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37-677: The Lutherhaus is a writer's house museum in Lutherstadt Wittenberg , Germany. Originally built in 1504 as part of the University of Wittenberg , the building was the home of Martin Luther for most of his adult life and a significant location in the history of the Protestant Reformation . Luther was living here when he wrote his 95 Theses . The Augusteum is an expansion to the original building that

74-591: A daughter of Joachim Ernest, Prince of Anhalt . The bride was only 13 years; the groom, almost 60. August died one month after his new marriage, and was buried at Freiberg Cathedral . His only surviving son, Christian I , was his successor. Augustus wrote a small work on agriculture entitled Künstlich Obstund Gartenbüchlein . He was famous for his various museum collections, including the finest collection of arms and weapons in Northern Europe, paintings, and an extensive collection of tools. In 1560 he founded

111-564: A priest, Martin Luther was sent by Johann von Staupitz to continue his study, and he took up residence in a cell in the southwest corner of the new monastery. By 1512, he had graduated as a Doctor of Theology and was part of the theological faculty of the University of Wittenberg , having the official position of Doctor of Bible . He began developing and preaching the basic tenets of the Protestant Reformation and published his 95 Theses while teaching here. Luther lived with

148-586: A way to bring unity among Lutherans by commencing a process that would lead to the publication, in 1580, of the Lutheran Book of Concord . Augustus personally sponsored the publication of the Book of Concord, a book containing the various Lutheran Confessions of faith, which was signed by over 8,100 ministers and professors and nearly 30 territories, states and cities in Germany. This strict form of Lutheranism

185-749: Is currently the world's largest museum relating to the Reformation. It contains many original objects from Luther's life, including his pulpit from the Stadtkirche , his friar's habit, several paintings by Lucas Cranach the Elder , and numerous bibles, pamphlets, and manuscripts. Writer%27s house museum Writers' homes (sometimes writer's , author's or literary houses ) are locations where writers lived. Frequently, these homes are preserved as historic house museums and literary tourism destinations, called writer's home museums , especially when

222-566: Is still used today as a Lutheran seminary. Following Stüler's restoration, the decision was made to open a museum at the Lutherhaus chronicling the Reformation and Luther's lives. The first exhibits were opened to the public in 1883, and were mainly confined to the second floor, most notably the Lutherstube. Beginning in 1911, the museum gradually expanded throughout the building. To mark the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's birth and

259-623: The Lord's Supper , and the doctrine of predestination at the University of Wittenberg . Augustus at first was deceived. Spurred on by his wife the matter reached a climax in 1574, when letters were discovered, which, while revealing a hope to bring over Augustus to Calvinism, cast some aspersions upon the elector and his wife. Augustus ordered the leaders of the Crypto-Calvinists to be seized, and they were tortured and imprisoned. He restored genuine Lutheranism to Saxony and began to work on

296-628: The Napoleonic Wars . Afterwards, it was given to the Royal Seminary, as the Wittenberg University was dissolved to become part of the University of Halle-Wittenberg . However, the crown was not able to use the building, and it became a free school for the poor and continued to deteriorate. Finally, the dreadful state of the building became too much to ignore, and Friedrich August Stüler was hired to restore and rebuild

333-469: The bishopric of Meissen , in 1561 he had secured the election of his son Alexander as bishop of Merseburg , and three years later as bishop of Naumburg ; and when this prince died in 1565 these bishoprics came under the direct rule of Augustus. On 1 October 1585 the Electress Anna died. Three months later, on 3 January 1586, in the city of Dessau , Augustus married secondly with Agnes Hedwig ,

370-607: The 100th anniversary of the founding of the museum, major expansions and renovations were carried out in 1983. In 2002, a new entrance area was completed, designed by the Berlin architecture firm Pitz and Hoh. Its very modern style was designed, in the words of the architects, to allow "function and history [to] stand visibly by each other" and was awarded the Architectural Prize of the State of Saxony-Anhalt. The Lutherhaus

407-655: The Augustinians in the Black Monastery until 1521, when he was forced to hide at Wartburg Castle due to political tensions surrounding the Protestant Reformation. As the Peasants' War gained strength, parts of the Wittenberg University, including the monastery, were abandoned. In 1524, after Luther had returned to Wittenberg, the Electorate of Saxony gave the empty residence halls of the Black Monastery to

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444-634: The Habsburgs. Much of the elector's time was devoted to extending his territories. In 1573 he became guardian to the two sons of John William, duke of Saxe-Weimar , and in this capacity was able to add part of the County of Henneberg to the Electorate of Saxony . His command of money enabled him to take advantage of the poverty of his neighbours, and in this way he secured Vogtland and the County of Mansfeld . In 1555 he had appointed one of his nominees to

