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The Religious Policies of Dukes Wilhelm and Ludwig of Bavaria in the First Decade of The Protestant Era*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2009

Gerald Strauss
Gerald Strauss
Affiliation:
Indiana University
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Extract

On the seventh of October, 1528, late at night, agents of Dukes Wilhelm IV and Ludwig X of Bavaria came to the home in Abensberg of Johann Aventinus, the distinguished historian and pedagogue, and arrested him, “ob evangelium,” as he notes the occasion in his diary.1 The Dukes' action was not unexpected. Aventinus recorded arrests of acquaintances and associates in May and July, also “ob evangelium.” He had been away from home much of the time, possibly to avoid the same fate. He spent the summer in Regensburg2 where the Bavarian government had no jurisdiction, but where prolonged residence, at a time when both Lutheranism and Anabaptism seemed to be making rapid gains there,3 could not but arouse suspicion in Munich. In early October Aventinus returned to Abensberg, his captors at his heels.

Type
Research Article
Information
Church History , Volume 28 , Issue 4 , December 1959 , pp. 350 - 373
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Church History 1959

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References

1. Aventinus, , “Haus-Kalender,” Johannes Turmairs genannt Aventinus Sämmtliche Werke, VI (Munich, 1908), 45.Google Scholar

2. Ibid., 44–45.

3. Theobald, Leonhard, Die Reformationsgeschichte der Reichsstadt Regensburg (Munich, 1936), 164 ff.Google Scholar

4. Between 1526 and 1529 he himself sent the manuscript of the most anticlerical of his writings, the booklet on the Turkish wars, to various authorities in the hope of arousing them to concerted military action. Cf. “Türkenkrieg,” Aventinus I (Munich 1880), 218.Google Scholar

5. Cf. Aventinus' own statement, Ibid., 186.

6. Ein warnus und anzaigung der ursach, warumb got der her dem Türken…so vil sigs wider uns christen gebe … Aveatinus, I, 171–242.Google Scholar

7. Cf. entry in the “Haus-Kalender,” Aventinus, VI, 45Google Scholar. Cf. also Leonhard von Eek's letter to the Dukes, Ibid., I, 2 page L.

8. On the approval by the Estates of this rule, and its endorsement by the Emperor Maximilian, see Riezier, Sigmund, Geschichte Baierns III (Gotha, 1896), 641 ff.Google Scholar

9. von Krenner, Franz, Baierische Landtags-Handlungen in den Jahren 1429–1518, XVII (Munich, 1805), 9 ffGoogle Scholar. On the period generally see Sigmund Riezier, op. cit., volumes III-IV.

10. Actually it was suspicion of the motives of their uncle, the Emperor Maximilian, which ultimately prompted Wilhelm and Ludwig to end their quarrel. Cf. Riezler, IV, 9–27 on the Emperor's influence and on the settlement worked out by the brothers.

11. See the detailed but unfriendly study of Eck's career by Vogt, Wilhelm, Die bayrische Politik im Bauernkrieg und der Kanzler Dr. Leonhard von Eck (Nördlingen, 1883), chapter 1.Google Scholar

12. This was the war of the Swabian League, of which Wilhelm was Ober feldherr, with Ulrich of Württemberg, precipitated by Ulrich's attack on the member city of Reutlingen.

13. See the series of memoranda from Eck to Wilhelm, Duke, discussed by von Druffel, August, “Die bairische Politik im Beginne der Reformationszeit, 1519–1524,” Abhandl. d. hist. Cl. d. kgi.-bayer. Ak. d. Wiss., XVII, Abt. 3 (1886), 611–612.Google Scholar

14. See letters of 17 November and 7 December 1520, ibid., Dokument No. 4.

15. Zimmermann, Wilhelm, Geschichte des grossen Bauernkrieges (Naunhof and Leipzig, 1939), I, 247.Google Scholar

16. Eck to Wilhelm, 25 February 1525; Vogt, 395–396. See also Wilhelm's letter to Ludwig of November 1527; note 115 below.

