This week in Christian history: French Protestant leader martyred, JS Bach elected church cantor, Diet of Speyer

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, April 16, 2023

French Protestant Reformation leader burned at stake – April 17, 1529

A 19th century depiction of Louis de Berquin (1492-1529), a French Protestant Reformation leader, being released from prison by John de la Barre. | Public Domain

This week marks the anniversary of when Louis de Berquin, a French nobleman and leader of the Protestant Reformation, was burned at the stake for refusing to recant his beliefs.

Berquin was an early supporter of the Reformation, at one point translating Martin Luther’s De votis monasticis (“On monastic vows”) and tracts by scholar Erasmus into French.

His writings were considered heretical by the Catholic establishment, with the French Parliament ultimately deciding to execute him when he refused to recant his work.

“I would rather endure death than give my approval, even by silence only, to condemnation of the truth,” Berquin declared shortly before he was executed, as quoted by the Christian History Institute.