Wolfgang Capito

Wolfgang Capito, Wolfgang Fabricius Capito also, Wolfgang Fabricius Köpfle (* 1478 in Haguenau / Alsace, † November 4, 1541 in Strasbourg ) was a major reformer of Strasbourg.

• 4.1 Reference

Life and work

Wolfgang Köpfle was born 1478 in Haguenau / Alsace, the son of the renowned master blacksmith Johann Köpfle. Later he Latinized his name to Wolfgang Capito surnamed Fabricius, after his father's profession. He received first education in his hometown and later at the Latin School of Pforzheim. He then studied at the University of Ingolstadt, where he earned Bachelor of Arts 1501. In 1504 he was enrolled at the University of Heidelberg. 1511 he graduated from the University of Freiburg im Breisgau with the licentiate and 1515 with the Doctor of Divinity from. From his time in Freiburg him some friends have remained, who had stopped at the same time partly at the university. He made ​​the acquaintance of the humanist Jacob Wimpfeling, the jurist Ulrich Zasius and the theologian Gregory Reisch. He learned also Matthew Zell and Jacob Sturm, his later campaigner in Strasbourg, as presumably Thomas Murner, his later opponents know.

In 1512 he was appointed by the Bishop of Speyer as a pin preacher to the canons of Bruchsal. During this time he learned Hebrew and he made the acquaintance of John Conrad Pellikan and Oecolampadius. 1515 he was appointed preacher to Basel Münster. With this office he was automatically in the theological faculty of the University of Basel involved and worked as a theologian and Hebraist. In 1517 he was rector of the university. He frequented the circle of Erasmus of Rotterdam and stood among others, with Martin Luther ( from 1518) and Ulrich Zwingli (from 1520) in correspondence. His sermons on Romans are said to have experienced great popularity.

On the recommendation of Erasmus and Ulrich von Hutten, he was appointed in 1520 as preacher at Mainz Cathedral. As adviser to the archbishop Albrecht of Mainz Capito tried a moderating influence in the looming dispute between denominations and tried as Electoral Registrar to reach a compromise with Luther. 1521, he accompanied Albert on the Diet of Worms and spoke in favor of Luther. However, its promoter activity triggered irritation that he tried to dispel in March 1522 during a visit to Luther in Wittenberg. His role as a covert supporter of the Lutheran movement, lost his life in the orthodox stronghold Mainz be dangerous, so Capito in 1523 retired to Strasbourg.

Reformation in Strasbourg

In March 1523 Capito returned to Strasbourg and took over the position of Prundinhaber as provost of Thomas pin. For now, his position was also challenged by the Papists, as by the Lutherans. Only after an interview with the evangelical preacher minded Münster Matthew Zell in summer 1523 he seems to have finally decided for the Reformed side. In an apology, he tried to justify his attitude before the bishop. In the same year he bought as a citizen in the city and began the young St. Peter Church to preach. In a further letter to the bishop he sat for seven married and excommunicated by the bishop a preacher (Appellation of eelichen Priest 1524). Capito participated in the lectures, which were carried out in the Franciscan mendicant, with the interpretation of the Old Testament and was next to Matthew Zell, Kaspar Hedio and Martin Bucer, one of the major figures of the early Reformation in Strasbourg. When it came to a confrontation with the Augustinian Provincial Konrad Treger in the summer of 1524, Capito was a leading exponent of the new believers page. Since there was no actual defense, Capito published several pamphlets against Treger ( Tregerhandel ). Again and again his mediating side expressed. So he tried during the Peasants' War, together with Bucer and cell in Altdorf, the farmers call for moderation and patience. Also in the eucharistic controversy, as it was expressed in the dispute between Luther and Karlstadt, he sought to mediate. From 1525 to 1529 Capito tried to convince along with the other evangelical preachers the Strasbourg authorities of the abolition of the mass.

In 1526 it had come between Bucer and Capito, to a certain alienation, as these behaved in the attitude of the Anabaptists in the eyes of Bucer as too lenient. Capito did not arise, although against infant baptism, but could not think of other forms of baptism. In addition, its tolerance to the Baptist in the uptake of various supporters of the radical reformers was expressed. So he was home in his house, among other things, the dissident Ludwig Hatzer, Andreas Cellarius, Kaspar Schwenckfeld and Michael Servetus. As the later Anabaptist martyrs Michael Sattler was captured, Capito sat down for a vain his release.

Kirchenpolitk

Capito was co-author of the Confessio Tetrapolitana, participated in the Wittenberg Concord, attended the Bern Disputation of 1528 and was co-author of the Berne Synod of 1532. He was on the Hagenauer Colloquy ( 1540), Worms Colloquy (1541 ), at the Diet in Regensburg (1541 ). In occasional clashes with the Anabaptists, he showed himself often yielding, but occurred in 1534 decided against this.

Marriage policy

After Capito had finally broken with the Catholic Church and the Reformation preachers had become of the young St. Peter's Church, he married in August 1524 Röttel Agnes, the daughter of a Strasbourg councilors, and so made ​​his neugläubige position for all to see. Bucer, who pushed very close to a marriage, had suggested to him by Odilia Utenheim, the future wife of Cellarius as a wife. With Agnes Capito had several children.

When his first wife died of the plague in 1531, Bucer urged a speedy re-marriage. Considering the sister of Constance reformers Margarete Blarer came. Capito himself had an eye on Sabina Bader, widow of Augsburg Anabaptist martyrs Augustin Bader thrown. In the same year as Capito was a widower, died in Basel, the reformer John Oecolampadius. Oecolampadius left behind his wife and four young children. Just five months later, the over fifty years of Capito married to twenty years younger than twice the widow Wibrandis Rosenblatt. She gave birth to her third husband, five other children.

As Strasbourg was taken in 1541 of a new plague, three of her children and on November 4 and her husband Wolfgang Capito died. They married after five months for the fourth time mutual friend Martin Bucer.

Works

• Hebraicarvm Institvtionvm Libri Duo, Basel 1518, 1525 digitized ( Hebrew grammar )
• Ad reverendissimum atque illustrissimum principem, D. Albertum Archiepiscopum Moguntinum, Basel 1519 digitized
• Divi Io. Chrysostomi Homilia, De Eo Quod Dixit Apostolus, Utinam Tolerassetis Paululum Quiddam Insipientiae Meae, Basel 1519. Digitalisat
• Sorry he warumb been burgers, Strasbourg 1523 digitized
• Appellation of eelichen priest vermaynten of the excommunication, the Bischoffen at Strasbourg, Strasbourg 1524 Appellatio sacerdotum maritorum urbis Argentinas Tinae adversus excommunicationem episcopi, Strasbourg 1524

Remembrance

November 21 in the Protestant calendar name.