Anke Neugebauer

The paper in German language is discussing the genesis and traces of the library of the Saxon Prince-Elector in the castle of Wittenberg.
The beginning of this library may be modest: 1437 about 30 books were stored in two chests in the small chapel of the Wittenberg castle. Hundred years later this library has not only grown in size but also in influence. The castle library has become the library of the 1502 founded University of Wittenberg. The teachers and students like Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon used the preserved books for their teachings, often taking them home and - in the case of Melanchthon – often forgot to return them.
The first proof for Luther using the books of the library in the Wittenberg castle, is a letter to the preceptor and chronicler Georg Spalatin in 1515. Luther asked him to lend a book about the lives of the saints for a sermon, held on the very same day, and got obviously, what he asked for. Since 1511 Spalatin worked on the assemblage of the book collection now situated in the attic of the new castle-church. At the same time Spalatin taught the squires of the court in the parlor of the castle and wrote several chronicles and biographies. 1536 the library was officially opened to the university public and therefore relocated in the second floor of the southern castle wing. The new librarian, the Greek teacher Lucas Edenberger, worked – like Spalarin – at the same time as preceptor at the court.
The over 1600 titles in 984 books were sorted by languages – Hebraic, Greek, Latin and German – concerning theology, law, medicine and the seven artes liberales. Moreover new world and celestial globes, maps, wall charts a. s. o. were bought. They were probably presented in a separate chamber, where the precious song books of the Prince Electors were stored. With the relocation of 1536 the library was also reformed to serve as monument for the reformation. At least two shelves – subsequent the scriptures of the prophets – were signed with D.M.L. for Doctor Martin Luther. The succeeding signatures were reserved for Desiderius Erasmus von Rotterdam, Melanchthon and Huldreich Zwingli. Therefore it is high probably that among pictures of the Prince Electors and well known scholars were also portraits of Luther and Melanchthon.

This paper in German language is discussing the cultural, religious and political background of the foundation of the University of Wittenberg 1502.

The foundation of the University in Wittenberg is strongly influenced by the humanistic culture of southern Germany and at the imperial court. Not only the Frederic III. Prince-Elector of Saxony (1463 - 1525) and his brother lived for a long time in southern Germany, the Netherlands, Burgund and Austria but also a large fraction of the Saxon court.

Some knights and nobleman as Heinrich von Bünau und Johann and Frederic von Kitzscher held intense connections to the humanist elite of Empire ie Conrad Celtis and Johannes Trithemius. They promoted the value of education at the court. The Elector granted studentships for nobleman, chorus boys and the clerks of his chancellery, sent courtiers, who couldn't write to local schools, employed teachers for the squires at the court.

The division of the Wettin family and their territory in 1485 (Leipziger Teilung) resulted in the fact, that the electoral part of Saxony (Ernestiner) lost the only University Leipzig to the ducal part of Saxony (Albertiner).

Therefore Elector was forced to recruit lawyers, theologians and physicians of foreign Universities. As long as the relationship with the other part of the family proofed uncomplicated there wasn't a problem. In the lifetime of the old Duke Albrecht of Saxony 1443-1500) the Ernestine and Albertine family gathered and jousted together regularly in Leipzig, afterwards the relationship got tense.

Preparations for the foundation of a University in Wittenberg can be proofed at the turn of the year 1501/02. Wittenberg offered not only a newly erected collegiate church but a very profitable local county with the second highest income in the Electorate. The personal physician of the Elector, Martin Pollich von Mellrichstadt (1455-1513), moved in April 1502 with his family from Leipzig to Wittenberg. He tried to lure other scholars to Wittenberg with promises of high wages at the collegiate church.

The differences with King Maximilian I. (1459-1519) - the Saxon Elector and his brother left the Imperial court in the end of 1498 - produced an unexpected opportunity. Frederic had joined the Princes, who longed for an independent imperial administration.

The King was eager to separate this opposition. In the days of the meeting of the opposing imperial princes and Electors in June 1502 Maximilian sent his messengers with promises and presents to Princes. The bribe for Frederic was an imperial permission and charter to found a University. Shortly after returning home, in August 1502 Frederic declared in a public bulletin that he was to open a University in Wittenberg at the 17. October at the very same year. It seems obvious, that there was a pressure of time.

In January 1503 the Elector could attain the highly required confirmation for the University of the cardinal legate Raimund Peraudi in substitution of the Pope. With his permission and in his presence the first academic promotions were held in Wittenberg. A sign, that the Elector aspired a pontifical permission for University.

In the following years the Elector invested a huge amount of money to erect the buildings of the University, decorate the castle church, to supply the students and teachers and attract Italian premium jurists like Petrus and Vincenius Thomai to Wittenberg. The Electore settled the account of 17 of the 38 lectors directly from his court chamber, up to eight were employed at the collegiate church, three by the monasteries including moral philosophy.

A large amount of money and effort went in the obtainment of a papal guaranty for the University, which was important for acceptance of the higher degrees. 1507 the confessor and paternal supporter of Luther, Johann von Staupitz (1465-1524), was able to obtain the highly required papal conformation of the University. In October 1508 Martin Luther inscribed to teach for the Augustin Hermits moral philosophy.

"For nothing [...] is more copious for his - the Saxon Elector's - realm as the noble sciences. The wise and educated alumni can be distributed as administrators to the provinces and dominions. [...] Let's have look at the walls, towers, fortifications and bastions of the cities! Let's take a look at the administration and the finances, so we have to realize that wise and prudent men are lacking. To remedy such shortcoming the prince [...] founded and built the famous school Albioris and continues to support his foundation to this day. With rich generosity he presents his University, the lectors and teachers are very generously assured with large salaries."
Magister Andreas Meinhardi 1508, later on town clerk