Georg Spalatin (1484-1545)

Diplomat and "Kidnapper"

‘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.

Early in 1519, Altenburg became the scene of an important event in the history of the Reformation: the papal envoy Karl von Miltitz met the reformer Martin Luther. He wanted to find out whether the latter would continue to stand by his theses. Georg Spalatin was deeply involved in the discussions. Miltitz was impressed by Luther's behaviour. This led to the ‘Altenburg truce’. The agreement was that Luther would remain silent while the other side would take no further action against him. But Luther remained suspicious, also due to Spalatin's advice.

Frederick the Wise's court chaplain played a central role in protecting Luther. As an advisor to the Elector, he was instrumental in his ‘abduction’ to Wartburg Castle. This not only saved Luther's life, but also gave him the opportunity to translate the New Testament into German. Without Spalatin, he might never have found the time for this important work. His translation became an essential source of the New High German written language and contributed significantly to the rapid spread of the Reformation.

Georg Spalatin's commitment and diplomatic skills were indeed crucial for the success of the Reformation. After Frederick the Wise had died in 1525, he retired to Altenburg, where he continued to work for the Reformation as a pastor and superintendent. He was finally buried in the town church of St Bartholomäi, where his friend Luther had preached several times. In retrospect, the truth of his statement is obvious: without him, Luther and his teachings would never have made it this far. A loyal friend and diplomat of the Reformation.