University of Virginia Library

ERASMUS, Desiderius (1469-1536):

Dutch CHRISTIAN-HUMANIST who exercised a profound influence on the PROTESTANT REFORMERS although he never left the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH and after first encouraging LUTHER, became a strong critic of his THEOLOGY. His most famous books are: The Praise of Folly (1509); Education of a Christian Prince (1516) and Diatribe on Free Will (1524) which was an attack on Luther's views.