BORA, CATERINA VON

BORA, CATERINA von. - Born into a noble but impoverished family at Klein-Laussig on 29 Jan. 1499, at the age of ten she was placed with the Cistercian nuns of the monastery of Nimbschen, where she professed in 1515. She was among the twelve nuns who, following the preaching of the new doctrines, left the monastery at the urging of Leonardo Koppe, a member of the Council of Torgau, and, with eight companions, took refuge in Wittemberg on 7 Apr. 1523. B. was received into the home of the mayor F. Reichenbach, while her companions found shelter with other families in the city. By her arts she succeeded in gaining Luther’s favour, and he, abandoning all delay, married her on the evening of 13 June 1525 in the presence of several friends; on the 27th he celebrated the public wedding feast according to local custom. The marriage of a friar to a professed religious caused a stir, and Luther found himself obliged to explain his sudden decision. Despite her pride of rank, B. was a shrewd and diligent housewife; between 1526 and 1534 she bore Luther six children: Giovanna, Elisabetta, who died at eight months, Maddalena, who died at thirteen, Martino, Paolo, and Margherita, none of whom rose above the most modest circumstances. Reduced to straitened means after Luther’s death, B. withdrew to Torgau, where she died on 20 Dec. 1552.