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Philipp Melanchthon

German reformer (1497-1560)
Person human Q76325
Philipp Melanchthon
Lucas Cranach the Elder and workshop · Public Domain · Wikimedia
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Summary

Philipp Melanchthon was born on February 16, 1497[1], in Bretten[2]. He died on April 19, 1560[3], in Lutherstadt Wittenberg[4]. He worked as an astronomer[5], theologian[6], university teacher[7], astrologer[8], and philosopher[9]. He ranks in the top 0.7% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (3,971 views/month, #7,051 of 1,000,298).[10]

Key Facts

  • Place of burial: Castle Church, Wittenberg[11]
  • Father: Georg Schwarzerdt[12]
  • Mother: Barbara Reuter[13], Barbara Schwartzerdt[14]
  • Spouse: Katharina Melanchthon[15]
  • Child: Anna Melanchthon[16], Philipp Melanchthon[17], Magdalena Melanchthon[18]
  • Country of citizenship: Germany[19]
  • Occupation: classical philologist[20], Protestant reformer[21], writer[22], humanist[23], philologist[24], hellenist[25], Protestant theologian[26]
  • Employer: Heidelberg University[27], University of Wittenberg[28], Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg[29]
  • Educated at: Heidelberg University[30], University of Tübingen[31]
  • Doctoral advisor: Johannes Stöffler[32], Johann Reuchlin[33]
  • Student: Zacharias Ursinus[34], Martin Helwig[35], Jacob Heerbrand[36], Michael Neander[37], Carolus Clusius[38], Lambert Ludolf Helm[39], Johann Wenth[40], Michael Beuther[41], Johannes Caselius[42], Nikolaus Selnecker[43], Eerik Härkäpää[44], Mikael Agricola[45], Jacobus Petri Finno[46]
  • Religion or worldview: Lutheranism[47]
  • Sex or gender: male[48]
  • Doctoral student: Johann Hommel[49], Simon Grynaeus[50]
  • Commons category: Philipp Melanchthon[51]
  • Said to be the same as: Paulus Commodus[52]
  • Archives at: Bavarian State Library[53]
  • Family name: Melanchthon[54]
  • Given name: Philipp[55]

Body

Works and Contributions

Things named for Philipp Melanchthon include Philippists[56], Melanchthonhaus[57], and Melanchthon Prize of the city of Bretten[58].

Why It Matters

Philipp Melanchthon has Wikipedia articles in 27 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[59] He is known by 99 alternative names across languages and contexts.[60]

He has been cited as an influence by Péter Bornemisza[61], a writer[62], 1535–1584[63], of Kingdom of Hungary[64], specialised in letterpress printing[65].

Works attributed to him include Augsburg Confession[66], a Christian creed[67]; Apology of the Augsburg Confession[68], a written work[69]; Loci Communes[70], a literary work[71]; and Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope[72], a written work[73], founded in 1537[74]. Entities named for him include Philippists[56], Melanchthonhaus[57], and Melanchthon Prize of the city of Bretten[58].

His notable doctoral advisees include Simon Grynaeus[75] and Johann Hommel[76].

FAQs

Where was Philipp Melanchthon born?

Philipp Melanchthon was born in Bretten[2].

Where did Philipp Melanchthon die?

Philipp Melanchthon passed away in Lutherstadt Wittenberg[4].

Who were Philipp Melanchthon's parents?

Philipp Melanchthon's father was Georg Schwarzerdt[12]. Philipp Melanchthon's mother was Barbara Reuter[13].

Who was Philipp Melanchthon married to?

Philipp Melanchthon's spouses include Katharina Melanchthon[15].

What did Philipp Melanchthon do for work?

Philipp Melanchthon worked as an astronomer[5], theologian[6], university teacher[7], astrologer[8], and philosopher[9].

Where did Philipp Melanchthon go to school?

Philipp Melanchthon was educated at Heidelberg University[30] and University of Tübingen[31].

Who did Philipp Melanchthon influence?

Philipp Melanchthon has been cited as an influence by Péter Bornemisza[61].

