Ursula Cotta

Luther as a choirboy singing in front of Frau Cotta, after a painting by Prof. Weiß in the Luther House in Eisenach Ursula Cotta (, 1450 – 29 November 1511), also known as Ursula van Cotta, was a German benefactor in Eisenach. She took in and supported the young Martin Luther during his school years at the Georgenschule in Eisenach from 1498 to 1501.

Biography Cotta was born as Ursula Schalbe. Her father was Heinrich Schalbe, a landowner of Ilfeld and Burgomaster of Hefield from 1495 to 1499 and her mother was Angelika Schalbe . Her husband Conrad Cotta was a rich patrician in Eiesenach. 50 Pfennig Notgeld banknote of Eisenach (1921) in honour of the 400-years-anniversary of Martin Luther's arrival at the Wartburg. Luther is shown singing for Frau Cotta with other boys Cotta took in and supported the young Martin Luther as a foster mother from 1498 to 1501. She took him in after she heard him singing as a mendicant, supporting his attendance to a Franciscan school and enabling his learning when it seemed he would otherwise have to discontinue his education.

Cotta gave Luther his first instrument, a flute. He also tutored Cotta's son and Kaspar Schalbe, her younger brother.

Cotta's role in his Luther's was recounted by his first biographer, Johannes Mathesius. Mittenzwey calls her an influencing factor in his life and career.