Geert Groote was born in Deventer, Netherlands in 1340 and died there on 20 Aug 1384. He was an author with a broad scope of interest in law, medicine, astrology, even magic. After a serious illness he decided to turn his back on his previous life and founded a religious movement known as the Brethren (and Sisters) of the Common Life. This movement spoke out against many forms of corruption in the Church and spread as far as Poland and Switzerland.
