Tomus Primus Omnium Operum

1550

8Gc 1550 L. Hewitson Library, Knox College

[Wittenberg]: Johannem Lufft

Frederick the Wise, Luther’s protector, founded Wittenberg University in 1502. He thought of Luther as his ‘star university professor’ (Roper, 2015). Despite never meeting Luther, and even being publicly criticised by him for collecting relics and profiting from their display, Frederick continued to offer Luther protection and support. He did not allow Luther to go to Rome for trial. In 1521, after the Diet of Worms, where Luther was declared a heretic, Frederick ‘kidnapped’ Luther and sequestered him at Wartburg Castle to keep him safe. The title page of this 1550 edition of Luther’s works shows Luther (right) and Frederick (left) both kneeling before Jesus on the Cross. It depicts the pair as ‘equivalent pious Protestants’ – Frederick was nothing of the sort.