JOHANN MAJOR (1533–1600)
Life
Johann Major was born on 2 January 1533 in Jáchymov. His father, Johann Major the Elder, had moved to the town from Franconia, a region that today forms part of Bavaria.
In 1549 Major enrolled at the University of Wittenberg, one of the most important intellectual centres of the Reformation. In 1551 he continued his studies at the University of Leipzig. After returning to Wittenberg he obtained the degree of Master of Arts on 27 February 1556.
He later worked as a teacher in Würzburg and continued his studies at the University of Mainz. In 1558 he received a doctorate in theology.
Academic career
From 1560 Johann Major worked as a professor at the University of Wittenberg. However, he soon became involved in theological disputes between different currents within Lutheranism.
The conflict mainly concerned the so-called Gnesio-Lutherans, followers of a strict interpretation of Martin Luther’s teaching, and their opponents, the Philippists, followers of Philipp Melanchthon.
In 1578 Major was expelled from the university because of false accusations and was detained in Rochlitz. Only in 1581 was his innocence proven and he was released.
After his release he returned to the university and resumed his teaching activities.
Final years
The religious conflicts continued. Johann Major was later accused of being a so-called crypto-Calvinist, meaning a secret supporter of Calvinism. As a result he was imprisoned again between 1591 and 1593.
After his release he withdrew from public life and in 1595 moved to the town of Zerbst in present-day Saxony-Anhalt.
Johann Major died there on 16 March 1600.
