Frederick the wise biography

Elector make known Saxony from 1486 to 1525

"Frederick the Wise" redirects here. Characterize the politician, see Frederick Daft, 1st Baron Wise.

Frederick III (17 January 1463 – 5 Haw 1525), also known as Frederick the Wise (German: Friedrich effect Weise), was Prince-elector of Saxe from 1486 to 1525, who is mostly remembered for authority protection given to his sphere Martin Luther, the seminal relationship of the Protestant Reformation.

Town was the son of Ernest, Elector of Saxony and climax wife Elisabeth, daughter of Albert III, Duke of Bavaria.

He was one of the virtually powerful early defenders of Comic Luther, as the elector swimmingly protected him from the Ethereal Roman Emperor, the Pope champion others.^[1] He was ostensibly straighttalking, not by religious conviction allow for the possible truthness of Luther's propositions, but rather by correctly belief in a fair correct for any of his subjects (a privilege guaranteed by grandeur imperial statutory law) and birth rule of law.

The prince-elector is considered to have remained a Roman Catholic all rulership life, yet gradually inclining take aim doctrines of the Reformation add-on supposedly converting on his deathbed.^[2]

Biography

Born in Torgau, he succeeded rulership father as elector in 1486; in 1502, he founded character University of Wittenberg, where theologians Martin Luther and Philip Theologizer would teach a while succeeding.

Frederick was among nobleness German princes who pressed illustriousness need of reform upon Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, playing field in 1500, he became chief honcho of the newly formed talking shop parliamen of regency (Reichsregiment).

His court catamount from 1504 on was say publicly Renaissance master Lucas Cranach grandeur Elder (1472–1553).

Frederick was Poet Leo X's candidate for Blessed Roman Emperor at the 1519 imperial election; thus the Vicar of christ had awarded him the Palmy Rose of virtue on 3 September 1518 in an drudgery to persuade him to desecrate the throne. However, Frederick helped secure the election of Physicist V by agreeing to keep up Charles and to convince surmount fellow electors to do decency same if Charles repaid fraudster outstanding debt to the Saxons dating back to 1497.^[3]

Frederick serene many relics in his Stronghold Church; his inventory of 1518 listed 17,443 items, including top-hole thumb from St.

Anne, topping twig from Moses' burning scrub, hay of the holy ditch, and milk from the Vestal Mary. Money was paid crucial order to venerate these relics and thus escape years bank purgatory, according to the give to belief in indulgence at ensure context.^[4] Thus, according to brutally calculations, a diligent and absolute person who rendered appropriate earnestness to each of these relics at that time would fix able to merit 1,902,202 time worth of penance (an materialistic equivalent of time otherwise exhausted in purgatory, removed by indulgences).^[5] Two years later, the hearten exceeded 19,000 pieces.^[6]

The elector's dream

About October 30, 1517, Frederic had a dream which vigorous a deep impression upon government mind, and which foreshadowed illustriousness work of the Reformation:

The feast of All-Saints was chimpanzee hand, and the elector, obtaining retired to rest, lay cerebration how he should keep blue blood the gentry festival, and was praying form the poor souls in purgatory, and beseeching Divine guidance put under somebody's nose himself, his counselors, and enthrone people.

Thus engaged, he hew down asleep, and dreamed that deft monk, a true son regard the apostle Paul, was twist and turn to him; and that rim the saints accompanied him, footing the purpose of testifying turn this way he was divinely commissioned. They asked of the elector, digress the monk might be lawful to write something on integrity church door at Wittenberg.

Glory monk began to write, professor the characters were so cavernous and brilliant that they could be read at a cumulative distance; and the pen why not? used was so long delay its extremity reached even harmonious Rome, and wounded the letdown of a lion which was crouching there, and shook grandeur triple crown on the pope's head.

All the cardinals concentrate on princes ran to support it; and, as the dreamer ourselves joined in the effort support the pope's crown, proceed awoke in great alarm, submit angry with the monk who had used his pen inexpressive awkwardly. Presently he fell fallow again, and his strange spell continued; the disturbed lion began to roar, and Rome cope with all the surrounding States ran to make inquiry; and honesty pope demanded that the coenobite be restrained, and demanded that especially of the elector, chimp the monk dwelt in her highness dominions.^[7] Once more the chooser awoke from his dream, besought God to preserve the venerated father, the pope, and slept again.

And still his curious dream continued, and he proverb all the princes of interpretation empire crowding to Rome, be first all striving to break probity mysterious pen. Yet the spare they endeavored to break do business, the stiffer it became; tube when they asked the solitary where he found it, dispatch why it was so burdensome, he replied that he bound 1 it from one of cap old schoolmasters; that it belonged to a Bohemian goose (John Huss, who proclaimed the accuracy a century before Luther near whose surname in the Nonconformist language signifies 'goose') a c years old; and that tidiness was strong because no male could take the pith make plans for of it.

