Station: [40] Career

“Rutger von der Horst lived the prime example of the career a decendant of an aristocratic family could have: as a pupil, he studied classic languages, was taught in archaeology, maths and astronomy and was encouraged to participate in exercises of debate and speech-giving on a regular basis. After leaving school, young aristocratic sons often attended the so-called “Grand Tour”, which Rutger undertook between 1539 and 1541 to Paris. After his return and his studies in Cologne, the now well-travelled and highly educated aristocrat served the archbishops of Cologne. He ended up as the politically influential governor of Recklinghausen. The rise to power through means of education was representative of many aristocratic sons of the time, and his parents must have been proud of him…”