Is anyone here familiar with the 1530s-1550s spread of Lutheranism into Transylvania, specifically to Nagyszeben/Hermannstadt now Sibiu, Romania?
The source of the question is regarding family history. We have always had a family myth that stemmed from this document that one of our forefathers was a minister at the Frauenkirche in Wittenberg when Martin Luther was there, and then was sent to Hermannstadt in 1536 to become one of the first superintendents in Transylvania. (My grandmother's paternal line took the name Wittenberger to celebrate this history). However, all of the books I have read about this time period mention that Paul Wiener was the first superintendent, elected in 1553. I tried looking for more notable pastors in the time but have found no mention of this mysterious 'Baron Lády'.
Any information, pointers, theories would be really welcome! I am fully willing to also accept the fact that this document was not really based on true facts and was written to up societal standing at the time, but it would be great to know for sure.
Hi! Working on Sibiu, but for the 18th century, so I don't really get into the spread of Lutheranism. Have you seen Hermann Jekeli's Die Bischöfe der evangelischen Kirche A.B in Siebenbürgen? It contains brief biographies of all bishops (superintendents) of the Lutheran Church in Transylvania, and that is your best bet of finding something on this person. You might also want to look through the Archiv des Vereins für Siebenbürgische Landeskunde (the major scientific periodical published by the Saxon cultural and historical association starting with the mid-nineteenth century). There are plenty of articles relating to the Reformation, and there might be something of interest there as well. Most issues are available on archive.org. 1536 is indeed a bit early for anything to be called "Lutheranism" in Transylvania, I would say. It took quite a bit of time for confessionalization to be set on a clear course (well into the 17th century, I would say).
If you have more information, or other documents, please feel free to PM me. I will be heading to the archives in Sibiu sometime this summer, and perhaps I can look into this further.