Reformation Day: 7 notable enemies of Martin Luther

5. Andreas Karlstadt

Andreas Karlstadt was a German theologian who, initially, was an ally of Martin Luther and often defended his work, both at the Leipzig Debate of 1519 and elsewhere.

Karlstadt was a colleague of Luther’s at the University of Wittenberg during the early 1500s, supporting many of Luther’s ideas and calling for a broader reform of church and society.

However, Karlstadt’s demands for more radical reforms, like destroying church iconography and renouncing academic titles, led to Luther publicly denouncing his endeavors.

“He dramatically encountered Luther at Jena in August of [1524], when Luther tossed a golden coin at him in token of an open feud. As Luther left, Karlstadt preached against him amid pealing bells,” noted Britannica.

“Karlstadt was promptly expelled from Saxony, but not before he published a series of tracts asserting the belief in the symbolic presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Karlstadt’s work Ob man gemach faren soll … was eagerly read by all those for whom reform came too slowly.”

Luther would later help give Karlstadt refuge during his travels from 1525 to 1529, before Karlstadt left in the 1530s to advance his proposals elsewhere in Europe.