For many centuries copper mining provided a living for much of the population in the Mansfeld district; indeed, the last mine in the Sangerhausen coalfield was closed as late as 1990. The early 16th century witnessed an upswing in mining which also benefited Martin Luther's father who, being the co-owner of several mines and smelting plants, was able to send his son Martin to better schools and later to university. Luther never forget the circumstances under which he grew up, soon criticizing the early capitalist methods used in mining. In one of his 'table talks' he said of his parents: "In his youth my father was a poor miner and my mother carried all the wood home on her back. This is how we were brought up. They experienced all the trials and tribulations of life - it would be unbearable for the people of today." (Weimar Edition, Table Talk no. 5310)
It was in Eisleben's late-Gothic St. Andrew's Church that Martin Luther gave his last four sermons. The house Luther died in faces the church, and is where he stayed during his last visit to Eisleben to settle the dispute of the Counts of Mansfeld over their inheritance. After resolving this conflict, he passed away the very next day. His body lay in state here before being transferred to Wittenberg.
Mansfeld, only 12 km away from Eisleben, also played an important role in Luther's life, for he frequently stayed here while traveling. At that time Mansfeld had a population of 2,000, almost as many as Wittenberg. Luther may have seen the construction of St. George's Church, the largest building in the town, on his way from his parents' home located on what is now Lutherstrasse to the school located north of the church. In 1497 Luther left Mansfeld and went with his friend Hans Reinicke to Magdeburg. Yet he always remained attached to the town in which his parents lived until the end of their lives--calling himself "Brother Martin from Mansfeld" and the pseudonym "Junker Jörg" which he used during his time in hiding at Wartburg Castle.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