17. Correspondence of the Dukes with Albrecht of Brandenburg, 1517–1518; Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Munich (from now on cited as BHM) Fürstensachen 338. The Dukes pleaded two recent indulgences in Bavaria as well as an increase in the cost of living.

18. Simon, Matthias, Evangelisehe Kirchengeschichte Bayerns I (Munich, 1942), 161–162.Google Scholar

19. Communication to the bishops of Salzburg, Freising, Regensburg, Passau, and Eichstädt, 11 March 1521; Vogt, 46. Cf. also von Druffel, August, “über die Aufnahme der Bulle ‘Exsurge Domine’— Leo X gegen Luther — von Seiten einiger süddeutschen Bischöfe,” Sitzb. d. philol.hist. Cl. d. Akad. d. Wigs., (Munich, 1880), 5751 ff.Google Scholar

20. Wilhelm describes their reception in Worms in a letter to Eck; Druffel, Dokuinent No. 5.

21. “…ich wais E. F. G. schicklichkeit wol, wenn E. F. 0. sich der hendl annemen und nit faul sein wollen.” Eck to Wilhelm, February 1521; Druffel, 678.

22. Ibid., 620.

23. Dittrich, Franz, Regesten vail Briefe des Cardinals Gasparo Contarini (Braunsberg, 1881), 253.Google Scholar

24. Druffel, Dokument No. 11.

25. Wilhelm to Ludwig in 1513. Sea note 26.

26. Instructions for this plea were drawn up for Ludwig by Wilhelm. Geheirnes Hausarchiv, Munich, Korrespondenzakten No. 583.

27. Cf the statement in Ernst's testament: “aber nichtte unser will und mainung gewest, Briester zuwerden, oder in disem standt zu pleiben.” BHM Fürstensachen No. 319. Cf. also Muffat, Karl August, “Die Ansprüche des Herzog Ernst … auf einen dritten Tail und an die Mitregierung des Herzogthumes Bayern,” Abhandl. d. hist. Cl. d. kgl.-bayer.Ak. d. Wiss. (Munich, 1867), 190 ff.Google Scholar

28. Vogt, 279.

29. Druffel, 622. At the time the Dukes were able to obtain only the provost- ship of Eichstädt. The election as Bishop came in 1526 through the offices of Clement VII. Cf. Wolf, Gustav, “Die bayerische Bistumspolitik in der ersten Hälfte des 16. Jahrhundarts …,” Beiträge zur bayerischen Kirchengeschichte VI (1899–1900), 146Google Scholar. In 1523 the attempt to gain the coadjutorship was renewed when Johann Eck was asked to intercede with the Pope. Cf. Wilhelm's, letter to Eck, 6 02 1523, printed by Wiedemann, Theodor, Dr. ohann Eck, (Regensburg, 1865) 659–660.Google Scholar

30. The way to the election was cleared by a secret agreement between the incumbent, Cardinal Matthäus Lang, and the Dukes during and after the peasant insurrection in Salzburg in 1525. Cf. Hollaender, Albert, “Studien zum Salzburger Bauernkrieg 1525 mit basonderer Berdcksichtigung der reichsfbrstliehen Sonderpolitik,” Mitt. d. Gesellsch. f. Salzb. Landeskunde 72 (1932).Google Scholar

31. Prantl, Carl, Geschichte der Ludwig-Maxmilians-Universität in Ingolstadt (Munich, 1872), I, 148.Google Scholar

32. Druffel. 625 ff. Eck's draft with additions and corrections in BUM Staatsverwaltung 2778, 45 recto-46 verso; 48 recto. Of the published Religionsmandat there are many exemplars. Druffel printed one among his Dokumente, page 689 ff.

