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A German poet, theologian, and controversial satirist; born in Steckelburg, near Fulda, 1488; died in the island of Ufenau, Lake Zurich, 1523. Of a noble family and destined for the church, he preferred a life of roving adventure. After many vicissitudes, including shipwreck, military service, and absolute beggary, he rose to fame by brilliant contributions to the current religious and political controversies. His works include: "The Art of Prosody"; "Nemo", a satire upon the pedantic learning of his day; "Dialogues"; and various others, most of them attacking abuses in the church. His most noteworthy production, however (his in part if not wholly), is the "Letters of Obscure Men" (that is, men who think and talk obscurely), mercilessly ridiculing the ignorance of the lower clergy. His position in literature is that of a fearless genius and champion of truth; he aimed to regenerate his country, but his means were somewhat Utopian.