Spalatin, Georg

Spalatin, Georg

 orig. Georg Burkhardt

(born Jan. 17, 1484, Spalt, Bavaria—died Jan. 16, 1545, Altenburg, Saxony) German humanist. He studied at the University of Erfurt and then joined a band of humanist scholars in 1505. Ordained a priest in 1508, he was appointed tutor to the heir of Frederick the Wise, elector of Saxony. In 1511 he befriended Martin Luther at Wittenberg, and, as librarian at Frederick's court from 1512, he influenced the elector to protect Luther during the controversy over indulgences. He championed the Reformation at the Diet of Worms (1521) and under two subsequent electors of Saxony. In 1530 he helped Philipp Melanchthon prepare the text of the Augsburg Confession. He was also influential in forming the Schmalkaldic League in 1531. He wrote many historical works, including Annales Reformationis (1718).