Charles Beard. "Martin Luther and the Reformation in Germany," Ch.6-1519...

1.     The Year 1519: Friends and Foes, 259-318. In 1518, there were no chairs of Greek or Hebrew at Wittenburg. Philip Melanchthon will become the rising star. Upon arrival, Melanchthon lectured in both languages until Boschenstein and Ayrigallus took the Hebrew chair. Melanchthon, AKA Philip Schwartzerd, was born 16 Feb 1497, 14 years younger than Luther and 8 years younger than Cranmer. Melancthon had family connections to Reuchlin the humanist. Inn 1509, Melancthon matriculated to Heidelberg and, in 1511, earned the BA. A 14-year old BA? In 1512, he repaired to Tubingen where he meets Oecolampadius and a friendship arises. They work on the Greek and Latin classics together. In 1514, age 17, he earns the MA, being “first among eleven competitors for the degree” (262). In 1515, age 18, he produces an edition of Terence. Melancthon, Reuchlin’s relative, is earning his growing reputation in Germany, Beard tells us. Even Erasmus praises Melancthon although later withdraws from him due to the Wittenburg connection. While at Tubingen, Reuchlin writes to Elector that “I know no German who is before him, except Erasmus Roterdamus [sic], who is a Dutchman. He indeed surpasses us all in Latin” (264). Liepzig Professors tried to detain Melanchthon, but unsuccessfully. It appears that Melanchthon arrives at Wittenburg on 25 Aug 1518, matriculates there 26 Aug and on 29 Aug, delivers his inaugural address. Beard does not cover dates that well and it is unclear in the text. By May 1519, “Luther writes that students were pouring in like a flood” (265). Melancthon accompanies Luther to the disputation at Leipzig in June 1519.