvian: Dāvids Hilhens, latinised Heliconius; 1561 – 4 June 1610) was a humanist, writer and politician mainly active in present-day Latvia and Poland. He was born in Riga and studied law and rhetoric abroad. Upon his return to Riga in 1585, he quickly became engaged in city politics. He helped to settle a period of unrest grounded in religious conflict in the city and was appointed syndic, or legal advisor, to the city council in 1589. In 1591 he was ennobled by the Polish king, and eventually gained several prestigious commissions and positions. This, together with internal conflicts in the city council, led to an overt conflict in 1600, and Hilchen was forced to flee Riga, never to return. He settled in Horyszów, close to Zamość in Poland and lived there until his death in 1610.
David Hilchen was a key representative of Renaissance humanism in the area of the present-day Baltic states. He was responsible for bringing the first book printer to permanently settle in Riga to the city, and was instrumental in transforming the city's Cathedral school into a school with a humanistic curriculum. He was also productive as a writer, and corresponded with intellectuals all over Europe.