Karl von Miltitz
Encyclopedia
Karl von Miltitz was a papal
nuncio
and a Mainz Cathedral
canon
.
near Meißen and Dresden
, his family stemming from the lesser Saxon
nobility. He studied at Mainz, Trier
, Cologne
(1508–1510), and Bologna
(1510-?), but his deficient Latin reveals that he was not especially learned. He went to the roman curia
in 1513 or 1514. In his career at the papal court he was unable to rise further than papal chamberlain
and secretary. His Saxon heritage, however, made him a natural liaison between the papal court and Elector Frederick the Wise
. On September 3, 1518 Pope Leo X
decided to bestow on Frederick the papal Golden Rose
of Virtue—an award with attendant religious privileges to deserving princes, with the aim of securing the support of Frederick the Wise in suppressing the attacks of Martin Luther
on indulgences in the Church.
to deliver it to the elector. He met with Luther in Altenburg
on January 5–6, 1519, and negotiated a tentative settlement to the controversy: Luther would remain silent on the indulgence
issue, write a conciliatory letter to the pope
, and write and publish a tract supporting papal authority. Luther's silence was contingent on the silence of his opponents; Johann Tetzel
and Albert of Mainz
would be disciplined, and Luther was allowed by Miltitz to make it plain that he would not recant his position.
Miltitz's later meetings with Luther in Liebenwerda
(October 1519) and in Lichtenburg, near Wittenberg
(October 1520) were fruitless; however, Luther did publish a letter to Pope Leo X
along with his tract, dedicated to the pope: On the Freedom of a Christian
(1520). The hope of reconciliation was definitely abandoned on the arrival of a denunciatory papal bull
.
Miltitz made an investigation into the conduct of Tetzel, whom he condemned absolutely.
and Meißen as a canon of the Mainz Cathedral. He accidentally drowned in the Main River
near Groß-Steinheim on November 20, 1529, and was buried in Mainz Cathedral
.
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
nuncio
Nuncio
Nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin word, Nuntius, meaning "envoy." This article addresses this title as well as derived similar titles, all within the structure of the Roman Catholic Church...
and a Mainz Cathedral
Mainz Cathedral
Mainz Cathedral or St. Martin's Cathedral is located near the historical center and pedestrianized market square of the city of Mainz, Germany...
canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
.
Biography
He was born in RabenauWeißeritzkreis
The Weißeritzkreis is a former district in the south of the Free State of Saxony, Germany. Neighboring districts were Freiberg, Meißen, the district-free city Dresden, Sächsische Schweiz, and to the south it bordered the Czech Republic.- History :The district was created in 1994 when the two...
near Meißen and Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
, his family stemming from the lesser Saxon
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
nobility. He studied at Mainz, Trier
University of Trier
The University of Trier , in the German city of Trier, was founded in 1473. Closed in 1798 by order of the then French administration in Trier, the university was re-established in 1970 after a hiatus of some 172 years. The new university campus is located on top of the Tarforst heights, an urban...
, Cologne
University of Cologne
The University of Cologne is one of the oldest universities in Europe and, with over 44,000 students, one of the largest universities in Germany. The university is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, an association of Germany's leading research universities...
(1508–1510), and Bologna
University of Bologna
The Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna is the oldest continually operating university in the world, the word 'universitas' being first used by this institution at its foundation. The true date of its founding is uncertain, but believed by most accounts to have been 1088...
(1510-?), but his deficient Latin reveals that he was not especially learned. He went to the roman curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
in 1513 or 1514. In his career at the papal court he was unable to rise further than papal chamberlain
Papal chamberlain
Papal chamberlain was one of the highest honours that could be bestowed on a Catholic layman by the Pope, and was often given to members of noble families. It was mostly an honorary position, but a chamberlain served the Pope for one week per year during official ceremonies...
and secretary. His Saxon heritage, however, made him a natural liaison between the papal court and Elector Frederick the Wise
Frederick III, Elector of Saxony
Frederick III of Saxony , also known as Frederick the Wise , was Elector of Saxony from 1486 to his death. Frederick was the son of Ernest, Elector of Saxony and his wife Elisabeth, daughter of Albert III, Duke of Bavaria...
