Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam
Religious Figures & Theologians • Historical Archive • 🇳🇱 Netherlands • 25 views

Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam 🇳🇱

Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus (Known as "Erasmus")
Prince of Humanists, Greek New Testament Editor, Christian Moralist, Satirist of Praise of Folly
Born 28 October 1466 🇳🇱 Rotterdam, Netherlands
Passed Away 12 July 1536 Basel, Switzerland
Lifespan 69 years old
25 views
Notice / Correction
"When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes. The summit of happiness is reached when a person is ready to be what he is."

Archival Overview

Leader of northern Christian humanism celebrated as the "Prince of the Humanists." Published the first printed Greek New Testament (Novum Instrumentum) and penned biting satires against clerical hypocrisy like Praise of Folly.

Biographical Record

Ordained an Augustinian canon, Erasmus utilized Renaissance philology to champion the "philosophy of Christ" (philosophia Christi)—a practical Christianity based on ethics, interior piety, and learning rather than ritual superstition or scholastic scholasticism.

His 1516 bilingual Greek-Latin New Testament catalyzed the Reformation by giving scholars direct access to original apostolic writings. Seeking church renewal from within while resisting sectarian conflict, he died in Basel promoting peace and education.

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial
Basel Minster
Basel, Switzerland
GPS: 47.5564, 7.5925
View on Memory Atlas
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