Katharina Von Bora, the wife of Martin Luther, born at Loben, near Merseburg, Jan. 29, 1499, died at Torgau, Dec. 20, 1552. In her youth she was placed in the Cistercian convent of Nimptschen, near Gri'mma, in Saxony. Here she read some of the works of Luther, which inspired her with great enthusiasm, and she applied to him for aid in leaving the cloister. Through the instrumentality of Leonhard Koppe, a native of Torgau, Luther succeeded in securing the escape of Katharina and eight companions on the night of April 4, 1523. They fled first to Torgau, then to Wittenberg. As their parents refused to take them home, Luther provided for them as best he could. Some of them found employment as teachers, others married. Katharina became an inmate of the house of the burgomaster of Wittenberg, and on June 13, 1525, Luther married her. After his death she had the friendship and aid of Christian III., king of Denmark, and John Frederick of Saxony. She left three sons and two daughters.