Christoph von Scheurl

Christoph von Scheurl (11 November 1481 – 14 June 1542) was a German jurist, diplomat and humanist who became famous for arranging a humanistic friendship between Johann Eck and Martin Luther.

Christoph von Scheurl, portrait by Cranach the Elder

Plaque to Christoph Scheurl, quadrangle of Wittenberg University

Albrecht Dürer: Crest of the Scheurl and Tucher von Simmelsdorf families, c. 1512

Life

Scheurl was born in Nuremberg the eldest son of Christoph Scheurl from Wrocław in Silesia, and his wife, Helena Tucher.^[1] In 1496, he went to Heidelberg University to study Law, moving in 1498 to the University of Bologna in Italy to complete his studies. He graduated in 1506.^{[citation needed]}

In 1507, with the support of Johann von Staupitz, he was elected Professor of Law at Wittenberg University, under the patronage of Frederick the Wise. He began lecturing in April 1507. In 1512 he returned to Nuremberg, his role primarily being that of a diplomat. In 1519, he travelled to Aragon to represent Nuremberg in the formal congratulations to the newly crowned Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. In 1522, he was an ambassador in the negotiations with Archduke Ferdinand regarding the Turks in Vienna. In Nuremberg, he was also a friend of Albrecht Dürer.^[2] He was among the first people to have Luther's 95 theses printed and distributed.^[3] He died on 14 June 1542, aged 60.

Family

In 1518, he married Katharina Futterer.^{[citation needed]}

Works (selected)

• De rebus gestis Alberti Ducis Saxioniae
• De Vita Ant. Cressenis
• Tractatus de sacerdorum & ecclesiasticarum rerum praestantia, Leipzig 1511
• Lib. De laudibus Germaniae & Ducum Saxoniae, Leipzig 1508
• Epist. Ad Charit. Pirckhameram, Nuernberg 1513
• Epist. Ad Charit. Pirckhameram, Nuernberg 1513
• Epist. Ad Staupitium de statu sive regimine reipubl. Noricae
• Epist. Ad Petr. Bernstein, 1580