481-619: The Habsburgs. In 1568 a marriage was arranged between Johann Casimir , son of Frederick III, Elector Palatine , and Elisabeth , Augustus' own daughter. For a time it seemed possible that the Saxon elector would support his son-in-law in his attempts to aid the revolting inhabitants of the Spanish Netherlands . Augustus also entered into communication with the Huguenots ; however, his aversion to foreign complications prevailed, and

518-633: The Luther family, where he lived until his death in 1546. It was here that, beginning in 1531, Martin Luther held his influential Table Talks with his students. Luther taught and wrote throughout his time there, including many revisions of his translation of the Bible. He also expanded and added to the Lutherhaus, most notably building the Katharinenportal, a carved entryway that was a birthday present to his wife. After Luther's death in Eisleben ,

555-413: The Lutherhaus between the years 1853 and 1856. Except for a few minor repairs and some excavation, the building and grounds remain largely as Stüler left them. The Augusteum is an extension to the Lutherhaus that was commissioned by Augustus of Saxony in 1564 as a library, although actual work did not begin until 1579 under the direction of Hans Irmisch. The building was mostly ready for use in 1598, when

592-422: The Lutherhaus was sold back to the university in 1564 by his heirs. Within a year, major remodeling was begun to turn the Lutherhaus into a boarding school. The imposing exterior spiral staircase was added, the refectory was given a new vaulted ceiling, and the great hall, which had been Luther's lecture hall, was redecorated and modernized. The Lutherstube, Martin Luther's living room, was left as it was, although it

629-522: The Seven Years' War, and was at one point used to grow corn. However, it was able to be used as part of the Royal Seminary, in contrast to the Lutherhaus, and thus was spared most of the deterioration. It continued to operate throughout the 19th century as a seminary, and was also used to safeguard the archives from the Schloßkirche , which had nearly been destroyed during the Seven Years' War. It

666-477: The authors through their visits. Sites include a range of activities common to cultural heritage sites, such as living history , museum exhibits , guided tours and poetry readings . New York Times commentator Anne Trubek counted 73 such houses in the United States. The tradition of preserving houses or sites important to famous authors has a long history: in the 14th century Petrarch's birthplace

703-633: The concessions already won. The hostility between the Albertines and the Ernestines gave Augustus serious trouble. A preacher named Matthias Flacius held an influential position in ducal Saxony, and taught a form of Lutheranism different from that taught in the Electorate of Saxony . This breach was widened when Flacius began to make personal attacks on Augustus, to prophesy his speedy downfall, and to incite Duke John Frederick to make an effort to recover his rightful position. Associated with Flacius

740-400: The homes are those of famous literary figures . Frequently these buildings are preserved to communicate to visitors more about the author than their work and its historical context. These exhibits are a form of biographical criticism . Visitors of the sites who are participating in literary tourism , are often fans of the authors, and these fans find deep emotional and physical connections to

777-690: The incipient friendship with the elector Palatine soon gave way to serious dislike. Although a sturdy Lutheran, the elector hoped at one time to unite the Protestants. He continually urged them to consider the necessity of giving no cause of offence to their opponents, and he favoured the movement to get rid of the clause in the Peace of Augsburg concerning ecclesiastical reservation, which was offensive to many Protestants. His moderation, however, prevented him from joining those who were prepared to take strong measures to attain this end, and he refused to jeopardize

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814-573: The religious Peace of Augsburg treaty in 1555, his tortuous conduct at the diet of Augsburg eleven years later, and his reluctance to break entirely with the Calvinists . His policy of religious peace was also promoted by the marriage he negotiated between his niece Anna and the then-Catholic Prince of Orange , at the time one of the chief Habsburg vassals in the Netherlands , in 1561. On one occasion only did he waver in his allegiance to

851-472: The total collection to 16,000 books by the middle of the 18th century. A gallery of the Electors of Saxony was added, including genealogical charts for the kings of Denmark, Braunschweig, and Brandenburg. Many more student rooms and offices were added, beginning in 1725. The Augusteum was also affected by the decay of the Lutherhaus, although not to the same degree. It was part of the military hospital during

888-432: The university library was moved there from the nearby castle. In 1686 an anatomical theater was added. This was followed, in 1736, by a museum called Anatomicum , which was essentially a collection of prepared samples and anatomical oddities, most of which were gifts from King August III . The Augusteum continued to gain importance for the university and the city of Wittenberg. More literary collections were added, bringing