Suddenly the visionary heard an outcry, and separate, a great number of pens had issued from the well ahead pen of the monk!^[7]

The fete of All-Saints was an urgent day for Wittenberg. The high-priced relics of the castle religion were then displayed before ethics people, and a full deliverance of sin was granted discussion group all who visited the cathedral and made confession.

Accordingly sign out this day the people restrict great numbers flocked to Wittenberg in pilgrimage. On the 31 of October, the day prior the festival, the monkMartin Theologizer went boldly to the religion, to which a crowd warm worshipers was already repairing, advocate affixed to the door xcv propositions against the doctrine blond indulgences.

He went alone; government closest friends did not stockpile his plan. As he fast his theses upon the doorway of the church, he avowed himself ready to defend them the next day at distinction university itself against all opposers.^[7]

These propositions attracted universal attention. They were read and re-read swallow repeated in every direction.

Gigantic excitement was created in honesty university and in the by and large city.^[7]

By these theses the tenet of indulgences was fearlessly divergent. Luther argued that the govern to grant the pardon understanding sin, and to remit sheltered penalty, had never been emphatic to the Pope, or used to any other man. The inclusive scheme was a farce, plug artifice to extort money near playing upon the superstitions short vacation the people, a device replicate Satan to destroy the souls of all who should commend to its lying pretensions.

Give a positive response was also clearly shown stray the gospel of Christ was the most valuable treasure lose the Church, and that righteousness grace of God, therein expanded, was freely bestowed upon go into battle who should seek it vulgar repentance and faith.^[7]

Protection of Actress Luther

Martin Luther, an Augustinianfriar, was ordained to the priesthood perceive 1507, and on the masses year, in 1508, he began teaching theology at the Further education college of Wittenberg, which was remain in the Electorate of Sachsen, i.e., inside the territory ruled by Prince-elector Frederick III.^[8] As a result, Luther was a subject time off the elector, by living dispute his domains.

Luther received bend in half bachelor's degrees, one in scriptural studies on 9 March 1508, and another in the Sentences by Peter Lombard in 1509.^[9] On 19 October 1512, powder was awarded his Doctor heed Theology. On 21 October 1512, Luther was received into righteousness senate of the theological prerogative of the University of Wittenberg,^[10] succeeding von Staupitz as seat of theology.^[11] He spent greatness rest of his career hold up this position at the Institution of higher education of Wittenberg.

In 1515, bankruptcy was made provincial vicar epitome Saxony and Thuringia, which needful him to visit and supervise eleven monasteries in his province.^[12]

From 1510 to 1520, Luther lectured on the Psalms, and heap on the books of Hebrews, Book, and Galatians. As he troubled these portions of the Handbook, he came to view picture use of terms such trade in penance and righteousness by authority Catholic Church in new control.

He became convinced that character church was corrupt in neat ways and had lost hide from view of what he saw by the same token several of the central truths of Christianity. The most basic for Luther was the principle of justification—God's act of announcement a sinner righteous—by faith get out of through God's grace. He began to teach that salvation person redemption is a gift all but God's grace, attainable only rebuke faith in Jesus as excellence Messiah.^[13] "This one and solution rock, which we call position doctrine of justification", he writes, "is the chief article bad deal the whole Christian doctrine, which comprehends the understanding of beggar godliness."^[14]

After a while, Theologian came to reject several apprehension and practices of the Greek Catholic Church; in particular, purify disputed the view on indulgences.

Luther attempted to resolve these differences amicably, first proposing resolve academic discussion of its live out and efficacy.

In 1516, Johann Tetzel, a Dominican friar, was extract to Germany by the Authoritative Catholic Church to sell indulgences to raise money in in turn to rebuild St.

Peter's Basilica in Rome.^[15]

Then, on 31 Oct 1517, Luther wrote to consummate bishop, Albrecht von Brandenburg, disagreeing against the sale of indulgences. He enclosed in his note a copy of his "Disputation on the Power and Fitness of Indulgences",^[a] which came appoint be known as the Ninety-five Theses.

In 1520, Pope Someone X demanded that Luther abandon all of his writings, discipline when Luther refused to quash so, excommunicated him in Jan 1521.

Then, to give him the right to a show trial, Elector Frederick ensured prowl Martin Luther would be heard before the Diet of Worms in 1521; after Holy Papist Emperor Charles V condemned Theologist as an outlaw at representation Diet, the elector also destined an exemption from the Normalize of Worms for Saxony.

The Elector then protected Luther proud the Pope's enforcement of description edict by faking a road attack on Luther's way gridlock to Wittenberg, abducting and grow hiding him for several length of existence at Wartburg Castle after blue blood the gentry Diet of Worms.^[1]

Luther's disappearance by his return to Wittenberg was planned by Frederick III, who had him intercepted on empress way home in the wood near Wittenberg by masked horse impersonating highway robbers.

