Conrady, Ludwig

Protestant clergyman, historian

Born: 05.01.1833 in Idstein

Died: 09.01.1907 in Wiesbaden

Conrady first attended the Latin school in Idstein and from 1846 the grammar schools in Wiesbaden and Weilburg. From 1848-53 he studied theology in Halle and at the theological seminary in Herborn.

After passing his state examination in 1857, he worked as a chaplain in Wiesbaden and in 1864 became the pastor of the newly built Marktkirche. He remained here until his retirement in 1872. From 1868/1869, he taught religion at the grammar school in Wiesbaden. Conrady was involved in the Association for Nassau Antiquities and Historical Research, of which he was elected secretary in 1876.

He was the nephew of Friedrich Gustav Habel and was involved in the disputes surrounding the "Bleidenstädter Traditionsbuch". In 1867, he searched for the relevant documents in Habel's estate, but was unable to find any originals of the "Traditions" of the Benedictine monastery in Bleidenstadt. Only later did it emerge that all the relevant documents had been forged by Friedrich Georg Schott.

In 1877-93, Conrady lived in Miltenberg with his brother Wilhelm, who had inherited the former Miltenberg Castle with Habel's collection of art and antiquities after the death of his uncle Friedrich Gustav Habel.

Conrady published numerous works of regional history on the oldest history of the House of Nassau, on the tradition of Schönau Monastery, on the court of four lords on the Einrich and on Egidius Günther Hellmund and Friedrich Otto. Other works concerned theological topics and the land of Palestine.