Editing Johannes Sturm (section)

== Biography ==
Sturm was born in [[Schleiden]]. In 1521 or 1522 he started studies at the school of St. Jerome, [[Liège]], and went on to the [[Old University of Leuven|University of Leuven]]. There he had a share in a printing press and issued several Greek works. In 1529 he moved to Paris, where in addition to selling books he was asked to teach and gave lectures on [[Cicero]] and [[Demosthenes]]. Influenced by the writings of [[Martin Bucer]] he adopted the principles of the [[Protestant Reformation]]. He participated in the attempt to reconcile [[Protestant]] and [[Roman Catholic]] parties in 1534.<ref name="SH">{{Schaff-Herzog}} [https://archive.org/stream/newschaffherzoge028028mbp#page/n145/mode/2up]</ref>

At the urging of Bucer and the unrelated statesman [[Jacob Sturm von Sturmeck]], Sturm accepted a call to teach in [[Strassburg]] in 1537, and in 1538 he set up the Protestant [[Gymnasium (Germany)|gymnasium]], the [[Schola Argentoratensis]] (now called Jean Sturm Gymnasium), there, which provided the model for the modern German gymnasium. He directed the school for 43 years, and the school attained a wide celebrity, becoming an influential model for [[Renaissance humanism|humanistic]] gymnasia especially in Germany.

He undertook diplomatic missions on behalf of Strassburg, the Protestant estates and the king of France. He attended the conferences at [[Hagenau]] and [[Worms, Germany|Worms]] in 1540, and at [[Regensburg]] in 1541; and went with Bucer to meet the [[elector of Cologne]], in 1542. After helping to negotiate peace between England and France in 1545, he again went to France in 1546, at the outbreak of the [[War of the Schmalkaldic League]], to seek the help of [[François I]]. He asked for German aid to the [[Huguenots]], which made him suspect in the eyes of [[Lutherans]].<ref name=SH/>

Sturm was often asked to advise on the creation or reform of schools, among others the gymnasium at [[Lauingen]] (1564).  His influence is seen in the school regulations of Württemberg (1559), Brunswick (1569), and Saxony (1580).

After the death of [[Jacob Sturm von Sturmeck|Jacob Sturm]] and with the stricter enforcement of the Lutheran confession in Strassburg after 1555, Sturm became involved in ongoing controversies. He upheld the broader views of Bucer, and was influenced by his Biblical and [[Renaissance humanistic]] views towards a non-dogmatic Christianity.  A dispute over the orthodoxy of [[Girolamo Zanchi]] (whom Sturm defended against [[Johann Marbach]] and other Lutheran critics) was resolved in 1563, but the theological complaints against Sturm's views, and those of his staff, persisted; in 1570 Sturm offered to resign, but the city council declined to accept.  Sturm's ongoing conflict with [[Johann Marbach|Marbach]] was adjudicated in Sturm's favor in 1575. But the 1577 Lutheran [[Formula of Concord]] reopened the conflict; the theologian [[Johannes Pappus]] agitated for its official imposition in Strassburg, supported in the ensuing pamphlet war by the Swabians [[Andreas Osiander]] and [[Jakob Andrea]]; Sturm opposed them vigorously and vituperatively. Sturm was relieved of his position in 1581 and retired to [[Northeim]].<ref name=SH/>  He died in Strassburg in 1589.