27 moments

1. Birth in Rotterdam

   1466-01-01 · Rotterdam, Netherlands

   

   Erasmus was born in Rotterdam, though the exact year and day remain disputed in the surviving biographical evidence. The article gives 1466 but notes scholarly disagreement over his birth year; coordinates represent Rotterdam.

2. Childhood move to Gouda

   1476-01-01 · Gouda, Netherlands

   

   His family moved to Gouda, where he began school under Pieter Winckel.

3. Latin-school education in Deventer

   1478-01-01 · Deventer, Netherlands

   

   Erasmus and his brother Peter were sent to the Latin school at Deventer, where Erasmus began learning Greek.

4. Seminary schooling in 's-Hertogenbosch

   1484-01-01 · 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands

   

   He and his brother attended a grammar school or seminary run by the Brethren of the Common Life. The source describes the date and his age as approximate.

5. Novitiate at Stein

   1487-01-01 · Stein near Gouda, South Holland, Netherlands

   

   Poverty led Erasmus into the consecrated life at the Chapter of Sion canonry in rural Stein near Gouda. Coordinates use Gouda as a representative point because the source places the rural canonry only as near Gouda.

6. Profession of vows at Stein

   1488-01-01 · Stein near Gouda, South Holland, Netherlands

   

   Erasmus professed vows as a Canon Regular of St Augustine at the Stein canonry. Coordinates use Gouda as a representative point for rural Stein.

7. Departure from Stein for Brabant

   1493-01-01 · Brabant, Low Countries

   

   His prior released him from the Stein house to become Latin secretary to Bishop Henry of Bergen in Brabant. The source supports Brabant but does not specify a single settlement; coordinates represent Brussels in the historical region.

8. Theological study in Paris

   1495-01-01 · Collège de Montaigu, Paris, France

   

   With Bishop Henry's consent and a stipend, Erasmus began study at the University of Paris's Collège de Montaigu. Coordinates identify the former Collège de Montaigu area in Paris.

9. First English visit at Oxford

   1499-01-01 · St Mary's College, Oxford, England, United Kingdom

   

   During his first English journey Erasmus spent two months at St Mary's College, University of Oxford, and formed important scholarly friendships. Coordinates represent central Oxford; St Mary's College was a historical Augustinian-canons college.

10. Writing at Saint-Bertin Abbey

    1501-01-01 · Abbey of Saint-Bertin, Saint-Omer, France

    

    After returning from England, Erasmus worked and wrote at the Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Bertin in Saint-Omer, producing an initial version of the Enchiridion. The source supports a stay spanning 1501–1502; this card uses the first supported year.

11. Move to Louvain

    1502-01-01 · Louvain, Brabant, Belgium

    

    Erasmus went to Brabant and ultimately to the university at Louvain.

12. Second stay in England

    1505-01-01 · London, England, United Kingdom

    

    On his second English visit, Erasmus spent more than a year living in Thomas More's household while refining his translation skills. The source identifies More's house but does not name the city in this sentence; coordinates use London, where More was active and resident.

13. Doctorate at Turin

    1506-01-01 · University of Turin, Turin, Italy

    

    While travelling through Italy, Erasmus passed through Turin and arranged to receive the Doctor of Sacred Theology degree from its university.

14. Tutoring residence in Bologna

    1506-01-01 · Bologna, Italy

    

    Erasmus remained in Bologna as a tutor for a year and was there when Pope Julius II entered the conquered city. The source dates his arrival and year-long stay from 1506 but does not give a calendar date for the papal entry.

15. Advanced Greek study in Padua

    1507-01-01 · Padua, Italy

    

    Erasmus studied advanced Greek in Padua with Giulio Camillo and escorted Alexander Stewart through northern and central Italian cities.

16. Visits to Rome

    1509-01-01 · Rome, Italy

    

    Erasmus reached Rome, visited it three times, and sought contacts among librarians and cardinals.

17. Arrival at Thomas More's house

    1510-01-01 · London, England, United Kingdom

    

    Returning to England, Erasmus arrived at Thomas More's household, recovered from illness, and wrote The Praise of Folly. The source names More's house but not its city in this sentence; coordinates use London.

18. Hebrew study in Mainz

    1514-01-01 · Mainz, Germany

    

    While travelling toward Basel, Erasmus met leading German humanists in Mainz, where Johann Reuchlin introduced him to Hebrew.

19. Recovery in Antwerp

    1518-01-01 · Antwerp, Belgium

    

    During a plague illness, Erasmus spent a month recovering in the Antwerp home of his publisher and friend Dirk Martens.

20. Field of the Cloth of Gold

    1520-01-01 · Field of the Cloth of Gold, near Balinghem, France

    

    Erasmus attended the Anglo-French summit known as the Field of the Cloth of Gold, alongside Guillaume Budé. Coordinates represent the documented summit area near Balinghem.

21. Residence at De Swaene

    1521-01-01 · De Swaene, Anderlecht, Belgium

    

    Amid theological controversy, Erasmus lived at De Swaene in Anderlecht, where he wrote letters and biblical studies before leaving on 28 October. The year is established by the surrounding 1521 chronology; the quoted sentence gives the day and month but not the year.

22. Settlement in Basel

    1521-01-01 · Basel, Switzerland

    

    Erasmus settled in Basel and became literary superintendent for the Froben press, working in a substantial scholarly household.

23. Whale House residence in Freiburg

    1529-01-01 · Whale House, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

    

    In Freiburg Erasmus lived for two years on the top floor of the Whale House before buying and refurbishing his own home. The statement appears in the Freiburg 1529–1535 section but does not state the precise starting year; 1529 is the supported relocation year.

24. Departure from Basel

    1529-04-13 · Basel, Switzerland

    

    Following Basel's adoption of the Reformation, Erasmus left the city with other Catholic clergy for Freiburg im Breisgau.

25. Relocation to Freiburg im Breisgau

    1529-04-13 · Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

    

    Erasmus relocated from Basel to the Catholic university town of Freiburg im Breisgau, seeking Ferdinand of Austria's protection. The source explicitly records departure for Freiburg; arrival is implied by the subsequent Freiburg residence section.

26. Return to the Froben compound

    1535-01-01 · Froben compound, Basel, Switzerland

    

    Erasmus moved back from Freiburg to the Froben compound in Basel, where he oversaw publication of his final major works. Coordinates represent central Basel; the exact historical Froben-compound footprint is not specified by the source.

27. Death in Basel

    1536-07-12 · Basel, Switzerland

    

    Erasmus died of dysentery in Basel, in the company of friends including Bonifacius Amerbach and Hieronymus Froben. The source's 'Death in Basel' section establishes Basel as the location.