THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG
he died, after long sufferings, alone, forsaken, and almost in want. The fine buildings which he erected at Mainz and Halle and his monument by Peter Vischer, in the abbey church at Aschaffenburg were the only memorials of his life which he left to posterity. (T. Koldb.)
Bibliography: J. H. Hennes, Albrecht, von Brandenburg, Mainz, 1858; J. May, Der Kurfurst, Kardinal und Erzbischof Albrecht II. von Mainz und Brandenburg, 2 vols., Munich, 1865-75; A. Wolters, Der Abgott zu Halle, Bonn, 1877; H. Gredy, Kardinal und Erzbischof Albrecht II. von Brandenburg in seinem Verhaltnisse zu den Glaubensneuerungen, Mainz, 1891; G. F. Hertzberg, Geschichte der Stadt Halle, vol. ii., Halle, 1891; P. Redlich, Cardinal Albrecht von Brandenburg und das neue Stift zu Halle, Mainz, 1900.
ALBERT THE GREAT. See Albertus Magnus. ALBERT OF PRUSSIA.
Early Life and Conversion to Protestantism (§1). Intercourse with Luther and Melanchthon and Aid to
the Reformation (§2). Progress of the Reformation (§ 3). Reorganization of Ecclesiastical Affairs (§ 4). Bis Visitation and its Consequences (§ 5). Ordinances of 1540 and 1544 (§ 6). Later Efforts in Behalf of the Reformation (§ 7).
Albert, margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, last
grand master of the Teutonic order, first duke of
Prussia, founder of the Prussian na-
i. Early tional Church, was born at Ansbach
Life and (25 m. s.w. of Nuremberg) May 17, Conversion 1490; d. at Tapiau (23 m. e. of Konto Protes- igsberg) Mar. 20, 1568. He was the
tantism. third son of the Margrave Frederick the Elder of Brandenburg-Ansbach, received a knightly education at various courts, and was made a canon of the Cologne Cathedral. In 1508, with his brother Casimir, he took part in the Emperor Maximilian's campaign against Venice. He was elected grand master of the Teutonic order Dec. 15, 1510, was invested with the dignity of his office in 1511, and made his solemn entry into Konigsberg in 1512. His efforts to make his order independent of Poland (to which it had owed fealty since the peace of Thorn, 1466) involved him in a war with the Polish king, which devastated the territory of the order until a truce for four years was made in 1521. Albert then visited Germany and tried in vain to obtain the help of the German princes against Poland. While attending the Diet of Nuremberg in 1522-23 he heard the sermons of Andreas Osiander (whom he afterward called his " father in Christ "), and associated with others of the reformed faith in that cit y . By such influence, as well as by the writings of Luther from the year 1520, he was won to the new teaching and openly avowed his convictions.
In June, 1523, he addressed a confidential letter to Luther, requesting his advice concerning the reformation of the Teutonic order and the means of bringing about a renewal of Christian life in its territory. In reply Luther advised him to convert the spiritual territory of the order into a worldly principality. In Sept., 1523, he visited the Reformer at Wittenberg, when Luther again advised him, with the concurrence of Melanchthon, to put aside the foolish and wrong law of the order, to enter himself into the estate of matrimony, and to convert the state of the order into a worldly one. This interview was the beginning
of an intimate connection between Albert and the two Reformers of Wittenberg, and was immediately followed by Luther's Ermahnung an die Herren Deutschen Ordens falsche Keuschheit
2. Inter- zu meiden und zu rechten ehelichen course with Keuschheit zu greifen. With the advice
Luther and and help of Luther, Albert provided Melanch- pure Gospel preaching for his capital thon and by calling thither such men as Johann Aid to the Briessmann and Paulus Speratus Reforma- (qq.v.). Johannes Amandus, called tion. about the same time' as Briessmann, while a popular and gifted preacher, proved a fanatic and agitator, and was obliged to leave the city and country in 1524. His place was taken by Johannes Poliander (q.v.). Authorized by Albert, Bishop George of Polentz (q.v.), who favored the Reformation, sent learned men to preach through the country; and evangelical writings, supplied by Albert's friend, Georg Vogler, chancellor of his brother at Ansbach, were carefully disseminated. At Christmas, 1523 George of Polentz openly embraced the new faith; and the next year, with the consent of his sovereign, he advised the ministers not only to preach the pure Gospel, but also to use the German language at the administration of baptism and the Lord's Supper. At the same time he recommended the reading of Luther's writings, and declared excommunication to be abrogated.
The cause made steady progress in Konigsberg.
Briessmann delivered free lectures to the laity
and ministers, aiming to promote a
3. Prog- knowledge of the gospel; Speratus ress of preached to large crowds; and a newly
the Refor- established printing-office published mation. various evangelical writings, especially the sermons and pamphlets of Briessmann and Speratus. Abuses and unevangelical elements in divine service and in the inner constitution of the churches, images and altars serving the worship of saints, the multitude of masses and the sacrifice of the mass, were abolished. A common treasury was established for the aid of the poor. The reformatory movement acquired new impetus from the conversion of a second Prussian prelate, Erhard of Queiss, bishop of Pomesania, who, under the title Themata issued a Reformation-programme in his diocese for the renewal of the spiritual life on the basis of the pure Gospel. The most important of all, however, was the carrying out of Luther's advice with regard to the transformation of the territory of the order into a hereditary secular duchy under the suzerainty of Poland, after the period of the truce had expired and peace had been made with Poland. On Apr. 10, 1525, the formal investiture of Albert as duke of Prussia took place at Cracow, after he had sworn the oath of allegiance to King Sigismund. Toward the end of the following month he made his solemn entry into Konigsberg and received the homage of the Prussian prelates, the knights of the order, and the states. On July 1, 1526, he was married in the castle of Konigsberg to the Danish princess Dorothea, like himself a faithful adherent of the Gospel.