Honterus’s Reformation Book and Its Impact on the Magistrates of Transylvanian Cities

Abstract

  My study examines the impact of Ecclesiastical Ordinance, written by Johannes Honterus and adopted by the Saxon University in 1547, on the political discourse and activities of urban leaders. It argues that the cooperation between the political and ecclesiastical institutions of the Transylvanian Saxons led to the development of a new vocabulary, through which urban leaders recognized and accepted their authoritative role and divine mission in governance. Additionally, the study explores how Honterus’s ordinance provided political leaders with guidance on implementing measures to fulfill their designated responsibilities.