Original: Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus ( sometimes known as Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam ) ( October 27 , 1466/1469 , Rotterdam -- July 12 , 1536 , Basel ) was a Dutch Renaissance humanist and a Catholic Christian theologian .
Simplified: Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus ( sometimes known as Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam ) ( October 27 , probably 1466 -- July 12 , 1536 ) was a Dutch humanist , theologian and philosopher .