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Xerox University Microfilms HAMPTON, Douglas Brian, 1946- URBAMJS RHEGIUS AND THE SPREAD OF THE GERMAN REFORMATION. The Ohio State University, Ph.D., 1973 History, modem University Microfilms, A XEROX Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan © DOUGLAS BRIAN HAMPTON ALL RIGHTS RESERVED THIS DISSERTATION HAS BEEN MICROFILMED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED. URBANUS RHEGIUS AND THE SPREAD OF THE GERMAN REFORMATION DISSERTATION Presented In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of the Ohio State University By Douglas Brian Hampton, B.A., M.A. The Ohio State University 1973 Reading Committee; Approved by Prof, Harold J. Grimm Prof. R. Clayton Roberts Prof. John C. Rule Advisor Department of History PREFACE Considerable attention has already been devoted to the careers of the more famous Reformation leaders, liartln Luth er, Ulrich Zwln/rll, and John Calvin. But among those of sec ondary rank, there are a number who played important roles in publicizing evangelical doctrines and in introducing ec clesiastical reforms. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the career of Urbanus Rhegius as a reformer in South Germany and Austria in order to discover the role which he played in the spread of the German Reformation. The sources for Rhegius* life are inadequate to pre sent a complete picture of his intellectual development and relation to others. Except for a biographical sketch written by his son, Ernst, as a preface to a collection of his father’s works and scattered references to him in university matriculation lists and personal correspondence, very little is known about him. But all of the pamphlets and sermons which he published during the course of his career as a re former have survived. It is from these that one gains an understanding of his development as a theologian and propa gandist for evangelical doctrines. It was not until the nineteenth century that Rhegius became the subject of serious biographical study. The first ii work by H. Ch. Helmbtirger, Urbanus Rhegius; Nach gedruckten und ungedruckten Quellen (Hamburg»Gotha, 1851}, was uncri tical In Its use of sources and fawning In its praise of Rhegius. Gerhard Uhlhorn's biography, Urbanus Rhegius; Leb- en und ausgewâhlte Schrlften (Elberfeld, 1862}, was the first scholarly account of Rhegius* life and works. Al though Uhlhorn adduced evidence which Helmbttrger had neg lected, he was often quite cursory in his treatment of Rhe gius' pamphlets. In contrast to these two books, which were sympathetic to Rhegius and to the Reformation, Patrlcius Wittmann's Augsburger "Reformatoren" (Stuttgart, 188]) was virulently anti-Protestant. Nevertheless, Wittmann expanded considerably on the history of Augsburg In order to present Rhegius in a more precise historical setting. It is the aim of the present dissertation to present a fuller account of Rhegius' published works and to examine his thought and actions within the context of Reformation history. During the course of my research and writing, I have incurred a number of debts which I wish to acknowledge. I would like to express my appreciation to Professor Harold J. Grimm for the encouragement and help which he has given me throughout the entire undertaking. Thanks are also due to Drs. Gerhard Powltz and Herbert Buch, co-directors of the Handschrlften Abtellung of the Stadts- und UniversItMtsblb- liothek, Frankfurt am Main, for making available to me the Gustav Freytag Flugschrlften Samralung and for offering val uable assistance on a number of occasions. Finally, I want ill to thank Rupert Frankerl and Frank Lane for aiding me In the translation of a number of difficult Latin passages. VITA September 7, 1946 ........ Born - Akron, Ohio 1968 ................ B.A., Kent State University 1968-196 9 ....... ....... University Fellow, The Ohio State University 1969 ........... M.A., The Ohio State Univer sity 1969-1971 ........ Teaching Associate, Depart ment of History, The Ohio State University 1971-1972 ......... University Fellow, The Ohio State University 1972-1973 ......... Teaching Associate, Depart ment of History, The Ohio State University FIELDS OF STUDY Renaissance-Reformation Europe ... Professor Harold J. Grimm Medieval Europe .............. Professor Franklin J. Pegues Tudor-Stuart England....... Professor H. Clayton Roberts Early Modern Europe ............. Professor John C. Rule TABLE OF CONTENTS Page PREFACE.................................... 11 VITA ........................................ V Chapter I. EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION............... 1 II. OPENING YEAR IN AUGSBURG.............. 28 III. RHEGIUS IN HALL IM INNTAL.............. 68 IV. THE REFORMATION IN AUGSBURG AND THE PEAS ANTS» REVOLT.......................... 98 V. RHEGIUS AND THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE LORD'S SUPPER .................. 133 VI. RHEGIUS AND THE STRUGGLE AGAINST ANABAP- TISM .................................. 178 VII. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE REFORMATION IN AUGSBURG TO I53O ...................... 204 CONCLUSION ................................. 224 BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................... 22? CHAPTER I EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION On the north shore of Lake Constance, about eight miles from the former free imperial city of Lindau, lies the small market town of Langenargen. It was here that Ur banus Rhegius was born in the month of May, 1489.^ Very lit tle is known about his family, and the name itself has been a subject of controversy. Rhegius’ son, Ernst, states in the biographical sketch appended to the edition of his father's Opera latine (Nürnberg, 1562) that the name was originally KBnig, but that his father, following the humanist custom of latinizing vernacular surnames, had changed his name to "Rhegius," prefering that to the more accurate but less modest "Rex." This, however, appears to have been an inference on Ernst's part, rather than a statement of fact. The matriculation lists at the Universities of Freiburg im Breisgau and Ingolstadt, as well as references to him by his teacher Johann Eck, prove that the German family name was Rie- ger. Rhegius' choice of a Latin name may well have been in- flenced by the name of one of his most admired teachers, Jo hann Rhagius.^ There is nothing, however, which contradicts Ernst's story of how his father received his Christian name. During the baptismal service, Rhegius' godparents were said 1 2 to have forgotten the name which the parents had chosen, and so the priest gave him the name "Urbanus," that of a saint whose memorial day (May 25) was drawing near.^ Rhegius* parents were, according to Ernst’s account, poor but pious and respectable people. Rhegius himself men tioned with pride that he had been brought up with a true knowledge of Christ.^ His enemies later charged that he had been the son of a priest, an accusation which he never denied. Moreover, the fact that married priests were not at all un known in the diocese of Constance lends credence to the state ment .' Rhegius never made mention of his father in his cor respondence nor did he discuss his family, save for a brief reference to a younger brother^ and a passing remark about his mother keeping house for him in Hall im Inntal during 1522- 1524.7 Except for these statements, nothing else is known about the family. Following a period of instruction at the local school in Langenargen and at the Latin school in nearby Lindau, Rhegius entered the University of Freiburg in June, I508 and received his baccalaureate there two years later. The University, founded in 1460 and modeled after the University of Paris, was especially strong in the Faculties of Law and of Liberal Arts.® Among