KRANTZ, krantz, ALBERT: Historian of the fifteenth century; b. at Hamburg c. 1445 or somewhat earlier; d. there Dec. 7, 1517. He was matriculated at Rostock 1463, continued his studies at Cologne, at first being interested in law and then turning to theology and history. After extensive journeys, during which he gathered from different libraries material later utilized in his works on history, he seems to have been appointed professor at the University of Rostock, of which in 1482 he became rector and in 1486 dean of the philosophical faculty. In the same year he was appointed also syndic of the town of Lübeck. He seems to have lived at that time in Lübeck, and it is not certain whether he continued to be active at Rostock. In 1493 he became first lector of theology at the cathedral of Hamburg, and after 1500 he seems to have held also the position of syndic of Hamburg. In 1508 he became dean of the cathedral chapter and twice, in 1508 and 1514, held strict church visitations in his diocese, urging the removal of abuses and a stricter obedience to the laws of the church. In theology Krantz took the standpoint of the older Catholicism, but in some of his views reveals the beginnings of the modern spirit. He approved of Luther's vehement opposition against the abuse of indulgences, but considered the removal of them an undertaking beyond the powers of a monk. A few days before his death, as he lay on his bed, Luther's theses were brought and read to him. He then ejaculated: "Brother, brother, go to thy cell and say 'God be merciful to me."' From the lectures of Krantz to the clergy of Hamburg Bertold Moller edited Spirantissimum opusculum in officium misse (1506). Krantz edited also Ordo missalis secundum ritum ecclesiæ Hamburgensisf (Strasburg, 1509), but his chief fame rests upon his historical works; he has been called a second Adam of Bremen, although others have reproached him with partizanship and plagiarism; but his writings show great diligence and the method employed in them marks essential progress in historical literature. Their titles are Wandalia seu de Wandalorum vera origine, variis gentibus, . . . migrationibus (Cologne, 1518); Saxonia. De Saxonicæ

381

gentis vetusta origine, longinquis expeditionibus . . . et bellis (1520); Hystoria von den alten Hussen zu Behemen in Kaiser Sigmunds Zeiten (n. p., 1523); Chronica regnorum aquilonarum Daniæ, Sueciæ et Norvagiæ (Strasburg, Germ., 1545, Lat., 1546); Metropolis seu historia de ecclesiis sub Carolo Magno in Saxonia (Basle, 1548). These works still possess value for the church history of north Europe and of northwestern Germany; they were continually reprinted in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, though the Roman Catholic Church put them on the index.

(CARL BERTHEAU.)

BIBLIOGRAPHY: N. Wilkens, Leben des berühmten Doct. Alberti Crantzii, Hamburg, 1722; Zeitschrift des Vereins für hamburgische Geschichte, iii (1851), 395-413 (by C. Mönekeberg), x (1899), 385-484 (by E. Schäfer); O. Krabbe, Die Universität Rostock, i . 224-236, Rostock, 1854; R. Lange, in Hansische Geschichtsblätter, v (1885), 63-100; J. Moller, in Cimbria literata, iii. 378-392; L. Daae, in Historisk Tidskrift, II., iv. 187 sqq., v. 225; ADB, xvii. 43-44.