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German History in Documents and Images
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Johann Geiler von Keysersberg (1590)
One of the most famous German preachers of the late 15th and early 16th century, Johann Geiler von Keysersberg (1445-1510) was appointed cathedral preacher in Strasbourg in 1478. He was known for his bold, incisive admonishments and highly popular sermons in the language of the common people. His sermons were recorded by members of the congregation and were widely published thanks to Strasbourg’s thriving printing industry. In 1559, Pope Paul IV had Geiler’s writings put on the index of banned books (Index Librorum Prohibitorum). Woodcut by Nikolaus Reusner, 1590.