Erasmus: A Year of Triumphs and Trials

1528 was a momentous year for Erasmus, filled with both significant accomplishments and formidable challenges. Amidst his busy schedule, Erasmus managed to publish "De Ciceroniaan," an enlightening treatise on the best literary style. Additionally, he triumphantly completed his monumental ten-volume edition of Augustine's works. However, Erasmus found himself constantly hindered by relentless attacks from the theological faculty of Paris and the Spanish monastic orders, who sought to label him a heretic. The period also witnessed a heated conflict with Heinrich Eppendorf and the ire of Guillaume Budé, who took offense at "De Ciceroniaan." The year was further marred by the untimely deaths of Albrecht Dürer in April and Erasmus' patron, Ferry de Carondelet, in June, just days after dedicating an edition of Faustus of Riez's works to him.

Perils and Decisions

Facing the Zwinglian Reformation's spread to Basel in January 1528, Erasmus feared the ascendancy of Zwingli's followers to power. Consequently, he made plans to depart Basel before the winter of 1528/29. Several influential figures extended invitations: Charles V to Spain, Ferdinand of Austria to Vienna, Margareta of Austria to Brabant, Sigismund I to Poland, Francis I to France, and Henry VIII to England. Erasmus seriously considered the English option but ultimately declined due to his advanced age, fragile health, and the perilous journey it entailed. Following a wave of iconoclasm and the destruction of religious imagery in February 1529, Erasmus left Basel and relocated to Freiburg im Breisgau.

Battling Adversaries

The attacks from the theological faculty of Paris, led by Noël Béda, persisted relentlessly. In a scathing letter, Erasmus likened Béda to three thousand monks, emphasizing the intensity of their opposition. Erasmus's letters to the theological faculty, Francis I, and the Parliament of Paris, urging them to silence Béda, proved ineffective. He also corresponded with Nicolas Le Clerc, a member of a special inquiry commission into heresy, to defend himself against the accusations leveled against him.

Despite the whirlwind of challenges Erasmus faced in 1528, his enduring intellect, fortitude, and determination never faltered as he navigated through this eventful chapter of his life.