Cochlaeus, Johannes

Cochlaeus, Johannes (proper name Dobneck), was born in 1479 at Wendelstein, near Nurnberg; became rector in Nirnberg, 1511; in 1527, dean at Frankfort; finally, canon of Breslau, in which office he died, 1552. He was one of the most violent opponents of the Reformation. He attended the Diet of Worms (1522), where he became a sort of volunteer aid to Alexander, the papal nuncio. He is charged with having sought to induce Luther to give up his safe- conduct, in order to put him in the power of the legate; but Cochlaeus afterwards denied that this was his purpose. He was also present at the Diets of Ratisbon, 1526, and of Augsburg, 1530. At the latter, with Eck, Faber, and Wimpina, he undertook to refute the Augsburg Confession. His "refutation" was read before the Diet August 3. On the death of Eck (1543), Cochlaeus took his place as the leading champion of the and- Reformers. He wrote a tirade against Melancthon, entitled Philippicae, addressed to the emperor. In 1546 he was active at the colloquy of Ratisbon, against Bucer and Major. His numerous pamphlets are full of violence and personalities. Among them are Bockspiel Martini Luthers (Mainz, 1531); Lutherus Septiceps (Mainz, 1529); Historia Hussitarum (Mainz, 1549; De actis and scriptis Lutheri (1549, fol.); Speculum circa Missam; De emendanda Ecclesia, 1539, 8vo. — Dupin, Eccles. Hist. cent. 16, p. 456; Wetzer u. Welte, Kirchen-Lex. 2, 647; Pierer, Universal- Lexikon, 4, 270; Ranke, History of the Reformation, 3. 306; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, 10, 955.