View source for Rhegius, Urban (1489-1541)

Urban Rhegius (1489-1541), a [[Luther, Martin (1483-1546)|Lutheran]] theologian, reformer of [[Augsburg (Freistaat Bayern, Germany)|Augsburg, Germany]]. He attended the University of Freiburg and like [[Hubmaier, Balthasar (1480?-1528)|Balthasar Hubmaier]] went to [[Ingolstadt (Freistaat Bayern, Germany)|Ingolstadt]] with [[Eck, Johann (1486-1543)|Johann Eck]]. In 1517 he was crowned imperial orator and poet laureate by Emperor Maximilian, settled in [[Konstansz (Baden-Württemberg, Germany)|Constance]], became the good friend of [[Faber, Johannes (1504-after 1557)|Johannes Faber]], and upon his recommendation was transferred to Augsburg in 1520. Here he soon became active in the cause of the [[Reformation, Protestant|Reformation]] and had to leave the city in 1521-1524. Upon his return he was a zealous and active Lutheran. The [[Anabaptism|Anabaptists]] he persecuted without mercy. He bears the principal blame for the expulsion of [[Denck, Hans (ca. 1500-1527)|Hans Denck]]. In 1530 he was compelled by order of [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500-1558)|Charles V]] to leave the city. He went to Celle and there promoted the Lutheran cause until his death. He also attacked the Anabaptists with his pen. In 1527 he wrote the pamphlet <em>Wider den newen Taufforden</em> against [[Dachser, Jakob (1486-1567)|Jakob Dachser]]'s <em>Ein Göttlich und grundtlich Offenbarung von wahrhafftigen wiederteuffern.</em> Other writings along this line were: <em>Zwen wunderseltzam sendbrieff zweyer Widertäuffer an ire Rotten gen Augspurg gesandt, Verantwurtung aller irrthum diser obgenanten brieff durch Urbanum Rhegium</em> (1528); <em>Ein sendbrieff [[Hut, Hans (d. 1527)|Hans Huthen]] etwa ains furnemen Vorsteers im wiedertauff ordenn</em> (1528); <em>Widderlegung der Münsterischen newen Valentinianer und Donatisten Bekentnus an die Christen zu Osnabrugk in Westfalen, Mit einer Vorrede Doctor Martin Luthers</em> (Wittenberg, 1535<em>); De restitutione Israelitici, contra omnes omnium seculorum chiliastes</em> (1536); <em>Ein bedencken der Lüneburgischen, Ob einer Oberkeyt gezymme die widerteüffer oder andere ketzer zum rechten glauben zu dringen</em> . . . (1538); <em>Wie man die falschen Propheten erkennen, ja greiffen mag, Ein predig zy Mynden jnn Westphalen gethan</em> (Brunswick, 1539).


= Bibliography =
Calvary, S. &amp; Co. <em>Verzeichniss seltener und werthvoller Werke</em>. Berlin, 1870: 56 f.

Geiser, Samuel. <em>Die Taufgesinnten-Gemeinden</em>. Karlsruhe, 1931: 220.

Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. <em>Mennonitisches Lexikon</em>, 4 vols. Frankfurt &amp; Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe; Schneider, 1913-1967: v. III, 486 f.

Keller, Ludwig. <em>Ein Apostel der Wiedertäufer</em> (Hans Denk). Leipzig, 1882: 102, 122 ff.

<em>Mennonitische Blätter</em> (1886): 89.

Uhlhorn, G. <em>Urbanus Rhegius, Leben und ausgewählte Schriften</em>. Elberfeld, 1862.


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