33. Simon I, 206.

34. A Pfleger was an official whose duties combined judicial and administrative functions.

35. Documents of the case in BEM Staatsverwaltung 2778, 26.

36. Druffel, 634.

37. Ibid., 633–635.

38. Bauerreiss, Romuald, Kirahengeschichte Bayerns V, 42–44.Google Scholar

39. Cf. Johann Eck's suggestions for Church reform in Germany, made to Pope Adrian VI in 1523, for a discussion of corruption and irregularities. Eck's notes were published by Walter Friedensburg, , “Dr. Johann Ecks Denkschriften zur deutschen Kirchenreformation,” Beiträge zur bayerischen Kirchengeschichte II (1896), 159 ff.; 222 ff.Google Scholar

40. For a contemporary account of these visits of Albrecht in the 1440's cf. Westenrieder, Lorenz, Beyträge zur vaterl. Historic … (Munich, 1788–1817), V. 38 ff.Google Scholar

41. Simon I, 153–154.

42. Baucrreiss V, 68–71.

43. Winter, Vitus Anton, Geschichte der Schicksale der evangelischen Lehre in und durch Baiern (Munich, 1809), II, 325Google Scholar; Vogt, 50.

44. He never failed to arrange for a colleague to take over his lectures when his many undertakings required his absence from Ingolstadt. Letter to Wilhelm, 14 April 1526; BHM Staatsverwaltung 2778, 42.

45. Druffel, 630 ff.

46. Ludwig to Wilhelm, 21 October and 6 November 1522; BHM Staat suerwaltung 2719, No. 5; Druffel, 637.

47. Adrian to Dukes; BHM Staatsverwaltung 2719, No. 3. Answer from Ludwig, 16 January 1523; Ibid., No.4.

48. On the Nuremberg Diet cf. Deutsche Reichstagsakten, Jüngere Rathe, III (Gotha, 1901).Google Scholar

49. Ibid.; Gemeiner, Carl Theodor, Reicksstadt Regensburgische Chronik (Regensburg, 1800–1824) IV, 480–481.Google Scholar

50. Draft and printed copy in BHM Staatsverwaltung 2778, 40.

51. Simon I, 173; Druffel, 641.

52. Druffel, 644.

53. His draft letters and some other documents pertaining to the case in BHM St eat sverwaltung 2778, 38–39, 34.

54. A “versperrt, reformirt closter.” It was Ettal, from which Seehofer later escaped to become a Lutheran minister in Augsburg.

55. The documents relating to this case are in BHM Staatsverwaitung, 2778, 34–36.

56. Ibid., 5–6, 44.

57. The letters and related documents were printed by Lipowsky, Felix Joseph, Argula von Grumbach (Munich, 1801), Beilagen I, III, and VI.Google Scholar

58. Winter I, 174, reports the beheading of a baker's apprentice, accused of Lutheranism, in Munich in July. But it is not likely that the offense was purely religious.

59. Letter to Dukes, 15 June 1523; BHM Staatsverwaltung 2719, No. 2.

60. Eck to Dukes, 1 May 1523; Geheirnes Staatsarchiv, Munich, 311/12. The Dukes responded, but too late for Eck to make use of the information in his talks with Adrian. Cf. Wilhelm's letter to Eck, 1 November 1523, printed by Wiedemann, Theodor, Dr. Johann Eck, 664–667.Google Scholar

61. “Verzaichnus, was Doctor Johann Egkius … an stat unnd zu namenunserer gn. herrn, H. Wilhelm unnd H. Ludwig in Bairn bei Babstliclier Heiligkeit hanudlen sol,” BHM Oefeleana 26, 33 recto–43 recto.

62. Ibid., 34 recto and verso.

63. “Es gem wol aile ding langsam und verdriesslieh zu, dass menigklich drob klagt: ursach, das der babst lutzel hat, damit er alle ding aussricht: braucht sich keins cardinals, seien ir allain 4 die das kleinst und das grösst ausrichten: so wil der babst alle ding selbst sehn. Bei Babst Leon hat man aim wochen viel ausgerieht, das jetz viel zeit darf dazu.” Eck to Wilhelm, 1 May 1523; Geheimes Hausarchiv, Munich, 311/12.Google Scholar

64. Published by Friedensburg. Cf. note 39 above.

65. Wilhelm and Ludwig to Eck, 1 November 1523; printed by Wiedemann, 664–667.

66. Theobald, 109.

67. Ibid; Gemeiner IV, 471 ff.

68. Theobald, 110 ff. By 1523 the printer Paul Kohl had reprinted twelve of Luther's sermons. The booksellers Kaspar Schreiber and Hans öttl handled these and others.