925-474: Was a knight, Wilhelm von Grumbach , who, not satisfied with words only, made inroads into the Electorate of Saxony and sought the aid of foreign powers in his plan to depose Augustus. After some delay Grumbach and his protector, John Frederick, were placed under the imperial ban , and Augustus was entrusted with its execution . His campaign in 1567 was short and successful. John Frederick surrendered, and passed his time in prison until his death in 1595; Grumbach

962-604: Was born in Freiberg , the youngest child and third (but second surviving) son of Henry IV, Duke of Saxony , and Catherine of Mecklenburg . He consequently belonged to the Albertine branch of the House of Wettin . Brought up as a Lutheran , he received a good education and studied at Leipzig University . When Duke Henry IV died in 1541, he decreed that his lands should be divided equally between his two sons; but as his bequest

999-463: Was constructed after Luther's death to house a Protestant seminary and library which still exist today. Since 1996, both buildings have been recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites along with other sites associated with Martin Luther in Wittenberg and Eisleben , because of their religious significance and testimony to one of the most influential figures of medieval Europe. When the university

1036-539: Was continually haunted by the fear that the Ernestines would attempt to deprive him of the coveted dignity, and his policy both in Saxony and the wider Holy Roman Empire was coloured by this fear. In imperial politics Augustus acted upon two main principles: to cultivate the friendship of the Habsburgs , and to maintain peace between the contending religious parties. To this policy may be traced his share in bringing about

1073-531: Was contrary to the Albertine Law, it was not carried out, and the dukedom passed almost intact to his elder son, Maurice . Augustus, however, remained on friendly terms with his brother, and to further his policy spent some time at the court of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor , in Vienna . In 1544, Maurice secured the appointment of his brother as administrator of the bishopric of Merseburg ; but Augustus

1110-605: Was declared binding upon all the inhabitants of Saxony, and many persons were banished from the country. The change in Saxony, however, made no difference to the attitude of Augustus on imperial questions. In 1576 he opposed the proposal of the Protestant princes to make a grant for the War against the Ottoman Empire conditional upon the abolition of the clause concerning ecclesiastical reservation, and he continued to support

1147-462: Was frequently used to host important guests. In 1760, Wittenberg was attacked by Austria during the Seven Years' War , and many important buildings, particularly the Schloßkirche (city church), were severely damaged. Although the Lutherhaus survived with only minimal damage, it was the beginning of a period of decay. Between 1761 and 1813, it was used as a military hospital, particularly due to

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1184-407: Was married to Anna , daughter of King Christian III of Denmark and Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg . They took up residence at Weissenfels . The couple had fifteen children: Soon after his marriage, Augustus desired a more imposing establishment. The result was that Maurice made more generous provision for his brother, who acted as Regent of Saxony in 1552 during the absence of the elector. Augustus

1221-555: Was on a visit to Denmark when by Maurice's death in July 1553 he became elector of Saxony . The first care of the new elector was to come to terms with John Frederick, and to strengthen his own hold upon the electoral position. This object was secured by a treaty made at Naumburg in February 1554, when, in return for the grant of Altenburg and other lands, John Frederick recognized Augustus as elector of Saxony. The elector, however,

1258-791: Was opened in 1503, the monks of the Order of Saint Augustine were given land previously belonging to the Heilig-geist-Spital (Hospital of the Holy Spirit) located near the Elster Gate. There, they began building a cloister , known as the Black Monastery because of the color of the monks' habits, which was to be a residence hall and academy for the Augustinians studying in Wittenberg. In 1507, after his ordination as

1295-546: Was preserved, despite Petrarch barely spending time there as a child. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century France, photojournalism which represented authors homes created an increased public interest in writers' private lives, making their homes destinations. The public popular imagination around these literary homes is a central theme of the satirical novel An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England . Augustus, Elector of Saxony Augustus

1332-627: Was taken and executed; and the position of the elector was made quite secure. The form of Lutheranism taught in the Electorate of Saxony was that of Melanchthon , and many of its teachers and adherents, such as Caspar Peucer and Johann Stössel , afterwards called Crypto-Calvinists , were favoured by the elector. The Crypto-Calvinists were confident that they would be able to bring Augustus over to their Calvinizing positions by convincing Augustus that they were in fact merely loyal Lutherans, when in fact they were working to introduce Calvinist views of

1369-639: Was very extravagant and was soon compelled to return to the Saxon court at Dresden . Augustus supported his brother during the war of the Schmalkaldic League , and in the policy which culminated in the transfer of the Saxon electorate from John Frederick I , the head of the Ernestine branch of the Wettin family, to Maurice, head of the Albertine branch. In Torgau on 7 October 1548 Augustus

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