Burkhard Waldis
Burkhard Waldis was a prominent figure in the early 16th century, born into a wealthy German family around 1940. He initially joined the Franciscan order but later became embroiled in the religious conflicts of his time, particularly as Protestantism gained momentum. His experiences in Rome profoundly influenced his beliefs, leading him to renounce his Catholic faith and join the Evangelical church after being imprisoned in Riga for his allegiance to the archbishop. Following his release, Waldis transitioned to a career as a pewterer, during which he wrote a play based on the biblical parable of the Prodigal Son and engaged in political activism, delivering messages for Protestant leaders.
Waldis faced further persecution for his beliefs, spending three years in prison where he began composing biblical psalms. After his release, he studied at Wittenberg University under Martin Luther, eventually becoming a Lutheran minister. He gained recognition for his political pamphlets critiquing the Catholic Church and its clergy, and his literary contributions included a German adaptation of Aesop’s fables. Throughout his life, Waldis remained committed to his faith and community, contributing significantly to the Evangelical church and German literature.
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Subject Terms
Burkhard Waldis
Writer
- Born: c. 1490
- Birthplace: Allendorf an der Werra, Germany
- Died: c. 1557
Biography
Burkhard Waldis was born to a wealthy German family around 1940. He joined the Franciscan order of priests, and in late 1522, he and three other priests were sent on a mission to garner support against a rising tide of Protestantism. This endeavor led Waldis to Rome, where he experienced distressing revelations about the church that permanently changed his attitudes and beliefs. Upon his return to his parish in Riga, Waldis was imprisoned in the now primarily Protestant city for his actions on behalf of the archbishop. During his imprisonment, Waldis renounced his Catholic faith and joined the Evangelical church.
Waldis was released after a few weeks. He chose to remain in Riga, becoming a pewterer and marrying. Waldis’s new trade required a great deal of travel, and he journeyed extensively throughout Germany and the Netherlands. It was during these early travels as a pewterer that Waldis wrote his first play, De Parabell vam vorlorn Szohn, recounting the biblical parable of the Prodigal Son.
On his frequent business travels, Waldis also acted as a courier. In particular, Waldis delivered messages for the radical Protestant Johann Lohmüller, who was attempting to convert a large number of Roman Catholics to the Evangelical church. Waldis was arrested for his activities in 1536 and spent the next three years imprisoned and subjected to torture. It was during this ordeal that Waldis began setting biblical psalms to music. The completed work was not released until 1553, when it appeared as Der Psalter, in Newe Gesangs weise.
In 1538, some of Waldis’s brothers traveled to Riga in an attempt to secure his release from prison. This first attempt failed, but in 1540 two of his brothers managed to bring an end to his imprisonment. The following year, Waldis enrolled at Wittenberg University, where he studied under Martin Luther, intending to become an Evangelical minister. Upon his graduation, no clerical position was available to him, so Waldis spent his time writing diatribes against Archduke Heinrich the Younger of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. Waldis released four political pamphlets airing his grievances. The pamphlets proved to be extremely popular and had several printings. In 1543, Waldis published a cleverly written pamphlet attacking the Catholic priesthood.
The following year, Waldis was appointed a Lutheran minister and awarded a priory at Abterode. Shortly after his prestigious appointment, Waldis married for a second time, taking as his wife the widow of Pastor Heistermann of Hofgeismar. Waldis’s next work was a German adaptation and translation of Aesop’s fables, released in four volumes in 1548. Waldis’s version includes his own personal additions to the collection, and he altered many of the tales to feature Germanic details. Waldis went on to translate a number of works into the German language as he served his congregation diligently.