Related Entities

Albert, Duke in Prussia Albert of Mainz Antoine of Navarre Carolus Clusius Charles V Christian III of Denmark Edward VI of England Elizabeth I of England Erasmus Eric XIV of Sweden Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor Francis I of France Frederick III of Saxony Frederick II of Denmark Georgius Agricola Gerardus Mercator Germany Gustav I of Sweden Heinrich Bullinger Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa Henry II of France Henry VIII of England Huldrych Zwingli Johann Eck Johann Reuchlin John Calvin John Frederick I John Zápolya Katharina von Bora Leonhart Fuchs

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

  1. [2] ↑ . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  2. [4] ↑ . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  3. [48] ↑ . BnF authorities. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  4. [12] ↑ . Genealogics. wikidata.org.
  5. [13] ↑ . Genealogics. wikidata.org.
  6. [14] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  7. [15] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  8. [19] ↑ . LIBRIS. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  9. [16] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  10. [17] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  11. [18] ↑ . Genealogics. wikidata.org.
  12. [30] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  13. [31] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  14. [5] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  15. [6] ↑ . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  16. [7] ↑ . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  17. [8] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  18. [9] ↑ . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  19. [20] ↑ . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  20. [21] ↑ . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  21. [22] ↑ . Library of the World's Best Literature. wikidata.org.
  22. [23] ↑ . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  23. [24] ↑ . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  24. [25] ↑ . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  25. [26] ↑ . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  26. [27] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  27. [28] ↑ . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  28. [29] ↑ . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  29. [11] ↑ . Find a Grave. wikidata.org.
  30. [47] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  31. [32] ↑ . Mathematics Genealogy Project. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  32. [33] ↑ . Mathematics Genealogy Project. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  33. [49] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  34. [50] ↑ . Mathematics Genealogy Project. wikidata.org.
  35. [51] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  36. [52] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  37. [53] ↑ . kalliope-verbund.info. kalliope-verbund.info. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  38. [1] ↑ . BnF authorities. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  39. [3] ↑ . BnF authorities. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  40. [54] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  41. [55] ↑ . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  42. [34] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  43. [35] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  44. [36] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  45. [37] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  46. [38] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  47. [39] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  48. [40] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  49. [41] ↑ . Mathematics Genealogy Project. wikidata.org.
  50. [42] ↑ . Mathematics Genealogy Project. wikidata.org.
  51. [43] ↑ . hymnary.org. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  52. [44] ↑ . Biografiskt lexikon för Finland. wikidata.org.
  53. [45] ↑ . Biografiskt lexikon för Finland. wikidata.org.
  54. [46] ↑ . Biografiskt lexikon för Finland. wikidata.org.

Inverse relationships (entities pointing at this one)

  1. [61] ↑ . wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [66] ↑ . wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [68] ↑ . wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [70] ↑ . wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [72] ↑ . wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [75] ↑ . wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [76] ↑ . wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [56] ↑ . wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [57] ↑ . wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [58] ↑ . wikidata.org. → on this site

Inline context (facts about related entities)

  1. [62] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [63] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [64] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [65] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [67] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [69] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [71] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [73] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [74] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [10] ↑ . Wikimedia Foundation. dumps.wikimedia.org.
  2. [59] ↑ . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  3. [60] ↑ . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

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APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). Philipp Melanchthon. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/philipp-melanchthon
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Edit History

Rolling log of changes to this entity's Wikidata record. Values shown reflect the current state of each edited property — follow the history link to see the precise diff for any edit.

