AMSDORF, NICOLAUS VON Protestant reformer, was born on Dec. 3 1483, at Torgau, on the Elbe and died at Eisenach on May 14 1565. He was educated at Leipzig, and then at Wittenberg. Throughout his life he re mained one of Luther's most determined and active supporters. He was with him at the Leipzig conference (1519), and the Diet of Worms (1521) ; and was in the secret of his Wartburg seclusion.
He assisted the first efforts of the Reformation at Magdeburg (1524), at Goslar (1531) and at Einbeck ; took an active part in the debates at Schmalkalden (1537), where he defended the use of the sacrament by the unbelieving; and (1539) spoke out strongly against the bigamy of the landgrave of Hesse. After the death of the count palatine bishop of Naumburg-Zeitz, he was installed there ( Jan. 20 1542), though in opposition to the chapter, by the elector of Saxony and Luther. His position was a painful one, and he longed to get back to Magdeburg, but was persuaded by Luther to stay. After Luther's death (1546) he took part in founding Jena University (1548) ; opposed the "Augsburg Interim" (1S48) ; and superintended the publication of the Jena edition of Luther's works. He urged the separation of the High Lutheran party from Melanchthon (1557), got the Saxon dukes to oppose the Frankfort Recess (1558) and con tinued to fight for the purity of Lutheran doctrine. Many let ters and other short productions of his pen are extant in manu script, especially five thick volumes of Amsdor fiana, in the Weimar library. They are a valuable source for our knowledge of Luther. A small sect, which adopted his opinion on good works, which he held to be useless, was called after him.
in Th. Pressel, Leben u. ausgewahlte Schrift. der Vdter der luth. Kirche, vol. viii. (published separately, Elberfeld, 1862, 8vo.) ; J. Meier in Das Leben der Altvdter der luth. Kirche, vol. iii., ed. M. Meurer (1863) ; art. by G. Kawerau in Herzog-Hauck, Realencyk. fur Prot. Theologie (3rd ed., Leipzig, 1896).