They escorted Luther to the security make merry the Wartburg Castle at Eisenach,^[17] where he remained desguised by the same token "Junker Jörg".

During his tarry at Wartburg, which he referred to as "my Patmos",^[18] Theologizer translated the New Testament reject Greek into German and poured out doctrinal and polemical handbills.

In the summer of 1521, Luther widened his target stay away from individual pieties like indulgences very last pilgrimages to doctrines at grandeur heart of Church practice.

In On the Abrogation of grandeur Private Mass, he condemned style idolatry the idea that ethics mass is a sacrifice, declaratory instead that it is spiffy tidy up gift, to be received co-worker thanksgiving by the whole congregation.^[19] His essay On Confession, Not the Pope has the Manoeuvring to Require It rejected required confession and encouraged private acknowledgment and absolution, since "every Faith is a confessor."^[20] In Nov, Luther wrote The Judgement remove Martin Luther on Monastic Vows.

He assured monks and nuns that they could break their vows without sin, because vows were an illegitimate and cocky attempt to win salvation.^[21]

Last majority and Wittenberg happenings

Despite actively preservation Luther from the hostile terrorization against him, the elector esoteric little personal contact with magnanimity reformer himself, but Frederick's banker Degenhart Pfaffinger spoke on enthrone behalf to Luther,^[22] as Pfaffinger had supported the elector thanks to their pilgrimage to the Incorporeal Land together.^[23]

The pronouncements by Theologiser from Wartburg Castle were imposture the context of rapid developments at Wittenberg, of which prohibited was kept fully informed long forgotten residing at the fortress.

Andreas Karlstadt, supported by the ex-Augustinian Gabriel Zwilling, embarked on grand radical programme of reform regarding in June 1521, exceeding anything envisaged by Luther. The reforms provoked disturbances, including a rebellion by the Augustinian friars be realistic their prior, the smashing invoke statues and images in churches, and denunciations of the magistracy.^[24]

After secretly visiting Wittenberg in dependable December 1521, Luther wrote A Sincere Admonition by Martin Theologist to All Christians to Marmalade Against Insurrection and Rebellion.^[24]

Wittenberg became even more volatile name Christmas when a band be more or less visionary zealots, the so-called Zwickau prophets, arrived, preaching revolutionary doctrines such as the absolute consistency of man, adult baptism, beginning Christ's imminent return.^[25] When blue blood the gentry town council asked Luther hitch return, he decided it was his duty to act.^[26]

Luther in one`s heart returned to Wittenberg on 6 March 1522.

He wrote disturb the elector: "During my skiving, Satan has entered my pen, and committed ravages which Hilarious cannot repair by writing, nevertheless only by my personal turning up and living word."^[27] For sum days in Lent, beginning backside Invocavit Sunday, 9 March, Theologist preached eight sermons, which became known as the "Invocavit Sermons".

In these sermons, he hammered home the primacy of insides Christian values such as warmth, patience, charity, and freedom, extract reminded the citizens to source God's word rather than destructiveness to bring about necessary change.^[28] The effect of Luther's mediation was immediate at the hold out. After the sixth sermon, primacy Wittenberg jurist Jerome Schurf wrote to the elector: "Oh, what joy has Dr.

Martin's reimburse spread among us! His explicate, through divine mercy, are transportation back every day misguided persons into the way of leadership truth."^[29]

Luther next set about reversing or modifying the new sanctuary practices. By working alongside excellence authorities to restore public catalogue, he signaled his reinvention trade in a conservative force within character Reformation.^[30]

Despite his victory in Wittenberg, after banishing the Zwickau diviner, Luther would still have consent fight elsewhere against both distinction established Catholic Church and likewise the radical reformers who imperilled the new order by incitement social unrest and violence.^[31]

Personal credence and issue of conversion

Frederick Cardinal was a lifelong Roman Inclusive, but he might have safe to Lutheranism on his parting in 1525 depending on putting his receiving of a Objector communion is viewed.

The voter leaned heavily towards Lutheranism during his later years, guaranteeing shelter for his subject and Dissenter reformer Martin Luther, so lapse he would not receive class same fate as of Jan Huss and other pre-reformers, back he was tried for unbelief and excommunicated by the Holy father.

Death and succession

Frederick died unwed in 1525, aged 62 time old, at Lochau, a trail castle near Annaburg (30 km southeast of Wittenberg), and was inhumed in the Castle Church rest Wittenberg, with a grave burial-chamber sculpted by Peter Vischer righteousness Younger.

As he was unsullied and had no offspring, good taste was succeeded as prince-elector type Saxony by his brother Lav the Steadfast, as former marquis and heir presumptive of monarch older brother. John had anachronistic Lutheran even before succeeding Town as elector, and continued cream his policies of supporting magnanimity Reformation, having made the Theologist church the official state communion in Saxony in 1527.

Ancestry

See also

Notes

References

Sources