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THE UNIVERSITY OF THE REFORMATION
faculty (Table 13). The three professors of theology, all representatives of the
new evangelical movement, were, with Melanchthon, effectively recognised as
the overseers of university affairs.
Table 13 Overview of regular professorships by faculty (1525)
Faculty No. of chairs Salary range
University professorships 2 200 gl.
Theology (excl. Luther) 2 60-[n.d.] gl.
Law (Roman) 5 30-160 gl.
Medicine 2 70-80 gl.
Arts (excl. Melanchthon) c.8 30-60 gl.
Total 19
SECURING THE NEW STRUCTURES (1533-1536)
With the changes outlined above, the reorganisation of Wittenberg University
along Reformation lines was essentially complete. After 1527, student enrol¬
ment began again to increase, and the Leucorea was to maintain its position as
the most popular place of higher education ofthe Empire for decades. What was
needed was some fine-tuning and cementing, which was ultimately achieved
under John Frederick the Magnanimous (1503, 1532-1547, 1554), who suc¬
ceeded his father in the Electorate in 1532.
First, Melanchthon drew up new statutes for the theological faculty in 1533."
He stipulated four professorships, but specified only three of them: one each in
Old Testament, New Testament, and the church Fathers, especially Augustine.
All theology was to be Biblically grounded; even doctrinal theology was to
take the form of exegesis. Ouarterly disputations were also to be held in this
school. More important, Melanchthon devised a set of rules for the attainment
of higher degrees. Ihere had been no doctoral graduation at Wittenberg for
almost a decade. Ihe need to ensure a continuing supply of properly guali¬
fied scholars was now recognised and provided for. In the early summer, the
first doctoral examinations since 1525 had taken place in the presence of John
Frederick." One of the new ThDs, Caspar Cruciger (1504-1548), then became
a professor of theology.”
© UBW 1:154-158 (No. 171).
7” UBW 1:158 (No. 174).
Further on Cruciger, see WENGERT, Timothy J., Caspar Cruciger (1504-1548): The Case ofthe
Disappearing Reformer, Sixteenth Century Journal 20 (1989) 417-441.
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