Stigel, Johann

Stigel, Johann, a friend of Melancthon and Luther, and one of the founders of the University of Jena, was born at or near Gotha, May 13, 1515. He studied the humanities, first at Leipsic and then at Wittenberg, and came to rank among the first composers of Latin poetry. In 1542 he became master of liberal arts, and from that time lectured on the Greek and Latin classics, and occasionally, also, on theology. In the same year, during the diet at Ratisbon, the emperor made him poet-laureate. After the catastrophe at Mühlberg (q.v.) he removed to Weimar, and remained in that town until the founding of the new gymnasium at Jena, when he became one of its professors In conjunction with Strigel, (q.v.) and Schnepf (q.v.) he so raised the character of the institution that it could with justice be transformed into a university. It began its new career Feb. 2, 1558, on which occasion Stigel delivered the inaugural address. Though cultivating friendly relations with the Wittenberg theologians, and avoiding, so far as he was able, all participation in the disputes of theologians generally, he yet occasioned the overthrow of the Flacianists by bringing against them the public accusation that they stirred up strife and hatred. He died Feb. 11, 1562. Stigel's Latin poems, which include paraphrases of Psalms and the New Test. pericopes, were published (Jena, 1660 sq.) in four small volumes. For other poetical compositions, see Mützell, Geistl. Lieder d. evangel. Kirche aus d. 16ten Jahrhundert 1, 392. One of his hymns was occasioned by the death of Luther (1546). Two of his discourses appear among Melancthon's declamations (Corp. Ref. 11, 721, 734). See Adam [M.], Vitoe Philos.; Götting., Vita J. Stigel. (Jena, 1858), etc.