Institutio Principis Christiani

Throughout the whole of Erasmus’ life, 1467–1536, there never was a time when Europe was at peace. In Holland his boyhood witnessed continual struggles between Hoeks and Cabeljaus, intermittent war between the Duke of Gueldres and the Bishop of Utrecht, and the ravages of German bands retained by the oppressive ducal governors. Flanders, Brabant, and Liège were the scenes of repeated revolts against the sovereignty of successive dukes of Burgundy, put down for a time by ruthless massacres of the towns and breaking out afresh at every accession of strength to the Guilds. Further afield were the expeditions of Charles the Bold against France, Alsace and Lorraine, ending in his death at the siege of Nancy in 1477, and resumed by Maximilian after his marriage with Charles’ heiress, Mary. In 1494, the year in which Erasmus, by becoming secretary to the Bishop of Cambrai, took his first step into the world