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Erasmus, Desiderius, of Rotterdam
(2,168 words)

[German Version]

I. Life and Work – II. Influence

(Oct 27/28, 1466/1469, Gouda or Rotterdam – Jul 12, 1536, Basel). Humanist.

I. Life and Work

Erasmus first adopted the name Desiderius in 1496, as an etymologizing equivalent to his baptismal name Herasmus and probably also his father's name Gerardus (Rogerius: Ep. 518, OE 2, 437). He also mentions Jerome's friend Desiderius, who had asked Jerome to translate the Pentateuch (Ep. 743, OE 3, 325). This sug-gests that the name was programmatic. He himself gives contradictory state…

Cite this page
Winkler, Gerhard Bernhard, “Erasmus, Desiderius, of Rotterdam”, in: Religion Past and Present. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1877-5888_rpp_COM_04454>
First published online: 2011
First print edition: ISBN: 9789004146662, 2006-2013



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