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Georg Spalatin

 
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: Georg Spalatin
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(born Jan. 17, 1484, Spalt, Bavaria — died Jan. 16, 1545, Altenburg, Saxony) German humanist. He studied at the University of Erfurt and then joined a band of humanist scholars in 1505. Ordained a priest in 1508, he was appointed tutor to the heir of Frederick the Wise, elector of Saxony. In 1511 he befriended Martin Luther at Wittenberg, and, as librarian at Frederick's court from 1512, he influenced the elector to protect Luther during the controversy over indulgences. He championed the Reformation at the Diet of Worms (1521) and under two subsequent electors of Saxony. In 1530 he helped Philipp Melanchthon prepare the text of the Augsburg Confession. He was also influential in forming the Schmalkaldic League in 1531. He wrote many historical works, including Annales Reformationis (1718).

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German Literature Companion: Georg Spalatin
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Spalatin, Georg, real name Burkhardt (Spalt, Franconia, 1484-1545, Altenburg, Saxony), studied at Erfurt and Wittenberg and was on friendly terms with the humanists Eobanus Hessus and Crotus Rubeanus, and with Luther. Spalatin, who was in the service of the Elector of Saxony as tutor and librarian, was able to bring Luther and the Elector into contact. His writings include translations of Latin works by Luther, Melanchthon, and Erasmus, an autobiography, biographies of three electoral princes, and an important contemporary record, Annales Reformationis (first published in 1718). The customary name Spalatin is derived from his birthplace.

 
 

 

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Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
German Literature Companion. The Oxford Companion to German Literature. Copyright © 1976, 1986, 1997, 2005 by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.  Read more