Luther History
Luther and the Consequences - 500 Years of Reformation History
Companions
Michael Agricola
Michael Agricola is Finland's most important reformer. He studied at the University of Wittenberg and lived in Luther's house. Philipp Melanchthon and Johannes Bugenhagen were his teachers, too. Strongly influenced by the ideas of the German Reformation, he returned to Finland. As a bishop, he advocated the Reformation. His numerous writings and translations had a large influence.
Baldassare Altieri
In the 1540s, Altieri appears as a key figure of the Protestant parishes in the territory of Venice, which were special in Italian Reformation history. He had direct contact with Martin Luther and his colleagues in Wittenberg. Even after the dissolution of the parish structures under pressure and persecution he stood up for his Protestant convictions with confidence.
Katharina von Bora
Katharina von Bora lived in the Cistercian convent until she came into contact with the ideas of the Reformation. After her flight from the convent, she married Martin Luther and organised the household with six children and a farm, operated a brewery and leased an arm of the river Elbe in order to breed fish. After Luther's death, Katharina von Bora fled from the plague and died from the effects of an accident.
Johannes Bugenhagen
Johannes Bugenhagen began to study theology in Wittenberg. Soon afterwards he began to lecture himself about the interpretation of the bible. Martin Luther recommended him to become elected as the first Protestant minister of the City Church in Wittenberg. Although the reformer was two years his senior, he appreciated Bugenhagen as his spiritual director, confessor and fatherly friend.
John Calvin
After his flight to Switzerland, the French reformer published his main work, a summary of his Protestant theology. Up until his old age he fought for the propagation of his Protestant teachings. Next to Martin Luther, he is considered the most influential reformer. Today, Calvinism is one of the most widespread streams of Protestant faith.
Lucas Cranach the Elder
Lucas Cranach was the court painter of Frederick the Wise and also served his successors. In spite of his numerous secular works, Lucas Cranach is known today primarily as painter of the Reformation. With his portraits and illustrations he made vital contributions to the success of the Reformation. Cranach was a close friend of Martin Luther and his family.
Johannes a Lasco
John a Lasco, Jan Łaski in Polish, descended from wealthy Polish nobility. As a boy, he was educated by his uncle Jan Łaski the Elder, Archbishop of Gniezno, and head of the Polish church. He was a priest under the influence of Humanism. At first, he had a career in Poland, before he came in contact with Protestant circles and implemented the impulses of the Reformation in several countries.
Philipp Melanchthon
Aside from Martin Luther, Philipp Melanchthon is considered Germany’s most important Protestant reformer. Together they composed countless Protestant treatises, developed educational and liturgical regulations, and worked on the translation of the Bible. Melanchthon founded numerous schools and universities in his lifetime. Almost no one had as powerful an influence over the educational system of the sixteenth century.
Duchess Elisabeth of Brunswick-Lüneburg
In 1510, Elisabeth was born on Cölln, an island in the Spree river, as the daughter of Joachim I, Elector of Brandenburg, and Elisabeth, a daughter of the Danish King. History remembers Duchess Elisabeth of Brunswick-Lüneburg as a progressive regent, a deeply religious Protestant duchess, and as the author of numerous writings.
Georg Spalatin
Through his position as teacher of the princes at the court of the Elector in Torgau, Georg Spalatin gained the trust of Elector Frederick III (the Wise) of Saxony. The co-operation of Martin Luther and Elector Frederick III of Saxony at the beginning of the Reformation would not have been possible without Spalatin's mediation. He smoothed the way for Luther and made sure that he was protected.
Johann Walter
Johann Walter, who was born in Kahla in Thuringia, is considered to be the first choirmaster of the Evangelical Church. Many melodies for Luther's songs have been written in co-operation with Johann Walter. He was the editor of the first Protestant choir book. The choir of Torgau, which he established, became the original model for Lutheran choir culture. For Walter, as well as for Luther, theology and music belonged together.
Ulrich Zwingli
The Swiss Ulrich Zwingly was influenced early by Luther's writings. Encouraged by the success of the Wittenberg reformers, he publicly criticised the Roman-Catholic church. With his 67 theses, he contributed the decisive impulse in Zurich to the reformation, and worked for its propagation. The movement became more radical, and Zwingli himself urged towards war against Rome. He died as a preacher with the troops, sword in hand.