69. Gemeiner IV, 510.

70. Letters to Wilhelmand Ludwig, 8 May 1524; BHM Staatsverwatuni 2778, 51, 53.

71. For a full account of the meeting see Gemeiner IV, 513 ff.

72. Lanndpot im hertzogthum Obern unnd Nydern Bayrn wider die Lüttheranischen Sect, dated Munich, 2 Octuber. The corrected draft of this decree is in BHM Staztsverwaltung 2778, 89–112.

73. This was printed and circulated in the territories of those who attended the council. A copy is in BHM Staatsverwaltung 2778, 65 reeto–72 verso. As read by Campoggi, it was to be the most exhaustive attempt at reform yet undertaken. It included Johann Eck's suggestion for provincial and diocesan synods.

74. These were given in the Lanndpot and also separately. A collection of them is in BHM Staatsverwaltung 2772.

75. In 1518 thirteen Bavarian students matriculated at Wittenberg, in 1519 thirty-four, in 1520 sixty. Simon I, 164. After 1520 the number fell. Alburn Academiae Vitebergensis (Leipzig, 1841)Google Scholar. Other territorial governments had begun to recall their students in 1522. See the Instruction from the Elector Frederick of Saxony to Johann Oswald, 26 February, 1522, D. Martin Lut hers Werke (Weimar edition), Brief wechsei, vol. II, p. 450.Google Scholar

76. In primary and secondary schools, Wittenberg graduates were distrusted, but not removed unless they showed definite Lutheran procivites. The records of the great Bavarian visitation of 1558–1560, printed by Lurz, Georg, Mittelschulgeschichtliche Dokumente Aitbayerns … (Berlin, 1907– 1908Google Scholar: Monuments Germanzae Paedagogica, XLI-XLII) I, 251 ff.Google Scholar, reveal many former Wittenberg students teaching in Bavaria.

77. Vogt, 135 f.

78. BHM Staatsverwaitung 2778, 123 recto-124 recto; 125, for a typical case.

79. Ibid., 124 verso-146 recto.

80. Simon, 177.

81. BHM Staatsverwaltung 2778, 121.

82. Ibid., 177.

83. Ibid., 162–166.

84. Due to the scattering of the material from this period among the various Bavarian archives, it is difficult to arrive at a reliable quantitative estimate of the prosecutions. But because the investigations had to be supervised by Wilhelm personally it is likely that the great majority, and certainly the most important, of cases have come down to us.

85. On the general subject of the peasant wars in Bavaria see the works by Zimmermann, Vogt, and Biezler already cited. Also Baumann, Franz Ludwig, Akten sur Geschichte des deutschen Bauernkrieges aus Oberschwaben (Freiburg i. B., 1877).Google Scholar

86. Vogt, chapter 3.

87. Letter from Eck, 25 May 1525; Ibid., 456.

88. The Bavarian Councillor Sebastian Schiuing was one. cf. Sehilling to Wilhelm, 13 March 1525; Zimmerman I, 252.

89. Letters to Wilhelm of 29 April, 3 May, 25 May 1525; Vogt, 448, 452, 454.

90. Letter of 13 April 1525; Vogt, 431. Again, 29 April; Ibid., 448.

91. Eck to Wilhelm, 9 Maech 1525; Ibid., 408.

92. Eck to Wilhelm, 22 February, 1525; Ibid., 393.

93. Eck to Wilhelm, 9 March 1525; Ibid., 408.

94. BHM Staatsverwaitung 2778, 86 recto and verso.

95. Cf. the drafts of two letters of Wilhelm to Clement VII, 15 and 16 December 1525; Geheimes Staatsarchiv, Munich, 311/12Google Scholar. Also Wilhelm's letter to Johann Eck, 19 Ocutuber 1523, written upon receipt of the news of the death of Adrian VI, hi which the Duke indicated his hopes for financial support front the new pontiff. Printed by Wiedeniann, 667–670.

