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Capito
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1478?
Born Wolfang Köpfel in Haguenau, north of Strasbourg, to Agnes and Hans Köpfel, a smith; educated at the Latin school at Pforzheim.
1501
Matriculation at Ingolstadt.
1504
Matriculation at Heidelberg.
1505
BA? Matriculation at Freiburg im Breisgau.
1506
MA from the University of Freiburg; contacts with Jacob Wimpheling.
1509
Ordained priest (Johann Eck officiating).
1512
Licence in theology from the University of Freiburg; begins to study Hebrew with the converso Matthaeus Adrianus; Bishop of Speyer appoints him preacher in Bruchsal.
1515
Doctorate of Theology from the University of Freiburg; called to Basel by Bishop Christoph of Utenheim, becomes cathedral preacher and professor of theology; associates with scholars at the Froben press: Johannes Oecolampadius, Conradus Pellicanus, the Amerbach brothers, Beatus Rhenanus, Desiderius Erasmus.
1518
Persuades Froben to publish a volume of Luther's writings for which he provides a preface and glosses.
1520
Moves to Mainz and becomes cathedral preacher and advisor to the archbishop, Albert of Brandenburg.
1521
Persuades Albert to decline the post of inquisitor general for Germany in the wake of Luther's condemnation at the Diet of Worms; fallout with Luther over the latter's radical tactics; visits Wittenberg during Luther's absence at the Wartburg, meets with Melanchthon and successfully staves off publication of Luther's tract Against the Idol of Halle directed against Albert's renewed sale of indulgences.
1522
Visits Wittenberg and reconciles with Luther.
1523
Tries to secure the provostship of St. Thomas in Strasbourg; accompanies Albert to the Diet of Nürnberg; sensitive correspondence between Capito and Luther is published without his authorization; he resigns his position at Albert's court, moves permanently to Strasbourg, and takes out citizenship.
1524
The parishioners of New St. Peters invite him to become their preacher; he resigns his provostship (resumed in 1538) and marries Agnes Roettel, the daughter of a city councilor; he officially joins the party of the reformers, assisting Martin Bucer, Matthias Zell, and Caspar Hedio in their efforts to reform Strasbourg; he engages in controversy with Conrad Treger, provincial of the Alsatian Augustinians.
1528
Invited to attend the Disputation of Bern together with Bucer as observers; the mass is abolished in Bern; Bucer and Capito who have been urging the Strasbourg council to abolish the mass renew their efforts.
1529
Mass is abolished in Strasbourg; Capito and Bucer invited to join the Marburg Colloquy but illness prevents Capito's attendance; he sympathizes with Zwingli's spiritual interpretation of the Lord's Supper.
1530
Travels with Bucer to the Diet of Augsburg; collaborates on the formulation of the Tetrapolitan Confession signed by Strasbourg, Lindau, Memmingen, and Constance; he disagrees with Bucer over the severe treatment of Anabaptists.
1531
Death of Zwingli and Oecolampadius; Capito ill with the plague; his wife dies; Michael Servetus visits Strasbourg; Capito criticized for associating with Servetus.
1532
Capito advises Bern and Basel on their church orders; he marries Oecolampadius' widow, Wibrandis Rosenblatt.
1533
Strasbourg synod; Capito collaborates on the draft of the Sixteen Articles, the city's official statement of doctrine.
1534/5
Strasbourg expels radical sects; Capito in financial troubles because of investments in Matthaeus Apiarius' press; Capito sent to advise Frankfurt on church order.
1536
Accompanies Bucer and cosigns Wittenberg Concord, which unites the adherents of the Tetrapolitan Confession with the Lutherans; Capito fails in his efforts to persuade Basel, Bern, and Zurich to sign as well.
1537
Advises Duke Ruprecht of the Palatinate-Zweibrücken on reforms in his territory.
1540
Attends the Colloquy of Worms, but is pessimistic about a concord between Catholics and Protestants; a statement advocating Nicodemism circulates under Capito's name.
1541
Dies of the plague; his widow marries Bucer.
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