European Journal of Science and Theology, August 2014, Vol.10, No.4, 27-35 _______________________________________________________________________ ON THE POLITICAL OPTIONS OF THE HUMANIST NICHOLAS OLAHUS Cornelia Popa-Gorjanu * ‚1 Decembrie 1918’ University of Alba Iulia, 11-13, N. Iorga str., 510009, Alba Iulia, Romania (Received 18 January 2014, revised 23 March 2014) Abstract This papers aims to show that the political options of the humanist Nicholas Olahus, who entered Habsburg service in the troubled years following the death of King Louis II of Hungary at Mohács, were determined primarily by his religious allegiance, his loyalty to the Catholic Church and the Habsburg promise to collaborate with the Papacy. I have made extensive use of his correspondence from 1526-1530 to examine the evolution of his political orientation, options and arguments. Keywords: Nicholas Olahus, Humanism, Habsburg Empire 1. Introduction This paper examines Nicholas Olahus‟ political options from 1526 to 1530, when the struggle between Ferdinand Habsburg and John Szapolyai for the crown of Hungary provoked a split in the former circle of intellectuals active at the court of Louis II of Hungary. I have made extensive use of the correspondence sent or received by Nicholas Olahus. Correspondence was always a practical means to preserve and consolidate relationships between individuals at considerable distances from each other. Friends not only expressed their feelings of separation from their companions, but also sent gifts and the latest news pertaining to their spheres of interest (cultural, artistic, social, economic and political). Personal trust played an important role in the formation of such relationships, and the preservation of a constant correspondence nurtured the growth of personal trust. Taking these statements as a starting point, I intend to analyze how the discourse of friendly connection and correspondence offers information on the political options of Nicholas Olahus, and reveals the extent to which his decision to side with the Habsburgs against John Szapolyai was motivated by religious considerations, apart from his pro-Habsburg sympathy. For analysis I will use his correspondence from 1527-1530, published by Arnold Ipolyi at the end of the nineteenth century [1]. As is well known, Olahus was educated in a specifically ecclesiastical environment. How did he react nevertheless in circumstances * E-mail: pgcornelia@yahoo.com