Cassander, Georg (1513-1566)

Netherlands theologian and humanist. A Catholic, Cassander devoted his career to reconciling the Protestant and Catholic churches, though this met with fierce attacks from entrenched positions on both sides. In 1564 he was an advisor to Emperor Ferdinand I, who was searching for a way of uniting Protestants and Catholics.

After early study in his native Bruges and in Ghent, Cassander went to Cologne with the intention of finding some means of reconciling the orthodox Catholic and reforming positions. In 1561 he anonymously published De officio pii ac publicae tranquillitatis in hoc religionis dissidio/On the duty of pious and public peace in the present dispute of religion. His eagerness for unity sometimes led him to adopt views that were doctrinally suspect but he remained faithful to the authority of the Church.

As well as his voluminous theological writings Cassander produced treatises on antiquarian subjects. He died in Cologne.