Note 174 — Chapter XXXI · A.D. 1500-1600. THE JEWS IN GERMANY AND CENTRAL EUROPE.

Johann Reuchlin was born at Pforzheim, December 28, 1455, of poor parents. The sweetness of his voice attracted attention to him, and he was sent to be educated at Paris. He began his career as a teacher of classics at Basle, but soon abandoned this for the profession of the law. In 1482 he had become known as a Hebrew scholar, and he was noticed by the Emperor Frederick III. In 1498 he returned to Stuttgard, where his fame continued to increase; in consequence of which Pfeffercorn’s proposals were submitted to him by Maximilian. The most celebrated satire of the day, the Epistola Obscurorum Virorum, was written to uphold his views, and had the effect of completely crushing his adversaries. Reuchlin died at Stuttgard, December, 1521.