Commentary: In 1517 in Wittenberg an Augustinian monk Martin Luter put forward a postulate of the reform of the Church and religious life. Thus a movement called Reformation was born. Preaching of Luter quite soon gained many supporters among the German bourgeoisie in Prusy Królewskie (Royal Prussia), including inhabitants of Gdansk. This support revealed itself forcefully in 1524-1525 during the people's riots in Gdansk. Explosion of discontent of lower classes led to a removal of existing town authorities (the Council). Supporters of the protest removed also the Catholic rite from churches and instituted radical clergymen connected with the people.

Under the impact of these events activity of the orders was limited by forbidding the monks to take alms and preach sermons. Development of the Reformation was inhibited by intervention of king Zygmunt I's who in 1526 surpressed the riots, appointed new Council and restored rights of the Catholic Church and the orders. On 20th of July 1526 Zygmunt I published new statutes which were to become a basis for a new form of governemnt in the town. However administrative steps didn't stop spontaneous development of the protestant movement, which until the half of the 16th century gained advantage in Gdansk and Prussia. The situation was finally accepted by king Zygmunt August (Sigismund August) who in 1556-1557 gave decision granting rights to the Lutherans on these territories.

The presented letter is an autograph of Luter addressed to the Town Council of Gdańsk described here as "good friends". Luter, asked by Elsa Mülmans from Gdańsk for help, turns to the Council regarding her rights to her children's legacy. Luter writes among others about poverty, arguing that in this situation the Council should help a poor woman. It's worth stressing that at that time Gdansk was still formally a catholic town and Luter was under a papal excommunication. (Rafał Kubicki)

External description: Original, in German, paper bifolium, size: 200x315 mm, a paper-wax seal.

Location: the State Archive in Gdansk, Records of the town of Gdansk, Letters and documents after 1525, Catalogue no. 300,53/870, p.17-20.