. On September 3, 1518 Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X , born Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, was the Pope from 1513 to his death in 1521. He was the last non-priest to be elected Pope. He is known for granting indulgences for those who donated to reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica and his challenging of Martin Luther's 95 Theses...
decided to bestow on Frederick the papal Golden Rose
Golden Rose
The Golden Rose is a gold ornament, which popes of the Catholic Church have traditionally blessed annually. It is occasionally conferred as a token of reverence or affection...
of Virtue—an award with attendant religious privileges to deserving princes, with the aim of securing the support of Frederick the Wise in suppressing the attacks of Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
on indulgences in the Church.
Nuncio to Luther
On October 15, 1518, Miltitz was appointed nuncioNuncio
Nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin word, Nuntius, meaning "envoy." This article addresses this title as well as derived similar titles, all within the structure of the Roman Catholic Church...
to deliver it to the elector. He met with Luther in Altenburg
Altenburg
Altenburg is a town in the German federal state of Thuringia, 45 km south of Leipzig. It is the capital of the Altenburger Land district.-Geography:...
on January 5–6, 1519, and negotiated a tentative settlement to the controversy: Luther would remain silent on the indulgence
Indulgence
In Catholic theology, an indulgence is the full or partial remission of temporal punishment due for sins which have already been forgiven. The indulgence is granted by the Catholic Church after the sinner has confessed and received absolution...
issue, write a conciliatory letter to the pope
Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X , born Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, was the Pope from 1513 to his death in 1521. He was the last non-priest to be elected Pope. He is known for granting indulgences for those who donated to reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica and his challenging of Martin Luther's 95 Theses...
, and write and publish a tract supporting papal authority. Luther's silence was contingent on the silence of his opponents; Johann Tetzel
Johann Tetzel
Johann Tetzel was a German Dominican preacher known for selling indulgences.-Life:Tetzel was born in Pirna, Saxony, and studied theology and philosophy at the university of his native city...
and Albert of Mainz
Albert of Mainz
Cardinal Albert of Hohenzollern was Elector and Archbishop of Mainz from 1514 to 1545, and Archbishop of Magdeburg from 1513 to 1545.-Biography:...
would be disciplined, and Luther was allowed by Miltitz to make it plain that he would not recant his position.
Miltitz's later meetings with Luther in Liebenwerda
Bad Liebenwerda
Bad Liebenwerda is a spa town in the Elbe-Elster district, in southwestern Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated on the river Schwarze Elster, 57 km northwest of Dresden, and 28 km east of Torgau.- History :...
(October 1519) and in Lichtenburg, near Wittenberg
Wittenberg
Wittenberg, officially Lutherstadt Wittenberg, is a city in Germany in the Bundesland Saxony-Anhalt, on the river Elbe. It has a population of about 50,000....
(October 1520) were fruitless; however, Luther did publish a letter to Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X , born Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, was the Pope from 1513 to his death in 1521. He was the last non-priest to be elected Pope. He is known for granting indulgences for those who donated to reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica and his challenging of Martin Luther's 95 Theses...
along with his tract, dedicated to the pope: On the Freedom of a Christian
On the Freedom of a Christian
On the Freedom of a Christian sometimes also called "A Treatise on Christian Liberty"...
(1520). The hope of reconciliation was definitely abandoned on the arrival of a denunciatory papal bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
.
Miltitz made an investigation into the conduct of Tetzel, whom he condemned absolutely.
Further life
From 1523 until his death in 1529 Miltitz lived in MainzMainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
and Meißen as a canon of the Mainz Cathedral. He accidentally drowned in the Main River
Main river
Main rivers are a statutory type of watercourse in England and Wales, usually larger streams and rivers, but also include some smaller watercourses. A main river is defined as a watercourse marked as such on a main river map, and can include any structure or appliance for controlling or regulating...
near Groß-Steinheim on November 20, 1529, and was buried in Mainz Cathedral
Mainz Cathedral
Mainz Cathedral or St. Martin's Cathedral is located near the historical center and pedestrianized market square of the city of Mainz, Germany...
.
Biography
- Creutzberg, (Freiburg, 1907)