RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
Nature Naumburg1
Naumburger Annalen , 799-1613, ib. 1892; E. Hoff-
man, Naumburg im Zeitalter der Reformation, Leip-
sie, 1901.
NAUMBURG, naum'burg, CONVENTION: An assembly held at Naumburg from Jan. 20 to Feb. 8, 1561, to unite the Protestant estates by the subscription of the Augsburg Confession, and to discuss common measures against the Council of Trent, which was soon to be reopened. Since the second colloquy of Worms (q.v.) in 1557 various attempts had been made to unite the Protestants (see Fkankfort Recess). The adherents of Flacius (q.v.) requested a general synod; but the Philippists (q.v.) opposed this plan. During the Diet of Augsburg (Mar., 1559), Duke Christoph of Wurttemberg proposed a new convention of the Evangelical princes, and at a meeting of Duke Christopher, Elector Frederick III. of the Palatinate, and his son-in-law, Duke John Frederick of Saxony, at Hilsbach, it was decided that the convention should be held at Naumburg. Landgrave Philip, Count-Palatinate Wolfgang of Zweibriicken, and Elector August were also won for the plan. The rulers of Wurttemberg and the Palatinate invited the princes of Upper Germany, while Elector August and John Frederick of Saxony invited those of North Germany.
Several princes were represented in the convention by their councilors. From Jan. 20 to Feb. 8 there were held twenty-one sittings. In accordance with a preliminary agreement that nothing else was to be discussed but the subscription of the Augsburg Confession, Frederick III. of the Palatinate proposed the following points: (1) Comparison of all editions of the Augsburg Confession in order to decide which copy should be subscribed; (2) the drawing up of a preface stating the occasion and purpose of the meeting; (3) an explanation to the emperor concerning the purpose of the meeting; (4) discussion on the question whether and how the uninvited counts, lords, and cities were to be persuaded to subscribe. Immediately difference of opinion arose as to what edition should be subscribed; and some demanded also the subscription of the Schmalkald Articles. Frederick III. demanded the subscription of the Latin confession of 1530, since the corresponding German text contained the offensive words, unter Gestalt des Brotes und Weines, which admitted transubstantiation. The subscription of the Latin text was in Frederick's eye equal to an implicit acknowledgment of art. x. of the Variata, regarding the Lord's Supper. The work of collating the different editions occupied two full days. Various points of dispute now arose, on the question whether the edition of 1531 or 1540 or 1542 should be subscribed, and whether the German text in art. x. of the Invariata seemed to confirm transubstantiation. In the mean time orthodox theologians had not missed the opportunity to influence the princes. David Chytraeus of Rostock pointed out the Melanchthonian heresies in the Variata and advocated the subscription of the Invariata, together with the Schmalkald Articles; and the adherents of Flacius sent an epistle warning against any subscription of the Augsburg Confession, unless the subscription of the Apology and the Schmalkald articles were included. The
assembled princes finally agreed upon the edition of 1531, and a preface was drawn up to be sent to the emperor. John Frederick and Ulrich of Mecklenburg refused to sign the preface on the ground that the obnoxious heresies, especially those of the Sacramentarians, were not specially mentioned and condemned, and that no direct explanation of the disputed articles had been given. The sudden and secret departure of John Frederick from Naumburg caused great alarm among the princes. The preface was signed by the two electors, Landgrave Philip of Hesse, Duke Christopher, and the margrave of Baden. Neither Duke Ulrich signed, nor the councilors of the other absent princes, as most of them had already departed.
More harmony prevailed in the negotiations regarding the Council of Trent. Two papal legates and an imperial embassy arrived at Naumburg. When it was discovered that the papal briefs inviting the Protestant princes to participate in the Council of Trent began with the words Dilecto filio (" [to my] beloved son "), they were sent back unopened, with the remark that the Protestant princes were not, and would never be, the sons of the pope. The convention finally answered the emperor and the pope to the effect that none of its number would participate in the Council of Trent, that they wanted a national German council in which they could not only be heard, but also have a vote.
At the entreaty of the persecuted French Huguenots, the assembled princes sent letters of intercession to King Charles IX. and King Anthony of Navarre. There appeared an ambassador from Queen Elizabeth of England, who, in consideration of the coalition of the Roman Catholic powers, urged the necessity of a closer union of the Evangelicals and proposed steps to be taken for the purpose of a mutual agreement in regard to the Council of Trent. The princes promised to comply with her wishes, and also notified the king of Denmark of their attitude toward a councJ. The princes pledged themselves to induce each one of their counts, lords, and cities to subscribe the Augsburg Confession together with the preface. For the preservation of peace they resolved upon a careful censorship of new writings and the suppression of all libelous literature. Thus the convention came to an end ; but the work of peace was soon destroyed by the opposition of John Frederick of Saxony and by the zealous labors of the anti-Philippist theologians. At the Convention of Liineburg in July of the same year the leading theologians of Liibeck, Bremen, Hamburg, Rostock, Magdeburg, and Brunswick unanimously rejected the Naumburg preface and asked for a severe condemnation of the heresies. The princes of Lower Saxony likewise rejected the preface. The only palpable result of the Naumburg Convention was a common protest against pope and council. (G. Kawerau.)
Bibtjography: There are three monographs on the subject: G. P. Honn, Historic, des von denen evangelisrhen Stiinden 1561 zu Naumburg gehaltenen Convents, Frankfort, 1704; J. H. Gelbke, Der Naumburger Fiirstentag, Leipsic, 1793; R. Calinich, Der Naumburger Fiirstentag, Gotha, 1870. Consult further: H. Heppe, Geschichte der deutschen Protestantismus 1555-81, i. 364 sqq., Marburg, 1S52; A. Kluckhohn, Briefe Friedrichs des Frommen, i. 154 sqq.,
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