ABSTRACT
Cardinal Matthew Lang, Prince-Bishop of Salzburg, had placed a heavy tax on the citizens of his territory in order to recoup the high assessment that he had to pay to the empire for its defence against the Turks. The higher clergy and the upper class refused to pay their contributions and therefore the city of Salzburg also refused. This conflict became known as the ‘Latin War’ between Cardinal Lang and the city of Salzburg. Only Bishop Pu¨rstinger and Abbot Staupitz were willing to pay their shares. In June 1523 an uprising began among the people of Salzburg when no less than 1500 men, including ‘priests, students, and sacristans’, gathered with the intent ‘to storm and plunder’ (zu sturmen und plindern). Lang, who was out of town, called upon Archduke Ferdinand for help; he provided about 1000 soldiers. With them Cardinal Lang approached the city of Salzburg from the south and a military confrontation seemed imminent. In this situation, the two prelates, Staupitz and Pu¨rstinger, stepped in as negotiators on behalf of the city, which was willing to give in. On 11 July 1523 the prince-bishop entered Salzburg with some hundred foot-soldiers. A bloody confrontation had been avoided. On 16 July 1523 the city had to recognize Lang as its lord with all his demands. An agreement was drawn up and signed, by Staupitz and Pu¨rstinger among others. It included a tax on beer; however, Lang was willing to limit this tax to ten years.1
