PHILIPP MELANCHTHON (REAL SURNAME SCHWARTZERD)

He was a son of an armourer and a grand-nephew of the famous humanist Johann Reuchlin and, influenced by him, studied at first in a Latin school (in 1507–1508) and then in the Universities of Heidelberg (1509–1511) and Tubingen (1512–1514). In 1518, he became a professor of Greek in the University of Wittenberg. There he met Martin Luther, becoming his closest friend and associate and later the theoretician of Lutheranism. He was opposed to the Peasants’ War of 1524–1526. Since 1529 he was the main representative of Lutheranism in all the religious disputes, and became its leader of the death of Luther in 1546. Melanchthon wrote works on education and manuals, and reorganized school and university studies, subordinating humanist ideals to the interests of Lutheranism. His prestige as a reformer was so great that he was invited by the kings Francis I and Henry VIII to come to their respective countries and help with the Church reform (but he declined the invitations). In 152–1526 Melanchthon visited Nuremberg and, on demand of the City Council, took part in organizing a first school where everybody could study.

He died in Wittenberg and was buried near Luther. His statue is a part of the Lutherdenkmal in Worms.