Thomas Murner
Thomas Murner was a notable German satirist born on December 24, 1475, in Oberehnheim, near Strasbourg. He became a Franciscan monk at a young age and later gained recognition for his writing and teaching across various European cities, including Paris and Krakow. Murner was appointed poet laureate by Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I in 1505 and served as the custodian of the Franciscan monastery in Strasbourg before being forced to resign due to his sharp criticisms in his writings. A staunch critic of the Protestant Reformation, he particularly targeted Martin Luther and the associated corruption he perceived within the church. Murner’s works included scathing satires, such as "Die Geuchmat" and "Von dem grossen Lutherischen Narren," where he expressed his opposition to the Reformation and reflected on societal issues. His contributions also encompassed translations of classical texts, including Virgil's "De Aeneid." Murner passed away in Oberehnheim, with his death recorded around 1536 or 1537. His legacy is marked by his incisive wit and engagement with the significant religious and social transformations of his time.
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Thomas Murner
Writer
- Born: December 24, 1475
- Birthplace: Oberehnheim, Alsace (near Strasbourg), Germany
- Died: 1536 or 1537
- Place of death: Oberehnheim, Alsace (near Strasbourg), Germany
Biography
German satirist Thomas Murner was born in the village of Oberehnheim, near Strasbourg, on December 24, 1475. He became a Franciscan monk in 1490. He traveled extensively after 1495, studying and teaching in such cities as Paris; Krakow, Poland; and Strasbourg. He was widely respected for his writing and teaching; in 1505, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I honored him with the designation of poet laureate, and in 1513 he was made custodian of the Franciscan monastery in Strasbourg. He was forced to leave his position at the monastery in 1514 following the publication of one of his caustic satires. In 1518 he attended the University of Basel and studied jurisprudence, earning a J.D. degree in 1519.
Murner was troubled by the events of the Protestant Reformation, and he was one of Martin Luther’s most virulent critics. In 1526, following travels throughout Italy and England, he went into exile in Lucerne, Switzerland. He was appointed priest of Oberehnheim in 1533.
Murner is best known for his scathing social satires, in which he criticized Luther, the Reformation, corruption, and even his own religious order. He was inspired by the writings of German satirist Sebastian Brant, especially Brant’s long poem Das Narrenschiff, (1494; This Present Boke Named the Shyp of Folys of the World, 1509). Murner’s so-called fool satires include Die Geuchmat (1519) and Von dem grossen Lutherischen Narren: Wie ihn Doktor Murner beschworen hat (1522; excerpts translated as The Great Lutheran Fool, 1993). The latter is perhaps his most vitriolic publication. His satirical poem Die Narrenbeschwörung was published in 1512. Murner also wrote the humorous pieces Chartiludium logicae (1507) and Ludus studentum Friburgensium (1511). In addition, in 1515 he published a translation of Virgil’s De Aeneid, which was dedicated to Maximilian I, and in 1519 he translated Justinian’s De Institutiones. Murner died in Oberehnheim in either 1536 or 1537.