Nicholas of Kues (1401 – 11 August 1464), also referred to as
Nicolaus Cusanus and
Nicholas of Cusa, was a
German philosopher,
theologian,
jurist, and
astronomer. One of the first German proponents of
Renaissance humanism, he made spiritual and political contributions in European history. A notable example of this is his mystical or spiritual writings on "learned ignorance," as well as his participation in power struggles between
Rome and the German states of the
Holy Roman Empire.