Sebastian Franck German thinker, humanist scientist. Date of Birth: 20.01.1499 Country: Germany

Biography of Sebastian Franck

Sebastian Franck, a German thinker and humanist, was a philosopher, mystic, theologian, historian, and ideologist of the left wing of the Reformation. He was one of the most prominent representatives of the spiritualist movement within the Radical Reformation. In his works, such as the "World Chronicle," Franck criticized the Catholic Church and the tyranny of princes. He followed the tradition of mystical pantheism established by Eckhart and the anonymous treatise of the 14th century, "German Theology."

Franck was born in Donauwörth, Bavaria. He graduated from the University of Ingolstadt and the Dominican Bethlehem College in Heidelberg before becoming a Catholic priest in Augsburg. Around 1526, while serving as a priest in Buchenbach, Franck joined the Reformation and became a Lutheran pastor. The following year, he moved to Gustenfelden, near Nuremberg, where he translated "Dialog," a treatise by his friend Andreas Althamer, which criticized one of the leaders of Anabaptism, Hans Denck, and his followers known as "fanatics." However, in 1528, Franck aligned himself with radical reformist groups. He left his preaching position and went to Nuremberg, where he married Ottilia Behaim, the sister of Hans Denck's associates, on March 17. This event marked a transformation in Franck's views, and he began his travels to various cities in Germany and Switzerland as an independent theologian and historian of religion. Franck was one of the most talented and well-known figures of the radical "people's reformation."

In 1529, Franck moved to Strasbourg, where he met Schwenckfeld, Servetus, Bünderlin, and Hoffmann. It was in Strasbourg that he published his first significant work, "Chronica, Zeitbuch und Geschichtsbibel." The spiritualist ideas expressed in this work resonated with the Anabaptists, particularly Menno Simons, who frequently referenced Franck's book in his own works. However, Franck faced strong hostility in response to his writings, as all religious groups felt offended, with even Erasmus being labeled a heretic. Franck argued that everyone believed they possessed the truth, yet none of the religious leaders truly had it. As a result, he was expelled from Strasbourg on December 30, 1531, after a short imprisonment.

The following year, Franck appealed to the council of Strasbourg to allow him to return to the city and publish his work, "Weltbuch," but both requests were denied. Afterward, he settled in Esslingen, where he supported himself by making soap. In the summer of 1533, while visiting the fair in Ulm, Franck decided to settle in the city and obtained permission from the council. In the following year, he finally published his "Weltbuch," a book on the geography and culture of the world's peoples. He also published his German translation of Erasmus' Encomion Moriae accompanied by three of his own treatises. However, the most important publication of that year was "Paradoxa," a work that clearly outlined Franck's theological system.

In Ulm, Franck faced the harshest attacks. Protestant priest Martin Frecht emerged as one of his most vehement opponents. As a result, Philip of Hesse demanded Franck's expulsion from Ulm as an "Anabaptist and revolutionary." Franck was banished from the city on March 3, 1535. He protested against this decision since his expulsion violated the law by not providing him with an official hearing. Franck wrote a "Declaration" in which he refuted the accusations made by Frecht.