96. Letter of 15 Desember; Geheimes Staatsarchiv, 311/12.

97. Confession and recantation of Wolfgang Hackenschmitt, 6 March 1526, BHM. Siaatsverwaltung 2778, 169.

98. Wilhelm mentions this in his draft letter of 15 December to Clement.

99. Decree signed by Wilhelm and Ludwig in 1526; BHM. Btaat8verwaltung 2772, No. 20.

100. 1526 saw the first ducal mandate on inspection of schools and compulsory school attendance. See Lurz, I, 206–208. School reform continued to be one of Wilhelm's concerns. cf. Lurz, especially I, 234–236.

101. Gemeiner IV, 533 ff. BHM Btaatsverwaltung 2729 is a collection of letters and reports to Wilhelm and Ludwig relating to the spread of Lutheranism in Regensburg and Ulm.

102. Theobald, 173–174. During the disturbances of 1525 the City Council had compelled the clergy to accept taxation and the imposition of some civic duties. In September 1527 the Administrator called on certain ecclesiastical and secular rulers to meet with the Council in order to persuade its members to revoke these burdens. The Bavarian Dukes refused to attend.

103. According to Vogt, 357, Ferdinand's occupation of the city of Füssen was the turning point for Eck. On the politics of the entire period, cf. Stumpf, Andreas Sebastian, Politisohe Geschichte ion Bayern I (Munich, 1813).Google Scholar

104. Vogt, 362.

105. Stumpf I, 39 ff.

106. Perneder, Andreas, Vereaiohnus, was sich Sonderkch in Bayern von 1506 bis aufs 15119. jar, besonders im Baum Krieg, Türkisch Zug, und das wider taufferli begeben. Bayerische Stantshibliothek, Munich, Cod. germ. 1594, 47Google Scholar verso. See also Simon I, 209.

107. Perneder, 48 recto and verso.

108. Women were ordinarily sewn into a sack, thrown in the river, and held under by the executioner with a long pole. Cf. Gemeiner, , IV, 442 for a description.Google Scholar

109. Johann Eck to Duke Georg of Saxony, 26 November 1527; Simon I, 198 ff.

110. Ibid. Cf. Schmid, Joseph, “Des Cardinals und Erzbischofs von Salzburg Matthäus Lang Verhalten zur Reformation,” Jahrb. d. Ges. f. d. Gesch. d. Protestantisinus in Oesterreich XXIX (1898).Google Scholar

111. Draft, in BHM Staatstverwaltung 2778, 179–181.Google Scholar

112. Cf. note 72 above.

113. BHM Stattstverwaltung 11778, 184.

114. BHM Btaatsverwaltung 2843, no signatures on leaves. This is perhaps of a slightly later date.

115. The letter is given by Perneder, 25 reeto-26 recto. Perneder identifies Leonhard von Eck as the author, 26 recto.

116. BHM Fürstensachen 34, 7–8.

117. “Ob sy mit verstand oiler anschlag wider die Obrigkhaiten mitainander furgenommen oder Auffruer und emperung bewegen.” In 1534 another question read: Have you any contact with the Anabaptists of Münster, and do you carry letters or messages from them? Ibid., 8 recto.

118. Perneder, 25 recto.

119. Ibid., 26 recto and verso.

120. Simon I, 200.

121. A copy from the ducal archives in BHM Bttwtsverwaitung 2778, 185.

122. All these in Perneder, 27 reeto and verso.

123. Ibid., 27 verso.

124. Perneder mentions some: 27 verso, 28 recto.

125. Winter, Vitus Anton, Geschichte der baierischen wiedertäufer im sechsehnten Jahrhundert (Munich, 1809), 5–6.Google Scholar

126. Simon I, 201 ff.; Theobald, 182 ff.

127. Theobald, 174 ff.

128. Cf. entry in Aventinus' Haus-Kalender under 22 March 1528. Cf. note 1 above. On Zänkl see Gemeiner IV, 547.

129. Haus-Kalender, under August 1528.

130. In spite of careful administration, Wilhelm's personal finances were in desperate state at the end of his reign. See the documents in BHM Fürstensachen 322 and 352.

131. Winter, , Wiedertäufer, v–vi.Google Scholar