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Insider Tip
See Melanchthon's grave inside the Castle Church in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, where you'll find him buried close to his good friend Luther.
What happened when?
A timeline of Philip Melanchton's life
1497
Philipp Melanchthon is born in Bretten on February 16th as the first son of armorer Georg Schwartzerdt.
1508
Melanchthon studies Latin in Pforzheim; he lives with a relative, the sister of the humanist Reuchlin, who also bestowed upon him the Greek version of his last name.
1509
Student at Heidelberg University.
1511
Receives his Bachelor of Arts degree in Heidelberg.
1512
Studies in Tübingen, receiving his Master of Arts in 1514 and becoming a university lecturer (for beginners). He also writes a Greek grammar book during this time.
1518
Melanchthon is appointed Greek professor in Lutherstadt Wittenberg thanks to a recommendation from Reuchlin; he also holds an inaugural lecture on the reform of the education system and becomes friends with Martin Luther.
1519
Melanchthon accompanies Luther to the Leipzig Disputation and receives a Bachelor of Theology in Wittenberg the same year.
1520
Marries Katharina Krapp.
1522
Luther's German translation of the New Testament is published, having been completed with Melanchthon's help.
1523
Melanchthon, the driving force behind the reform at the University of Lutherstadt Wittenberg, is appointed rector of the university and introduces declamations.
1524
On a journey to Bretten, Cardinal Campeggio tries (and fails) to turn Melanchthon against Luther. Meets with Duke Philipp of Hesse on the journey home.
1527
Melanchthon attends the school and church inspection in Thuringia.
1528
Melanchthon publishes Instructions for Inspectors, which features a preface written by Luther.
1529
Melanchthon participates in the second Diet of Speyer and the Marburg Confessional discussion (debate on symbolic or actual presence of Christ in communion between Luther and Zwingli).
1530
Diet of Augsburg: Melanchthon writes the Augsburg Confession.
1534
Luther's translation of the Bible is complete, thanks in large part to Melanchthon's help and linguistic skills.
1536
Melanchthon travels to Bretten and Tübingen (university reform).
1540
Melanchthon falls seriously ill in Weimar.
1540
Confessional discussions in Worms and Regensburg (Melanchthon – Eck).
1547
Schmalkaldic War: Melanchthon flees to Zerbst and Nordhausen together with his family.
1557
Melanchthon attends the Second Confessional Discussion in Worms and Heidelberg (university reform). Melanchthon's wife dies on October 11th.
1560
Melanchthon dies on April 19th.
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