The German Protestant reformer Andreas Bodenheim von Karlstadt (ca. 1480-1541) was an early supporter of Martin Luther. He later broke with Luther and became one of the more radical leaders of the Reformation.

Karlstadt was born at Karlstadt in Franconia. He attended the University of Erfurt, from which he received his bachelor's degree in 1502. He studied at Cologne and in 1504 went to the University of Wittenberg, where he rose to academic prominence. He won a doctor of laws degree at Siena in 1516. Introduced to the writings of St. Augustine by Martin Luther, Karlstadt soon shared the theological preoccupations that led to the start of the Reformation in 1517. In 1519 Karlstadt arranged the famous Leipzig Debates between himself and Johann Eck, but he made such a poor showing that his place had to be taken by Luther.

Karlstadt's career until 1519 was marked by considerable intelligence, a capacity for profound and...