Prince, People, and Confession

384 Pages·1994·12.33 MB·English

by  Bodo Nischan, Barbara J. Eckstein

Prince, People, and Confession

Prince, People,
and Confession
The Second Reformation
in Brandenburg
Bodo Nischan
University of Pennsylvania Press
Philadelphia
Copyright © 1994 by the University of Pennsylvania Press
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
Permission is acknowledged to reprint material from previously published articles by the
author:
"Calvinism, the Thirty Years War, and the Beginning of Absolutism in Brandenburg,"
Central European History is (1982): 207-22; "Reformed Irenicism and the Leipzig
Colloquy of 1631," Central European History 9 (1976): 17-25. Copyright© 1982, 1976 by
Emory University.
"Brandenburg's Reformed Räte and the Leipzig Manifesto of 1631 "Journal of Religious
History 10 (1979): 365-80.
"The 'Fractio Panis': A Reformed Communion Practice in Late Reformation Germany,"
Church History si (1984): 17-29; "John Bergius: Irenicism and the Beginning of Official
Religious Toleration in Brandenburg-Prussia," Church History 51 (1982): 389-404.
"The Exorcism Controversy and Baptism in the Late Reformation," Sixteenth Century
Journal 18 (1987): 31-51; "The Second Reformation in Brandenburg: Aims and Goals,"
Sixteenth Century Journal 14 (1983): 173-187; "Reformation or Deformation? Lutheran
and Reformed Views of Martin Luther in Brandenburg's 'Second Reformation,'" in Pietas
and Sodetas: New Trends in Reformation Social History, ed. K. C. Sessions and P. N. Bebb,
Sixteenth Century Essays and Studies, vol. IV (Kirksville, MO: SCJ Publishers, 1985);
"The Schools of Brandenburg and the 'Second Reformation': Examples of Calvinist
Learning and Propaganda," in Calviniana: Ideas and Influence of Jean Calvin, ed. Robert V
Schnucker, Sixteenth Century Essays and Studies, vol. X (Kirksville, MO; SCJ Publishers,
1988), 215-233. Sixteenth Century Journal Publishers, Inc.
"Kontinuität und Wandel im Zeitalter des Konfessionalismus. Die Zweite Reformation in
Brandenburg,: Jahrbuch für Berlin-Brandenburgische Kirchengeschichte 58 (1991): 87-133.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Nischan, Bodo.
Prince, people, and confession : the Second Reformation in Brandenburg / Bodo
Nischan.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8122-3242-9
1. Reformation —Brandenburg (Germany and Poland) 2. Brandenburg (Germany and
Poland) — Church history — 16th century. 3. Lutheran Church — Brandenburg (Germany
and Poland)—History—16th century. 4. Hohenzollern, House of. 5. Reformed
Church—Brandenburg (Germany and Poland) —History— 17th century. 6. Calvinism-
Brandenburg (Germany and Poland) —History — 17th century. 7. Lutheran Church-
Brandenburg (Germany and Poland) — History — 17th century. 8. Brandenburg
(Germany and Poland) — Church history — 17th century. I. Tide.
BR857.B8N57 1994
274.31 '506 — dc20 93-49639
CIP
For Gerda

Contents
Acknowledgments xi
List of Illustrations xiii
Maps xv
Introduction i
Chapter 1. A Via Media Reformation 5
I) Joachim I: Pro-Imperial and Roman 5
II) The Joachimian Reform 11
III) The 1540 Ordinance 17
IV) The Schmalkaldic War and the Interim 25
V) Dynastic Ambitions 29
Chapter 2. The Triumph of Concordian Lutheranism 34
I) Toward a More Rigid Lutheranism 34
II) Confessional Consolidation 40
III) The Survival of Joachimian Ritual 46
IV) New Fears of Calvinism 49
Chapter 3. The Threat of Catholic Counter-Reformation 56
I) The Magdeburg Administrator 56
II) Confessional Realignment 63
III) Political Considerations 73
Chapter 4. The Hohenzollern Conversion 81
I) Education and Upbringing 81
II) The Christmas Communion 91
III) The Question of Motives 94
viii Contents
IV) "Highly Important Persons" 98
V) The Political Side 103
Chapter 5. Enforcing the Second Reformation 111
I) The Plan 111
II) Confessional Clarification 116
III) Coordination 121
IV) Education 126
Chapter 6. Reforming Popular Piety 132
I) Eliminating the "Leftover Papal Dung" 132
II) Reform of Worship 137
III) Art and Music 145
IV) The Church Calendar 153
V) Indifferent Matters 158
Chapter 7. The Lutheran Counteroffensive 161
I) The Clerical Reaction 161
II) Appeals to the People 176
Chapter 8. The Popular Response 185
I) The Berlin "Parliament" 185
II) The Spread of Popular Opposition 193
III) Continued Apathy and Hostility 196
Chapter 9. The Limits of Reformation 204
I) The Estates' Reaction 204
II) The Prussian Response 211
III) The Failure of Reformation 217
IV) Crisis and War 223
Chapter 10. Concession and Compromise 235
I) In the Confessional Arena 235
II) In the Political Arena 246
Contents ix
List of Abbreviations 261
Notes 263
Bibliography 327
Index
359