  1. 4d ago · Epìdosis · 2026-10-08 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Significant person → Martin Luther, Willibald Pirckheimer, Erasmus +4
    Nlb authority id (belarus) → NLB-ar2872623, SEK-500796
    Claims rich → —
    "/* wbcreateclaim-create:1| */ Nlb authority id (belarus): SEK-500796, [[:toollabs:quickstatements/#/batch/289884|batch #289884]]"
  2. 8d ago · Clemens Dulcis · 2026-10-04 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Claims rich → —
    "/* wbsetclaim-update:2||1|2 */ Significant person: Willibald Pirckheimer"
  3. 8d ago · Printstream · 2026-10-04 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Wikipedia languages → ['af', 'als', 'ar', 'arz', 'ast', 'az', 'azb', 'be', 'be_x_old', 'bg', 'br', 'bs
    Nlb authority id (belarus) → NLB-ar2872623, SEK-500796
    P14927 → 118580485
    Wikipedia title → Philipp Melanchthon
    + 1 other property edited (see Wikidata diff for full list)
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/57570|batch #57570]]: Import LEO-BW ID"
  4. 20d ago · Printstream · 2026-09-23 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Sächsische biografie (gnd) id → 2851
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/55956|batch #55956]]: migrate GND to own IDs"
  5. 22d ago · Ronald Weiss · 2026-09-20 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Described by source → Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978), Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, Small Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary +17
    "/* wbsetclaim-create:2||1 */ Described by source: Erdmann: Lebensbeschreibungen (1804)"
  6. 4w ago · Printstream · 2026-09-11 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Sächsische biografie (gnd) id → 2851
    "/* wbcreateclaim-create:1| */ Sächsische biografie (gnd) id: 118580485, #quickstatements; #temporary_batch_1789158480789"
  7. 7w ago · Mahirtwofivesix · 2026-08-19 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Babelnet id → 00054227n
    Arabic ontology lexical concept id → 151060719
    "/* wbeditentity-statements-multiple-properties-update:0||4 */ added/modified IDs mapped to WordNet 3.1"
  8. 11w ago · Pierrotrgr · 2026-07-22 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Biblissima authority id → Les Masies de Roda
    "/* wbsetclaim-create:2||1 */ Biblissima authority id: Q13803, Import ID Biblissima V2 ([[:toollabs:editgroups/b/OR/74d891b831c|details]])"
  9. 13w ago · Ronald Weiss · 2026-07-11 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Described by source → Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978), Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, Small Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary +17
    "/* wbsetclaim-create:2||1 */ Described by source: Adam: Vitae germanorum philosophorum (1615)"
  10. 14w ago · Printstream · 2026-07-04 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    P14608 → 118580485
    "/* wbcreateclaim-create:1| */ P14608: 118580485, #quickstatements; #temporary_batch_1783130387391"
  11. 14w ago · Printstream · 2026-07-02 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    P14585 → 39534
    "/* wbcreateclaim-create:1| */ P14585: 39534, #quickstatements; #temporary_batch_1782930557898"
  12. 14w ago · Printstream · 2026-07-01 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    P14578 → 10026
    "/* wbcreateclaim-create:1| */ P14578: 10026, #quickstatements; #temporary_batch_1782902181175"
  13. 15w ago · Printstream · 2026-06-26 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    P14536 → 365041
    "/* wbcreateclaim-create:1| */ P14536: 365041, #quickstatements; #temporary_batch_1782462304762"
  14. 17w ago · Bargioni · 2026-06-15 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Birth name → {'lang': 'de', 'text': 'Philipp Schwartzerdt'}
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/36438|batch #36438]]: add P1810 to P5504 (RISM persons)"
  15. 17w ago · Charp238 · 2026-06-15 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Student → Zacharias Ursinus, Martin Helwig, Jacob Heerbrand +10
    Namuwiki id → 필리프 멜란히톤
    "/* wbsetclaim-create:2||1 */ Namuwiki id: 필리프 멜란히톤"
  16. 17w ago · Robertsilen · 2026-06-14 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Student → Zacharias Ursinus, Martin Helwig, Jacob Heerbrand +10
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/36495|batch #36495]]: P1066 student till, blf.fi, inverse"
  17. 17w ago · BMacZero · 2026-06-12 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Signature → Melanchton sig (transparent).png
    "/* wbsetclaim-update:2||1 */ Signature: Melanchton sig (transparent).png"
  18. 20w ago · Epìdosis · 2026-05-21 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Occupation → astronomer, theologian, university teacher +9
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/32152|batch #32152]]: import P21 and P106 from GND (34)"
  19. 21w ago · RVA2869 · 2026-05-16 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Described by source → Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978), Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, Small Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary +17
    Local thumb → —
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/31868|batch #31868]]: Remove redundant described by source (P1343) - ID P8044 is present."
  20. 22w ago · Bargioni · 2026-05-07 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Local thumb → —
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/30469|batch #30469]]: add P1810 to P5739 3/3"
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