The Tree of Europe · Person

Desiderius Erasmus

A Dutch humanist and one of the leading intellectual figures of the European Renaissance. He advocated Christian reform through education and philology without breaking with Rome.

c. 1466 – 1536Humanist and theologianNo identified house · ES

Explore this family · Spanish Atlas Back to people

Contemporary portraitErasmusHans Holbein the Younger · Sixteenth centuryWikimedia CommonsPublic domain · PDM 1.0 · Source

This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.

Historical profile

Key details

Birth: 1466 Approximate

Death: 12 July 1536 Documented

Role: Humanist and theologian

Other recorded names: Erasmus of Rotterdam · Erasmus

Dynasty: No identified house · ES

Territories: Low Countries (ES) · Holy Roman Empire (ES)

Family network

Recorded relationships

No direct relationships are recorded for this person.

Documentation

Sources for this profile

Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.

Evidence for this profile

2 recorded claims · 1 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.

Dates (1/2 with a precise source)

BirthApproximate
1466
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
DeathDocumented
12 July 1536
The authority record gives the death as 1536-07-12.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Erasmus, Desiderius · Vital data: death date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Biographical and contextual references (3)

Editorial history

2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.