Brassicanus, Johann Alexander

Brassicanus, Johann Alexander an opponent of the reformation, belonged to a family of Constance, originally named Kohlor Kol, which, however, took the Latin name of Brassicanus in the 15th century. In 1493 a certain Johannes Kol, called Brassicanus, was promoted at Tubingen; he was Melanchthon's teacher, and is probably the father of Johann Alexander, who was professor at Ingolstadt in 1523. At first Alexander belonged to the secret adherents of Luther, but his patristic studies made him soon a decided opponent of the Reformation. In 1524 he was called to Vienna, where he died, November 27, 1539. See Dollinger, Reformation, 1:525 sq.; Hefele, in Wetzer u. Welte's Kirchenlexikon, s.v. (B.P.)