CARLSTADT, Andreas Rudolf Boden stein, German theologian: b. Carlstadt, Fran conia, 1480; d. Basel, Switzerland, 25 Dec. 1541. He is celebrated in the history of the Reforma tion for his fanaticism as well as his misfor tunes. He studied at Erfurt (1500-03), Cologne (1503) and Wittenberg (1510), where he was finally appointed professor of theology in 1513. In 1515 he went to Rome to study law and took the degree of LL.D. His learning enabled him to render great support to Luther in his first steps for the introduction of a reforma tion. In 1520 he was included in the bull which condemned Luther; and his spirited appeal from the Pope to a general council, of which he gave the first example, as well as his opin ion openly expressed, in favor of the marriage of the priesthood, was among the many proofs which he gave of his zeal for the Reformation. While Luther was at Wartburg Carlstadt's zeal urged him to acts of violence. He even insti gated the people and students to the destruction of the altars and the images of the saints, greatly to the displeasure of Luther, who lost the friendship of Carlstadt by his opposition to his excesses. He publicly declared himself the opponent of Luther, and the Elector Frederick banished him from the country in September 1524. Carlstadt then commenced the contro versy respecting the sacrament, denying, in op position to Luther, the bodily presence of Christ in the sacramental elements, and recog nizing in the rite a token of remembrance sim ply. This controversy was carried on with
the bitterest animosity; and Zwinglius having declared himself in favor of Carlstadt's doc trine, a dispute ensued between the Swiss and Wittenberg theologians which ended in the sep aration of the Calvinists and Lutherans. Carl stadt in the meantime being suspected, not with out reason, of having taken part in the revolt of the peasants in Franconia, was obliged to wander through Germany, and being ultimately reduced to extreme distress, sought relief of Luther who procured him an asylum at Kem berg, on condition that he should refrain from the expression of his opinions. Here he lived nearly three years. His restless mind, however, soon led him to break his promise, by the publication of some writings in 1528; and he even went so far as to plot against Luther's person. To escape from the consequences of his conduct he repaired to Switzerland at the end of the same year, where he was appointed vicar of Altstadt, in the valley of the Rhine; in 1530, deacon at Zurich; and in 1534, vicar and professor of theology at Basel. Consult, for his biography, Jager, J. C. (Stuttgart 1856) and Lindsay, 'History of the Reformation> (Vol. I New York 1906). Many of his letters are in Olearius, Antiquarium) (Halle 1698).