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Otto von Pack

1480 – 1537

German outlaw

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About Otto von Pack

Lived 1480 – 1537 (aged 56–57). Otto von Pack was a jurist.

Otto von Pack (c. 1480 – 8 February 1537) was a German conspirator.

Life He studied at the University of Leipzig, and obtained a responsible position under George, Duke of Saxony, which he lost owing to his dishonesty. In 1528, he revealed to Philip, Landgrave of Hesse, the details of a scheme agreed upon in Breslau by the archduke Ferdinand, afterwards the emperor Ferdinand I, and other influential princes, to conquer Hungary for Ferdinand and then to attack the reformers in Germany.

Pack was sent to Hungary to concert joint measures with John Zapolya, the opponent of Ferdinand in that country, but John, Elector of Saxony, advised that the associates of Ferdinand should be asked to explain their conduct, and Pack's revelations were discovered to be false; the copy of the treaty which he had shown to Philip proving to be a forgery.

For some time, Pack lived the life of a fugitive, finally reaching the Netherlands, where he was seized at the request of Duke George. Examined under torture, he admitted the forgery, and the government of the Netherlands passed sentence of death, which was carried out on 8 February 1537. This affair has given rise to an acute controversy whether Philip of Hesse was himself deceived by Pack, or was his assistant in concocting the scheme.

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Important facts

Born
1480, Meissen
Birth century
Occupation
Education
Leipzig University

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Otto von Pack's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Otto von Pack?

German outlaw

When was Otto von Pack born?

Otto von Pack was born in 1480 in Meissen.

When did Otto von Pack die?

Otto von Pack died on 8 February 1537 in Brussels metropolitan area.

What was Otto von Pack's occupation?

Otto von Pack was a jurist.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Otto von Pack

· Wikidata: Q2041272

· DBpedia: Otto von Pack

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Otto von Pack. https://biography.guide/otto-von-pack/

MLA: "Otto von Pack." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/otto-von-pack/.

Chicago: "Otto von Pack." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/otto-von-pack/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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