Katharina von Bora (1499 –1552) was the wife of Martin Luther. Little is known about her life, with details drawn primarily from Luther’s writings and the few surviving public records. What is clear from Luther’s letters is that von Bora was essential to his work, serving as his agent with colleagues, publishers, and secular and religious leaders of the time. She also managed their household—the “Black Cloister” in Wittenburg—overseeing staff, farming, cooking, brewing, and livestock. While their marriage may have initially been one of necessity and politics, from Luther’s writings, it appears they became very fond of each other and expressed a great deal of mutual admiration and support.
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Katharina von Bora’s origins are unclear but she was likely the daughter of a landed, but poor, family. A 1531 letter documents that her family sent her to the Benedictine cloister in Brehna in 1504 when she was just five years old. A 1509/1510 provision list documents van Bora’s presence at the Cistercian monastery of Marienthron in Nimbschen. While she knew no other life outside the Church she became interested in the reform movement and unhappy with the monastic life. Though leaving the monastery was forbidden by the Church, she conspired with twelve other nuns to escape, eventually reaching out to Luther and asking for his help. On Easter Eve, April 4, 1523, the nuns, hidden amongst herring barrels in wagons, escaped to Wittenberg.
Within two years Luther was able to find husbands, homes, or work for all of the nuns but von Bora. Initially she worked in the household of Phillip Reichenbach, Wittenberg’s city clerk, then later in the household of Lucas Cranach the Elder. Ultimately, she declared she would only marry Luther or his fellow reformer Nikolaus von Amsdorf. The 41-year-old Martin married 26-year-old Katharina on June 13, 1525 in a small ceremony. Lucas and Barbara Cranach were among the small circle of friends in attendance.
After Luther’s death in 1546, von Bora remained at their home in Wittenburg until forced to flee by war. She returned in 1547 to find her lands ravaged by the invading army. The Elector of Saxony provided her enough funds to survive, though in poverty, until the outbreak of the Black Plague in 1552. While fleeing to Torgau, her cart overturned, severely injuring her. She died three months later.