Famous names in Lutherland

Pioneers, independent thinkers and creative minds

Of course, Lutherland would not exist without the reformer Martin Luther. But as is so often the case in life, “his” Reformation was a joint effort. Without fellow campaigners and supporters, he would certainly not have been as successful. The tranquil land of Luther was also the cradle of other great ideas and works. Just take the composers Bach and Handel, whose music is known all over the world today. Or Walter Gropius and the "BAuhaus people". Some 400 years after Luther, they also re-imagined the world. Embark on a search for famous names in Lutherland. We'll give you a few ideas here.

A man of many talents

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a man of many talents. He studied law, was a poet, playwright, minister and ducal advisor. He devoted himself to the natural sciences, ran theatres and libraries, painted, drew and philosophised. He spoke six languages and was also an accomplished translator. Already famous during his lifetime, he made it difficult for his contemporaries to categorise him. Goethe was also a frequent traveller. Both in his adopted home of central Germany and beyond. As a result, you can meet him in many places in Lutherland. Here are a few suggestions for your personal search for traces.

Diplomat and "Kidnapper"

Georg Spalatin (1484-1545)

‘Without me, Luther and his teachings would never have made it this far,’ he allegedly said. Who was this Spalatin? And what did he mean by that? Georg Spalatin was a theologian, prince educator, secret secretary and historian. He was a close friend of Martin Luther and a great advocate of the Reformation. His name is closely associated with the town of Altenburg.

The Painter of the Reformation

Lucas Cranach, the Elder (1472-1553)

“I often painted Luther and enjoyed doing it.” That’s a peculiar statement when taken completely out of context, isn’t it? When we find out who said it, it becomes completely comprehensible. Lucas Cranach the Elder, born the son of a painter in Kronach in Upper Franconia in 1472, was not only an artist himself, but one of Luther’s closest confidants.

Katharina von Bora (1499-1552)

“When I became personally acquainted with Martin, he was already a famous man. He had posted his theses and his time in protective custody in Wartburg Castle, during which he translated the Bible into German, was behind him. At that time, no one suspected what the Reformation would mean for the world.”

Singing and Speaking

Johann Sebastian Bach

In 1693 – two hundred years after Luther stepped through the doors of the grammar school in Eisenach, it was the eight-year-old Johann Sebastian Bach who made his mark in the knowledge-steeped halls.

The Revolutionary

Thomas Müntzer (1489-1525)

Thomas Müntzer – isn’t that the ugly fellow with the large nose, the furrowed brow, the protruding eyes and the corners of his mouth turned down? That is the picture that we have of him. However, no one can know what the man looked like. There is no contemporary portrait of the radical Reformer – just a copperplate engraving from the 17th century, which aimed to portray Müntzer as a heretic. Later images presented the Reformer as a mentally retarded man, clasping the Bible with gouty fingers.

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

Martin Luther was born in Eisleben on 10 November 1483 to Hans and Margarete Luder. Luder, I hear you ask? That’s right – Martin did not start his life with the surname Luther.

Luther's Closest Confidant

Philipp Melanchthon (1497-1560)

It is self-evident that Luther’s closest confidant must have been able to keep up with his ideas. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that he began his studies in a variety of disciplines – astronomy, music, arithmetic and geometry, to name just a few – at the age of twelve.