MARTIN MARTIN In 1525 he married , a The State Library in Coburg holds an exten- In the “Veste Coburg” there is a life-sized Lucas Cranach former nun; they had 6 children together. sive and highly valuable Luther collection, painting of by Lucas Cranach with first editions of publications from the the Younger (signed and dated 1575). Coburg His contributions were marked by events . Graphic arts and other documents about the that left a deep impression in the occidental history of reformation, and personally writ- church. Luther was drawn to fundamental Original letters by Luther are kept by the ten letters by Martin Luther are on display. A reformation writings in which he developed Public Record Office in Coburg. bust of Martin Luther with a commemorative his opinions about the church, sacraments plaque is shown in the bailey. The church and priesthood. He formulated the basics of Living quarters and places of residence can be at the Royal Building bears his name as the the German language that still continue to visited in the “Veste Coburg”. Martin Luther “Luther Chapel”.

exist today. Luther died in his native town of had his living room and dormitory in the Artefacts of artistic value about Martin Luther TOWN AND PROVINCE Eisleben on 18 February 1546. He is burried in Leaflet royal guestrooms between the baileys and and his time, such as portraits and commem- publisher: Tourismus & Congress Service Coburg the castle church of Wittenberg. the “Steinernen Kemenate”. Luther has also orative medals and documents, woodcuts Herrngasse 4 · 96450 Coburg reached the Chapel of the Fortress through a Painting of Martin and copperplate engravings of the reforma- Tel.: +49(0)9561/7418-0 · Fax: 7418-29 Castle Ehrenburg gothic gate. Luther by Lucas tion era are contained in the art collections E-mail: [email protected] Cranach of the “Veste Coburg”. The most significant Internet: www.coburg-tourist.de Lutheran art collections are specially marked. The famous “Hedwigsglas”, a precious gob- photography: Art Collection of the “Veste Coburg“ let with Islamic ornaments, a present from Tourismus & Congress Service Coburg the Elector Johann Friedrich to Martin Luther, Lucas Cranach Front cover: Martin Luther may be viewed. The “Luther School” in the town centre bears his name. Roads and paths in Coburg and the province of Coburg also bear his name and keep the memory of his stay in Coburg alive. Stand: 03/2006 (conception & design: marktgerecht.jm.oHG)

The great Martin Luther’s spirit still lives on in Coburg, Reformer lives where many things remind one of the great on! “visitor”. The art collections of the Veste Coburg “Fortress of Coburg” – also known as the “Franconian Crown”, the State Library in the Castle Ehrenburg and the Morizkirche (Letter about inter- Lutherus (Church Moriz) all display clear signs of the pretation), by Martin Triumphans Martin Luther Luther, 1530 1568, Woodcut great Reformer. and his time in Coburg

Personalities of Coburg

Luther_GB.indd 1 20.03.2006 19:12:57 Martin Luther and his time in Coburg

The Veste: Shelter and refuge

Martin Luther: On April 15, 1530, a Good Friday, 70 nobles, The “Luther” room at Nowadays, the Martin Luther soon became ill after his arrival Then and now, being the main church of of Wittenberg. Rome reacted against the the “Luther of 7 knights, 120 travellers and soldiers are the “Veste Coburg” “Luther of Coburg “ in Coburg. He ate very unhealthily and suf- Coburg, Martin Luther preached in the Moriz monastic bickering on the other side of the Coburg” shown riding through the gate of Coburg, would be regarded fered all kinds of aches and pains. In his letters church over the Easter weekend in 1530 – Alps. Luther dared to resist the Emperor and attended by Martin Luther and the theolo- as a “workaholic”. he used paraphrases to describe his place of that is how St. Moriz has become the distin- Pope, whereby he was condemned as an gians Philipp Melanchthon and . residence, such as “from the realms of the guished Luther memorial site. The reformer’s outlaw and excommunicated. For the time being, the group stays overnight birds”, because the squealing jackdaws and bust by the Saxon sculptor Ernst Rietschel in the town of Coburg. Since Luther is an crows distracted him. However, he put up his can be seen in the oldest church of Coburg. Many ways lead Martin Luther undertook a pilgrimage to outlaw in the name of the Emperor, he can- troubles and poverties with his unshakeable Lutherrose to Rome. Did one Rome in 1510, a journey proven by the not continue his journey to Augsburg. He is eagerness to work. of them lead him pilgrimage deed of Etzlaub from 1500. The forced to stay in Coburg, the most southerly through Coburg in journey to Rome and back must have led place of the . He moves Martin Luther’s literary activity in Coburg 1510? through Coburg! Unfortunately, there are no into the “Veste”; the tolerance and liberal Luther at the “Veste Martin Luther is seen walking up the hill to was extremely extensive; it was here that he documents relating to these first visits to the attitudes of the Dukes of Coburg ensuring a Coburg” the fortress, and his first impression is put developed his great intellectual power. Martin town of Veste. safe asylum for the Reformer. into the following words: “It is an extremely Luther worked on his translation of parts of delightful and suitable place for study.” The the bible, producing not only the “Psalter of An exciting and Martin Luther was born in Eisleben on 10 Entry to the “Veste Coburg” accommodated Martin Coburg” – (psalm 1-25), but also his denomi- distinguished life November 1483. His father was a steel- “Veste Coburg” Luther for five months behind its walls. nation and polemic writings. worker craftsman in a copper mine. He Even in those days, the “Veste” had been attended school in Eisenach from 1498 until a complex of fortified buildings. Here he 1501 and studied Latin. He also studied wrote 120 letters in 172 days, with messen- in , a significant city in the German gers on horseback leaving daily to travel to Reich with 90(!) churches, in 1501. After his Wittenberg or Augsburg. Doctorate, the highly-gifted Martin Luther joined the Augustiner monastery in Erfurt The in the summer of 1505. Many stories have “Great court room” grown up around this decision, such as the thunderstorm event: he was on the way Martin Luther from Mansfeld to Erfurt, when a lightning Towards the end of his stay, Elector Johann bolt landed next to him and extracted from Friedrich, later Elector of the “Veste”, visited him a vow. Martin Luther was ordained as Luther and gave him a ring with his coat of a priest in 1507. He accepted a teaching arms, the famous “Rose of Luther”. assignment at the University of Wittenberg in the autumn of 1508, and studied theol- The world and the The preaching of indulgences and religious ogy. Wittenberg has entered the history Martin Luther church in a state questions deeply shocked the Church. In books as the City of Martin Luther. In 1512 preached in the of turmoil 1517 the Reformer posted 95 of his famous he was conferred with a degree as a Doctor Moriz church theses on the door of the castle church of Theology.

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