Hermann Marsow

Hermann Marsow, also Hermannus Marssau (* around 1485 in Riga , † 1555 in Tartu  ?) Lutheran theologian and reformer of Livonia.

Life

Allegedly he started studying at the University of Greifswald in 1505 . In July 1523 he enrolled in the Wittenberg university register as "Hermannus Marssau de Riga vratislaurien". On the recommendation of Martin Luther , he returned to Livonia , where he was employed as a preacher in Dorpat . There, however, he was quickly expelled by Bishop Johann II von Blankenfelde and therefore moved to Reval in July 1524 .

As a preacher, he was in opposition to Johann Ossenbrugge and other former religious who also called themselves Protestant. Marsow obtained an expert opinion from Luther, but for the sake of his challenging attitude the council had him expelled. Meanwhile Luther declared himself against Ossenbrugge, who then went to Munster . Nikolaus Glossenus was appointed to Reval in his place . Marsow, however, was able to come to Dorpat on June 1, 1529, where he was the first to recognize the enthusiastic nature of Melchior Hofmann and, after fierce fighting, forced him to withdraw.

On April 30, 1550 he returned to Reval, where he was a priest in the Katharinenkirche, resigned from this office on October 26, 1554 with his colleague and died soon afterwards in 1555 in the local monastery.

literature

• Heinrich Julius Böthführ :  Marsow, Hermann . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 20, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1884, p. 446.
• F. Napiersky: Life News from Livonian Preachers , 2. Mitau 1856, p. 65
• C. Kallmeyer: The evangelical preachers of Livonia . Mitau 1910.
• Leonid Arbusow : The introduction of the Reformation in Liv, Est and Courland. (Sources and research on the history of the Reformation 3). Leipzig 1921 (reprint 1964).
• Martin Ottow, Wilhelm Lenz (ed.): The evangelical preachers of Livonia until 1918 , Cologne 1977.

Web links

• Baltic Historical Commission (Ed.): Entry on Hermann Marsow. In: BBLD - Baltic Biographical Lexicon digital