Papal Nuncio
Luthers books are publicly burned in Louvain by the Papal Nuncio Aleander
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Martin Luther Biography and Timeline — Page 2
Follow Martin Luther through 113 dated historical records for Germany.
Martin Luther, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
113Distinct records
2 of 3Page
1520–1524Years on this page
1520
Reformation, The
Pope Leo X had issues the Papal Bull Exsurge Domine, demanding that Luther retract forty-one of his 95 theses criticising the Church
Bible, The
In The Christian Nobility of the German Nation, Luther outlines the doctrine of the Priesthood of all believers and denies the authority of the Pope to interpret, or confirm interpretation of the Bible
Christian Nobility of the German Nation
In The Christian Nobility of the German Nation, Luther outlines the doctrine of the Priesthood of all believers and denies the authority of the Pope to interpret, or confirm interpretation of the Bible
Doctrine of the Priesthood
In The Christian Nobility of the German Nation, Luther outlines the doctrine of the Priesthood of all believers and denies the authority of the Pope to interpret, or confirm interpretation of the Bible
In The Christian Nobility of the German Nation
In The Christian Nobility of the German Nation, Luther outlines the doctrine of the Priesthood of all believers and denies the authority of the Pope to interpret, or confirm interpretation of the Bible
Reformation, The
In The Christian Nobility of the German Nation, Luther outlines the doctrine of the Priesthood of all believers and denies the authority of the Pope to interpret, or confirm interpretation of the Bible
Reformation, The
Luther publishes To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation, On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church, and On the Freedom of a Christian
To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation, On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church
Luther publishes To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation, On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church, and On the Freedom of a Christian
1521
95 Theses
Burns the papal bull condemning his 95 theses & is excommunicated by Pope Leo X
Excommunication
Burns the papal bull condemning his 95 theses & is excommunicated by Pope Leo X
Papal Bull
Burns the papal bull condemning his 95 theses & is excommunicated by Pope Leo X
Reformation, The
Burns the papal bull condemning his 95 theses & is excommunicated by Pope Leo X
Diet of Worms
Summoned to appear at the Diet of Worms
Diet of Worms
The German Princes come out in Luthers favour. Rejects the belief that bread & wine can become the body & blood of Christ. Charles V opens a Diet to discuss what to do with Luther. Challenges the papal claim to be the sole authority on the scriptures
Trial
Tried before the Emperor at the Diet of Worms & put under the ban of the Empire
Edict of Worms
Charles issues the Edict of Worms, declaring Martin Luther an outlaw, banning his writings, and requiring his arrest: "We want him to be apprehended and punished as a notorious heretic"
Arrest of Martin Luther
Despite the agreement at the Diet of Worms that Luther could return home safely, it was privately understood that Luther would soon be arrested and punished. To protect him from this fate, Prince Frederick seized him on his way home and hid him in Wartburg Castle. It was during his time in Wartburg that Luther began his German translation of the Bible
Diet of Worms
Despite the agreement at the Diet of Worms that Luther could return home safely, it was privately understood that Luther would soon be arrested and punished. To protect him from this fate, Prince Frederick seized him on his way home and hid him in Wartburg Castle. It was during his time in Wartburg that Luther began his German translation of the Bible
Edict of Worms
When Luther eventually reemerged from the Wartburg, the emperor, distracted with other matters, did not press for Luther's arrest. Ultimately, because of rising public support for Luther among the German people and the protection of certain German princes, the Edict of Worms was never enforced in Germany
95 Theses
Pope Leo X wishes for Martin Luther to recant 41 of these theses, which Luther famously refused to do before the Diet of Worms in 1521, thus symbolically initiating the Protestant reformation
Diet of Worms
Pope Leo X wishes for Martin Luther to recant 41 of these theses, which Luther famously refused to do before the Diet of Worms in 1521, thus symbolically initiating the Protestant reformation
Reformation, The
Pope Leo X wishes for Martin Luther to recant 41 of these theses, which Luther famously refused to do before the Diet of Worms in 1521, thus symbolically initiating the Protestant reformation
Arrest of Martin Luther
Captured for his own safety by Duke Frederick of Saxony
Diet of Worms
Luther appears at the Diet before Charles V to to answer charges of heresy
Diet of Worms
On refusing to recant Luther is declared a heretic and is excommunicated by Pope Leo X
Diet of Worms
The Papal nuncio at the Diet, Girolamo Aleandro, draws up and proposes the fierce denunciations of Luther embodied in the edict, which permitted anyone to kill Luther without legal consequence
Excommunication
On refusing to recant Luther is declared a heretic and is excommunicated by Pope Leo X
Papal Nuncio
The Papal nuncio at the Diet, Girolamo Aleandro, draws up and proposes the fierce denunciations of Luther embodied in the edict, which permitted anyone to kill Luther without legal consequence
Reformation, The
Luther appears at the Diet before Charles V to to answer charges of heresy
Reformation, The
On refusing to recant Luther is declared a heretic and is excommunicated by Pope Leo X
Translation of Bible
Prince Frederick seizes Luther and hides him in Wartenberg Castle, during his time in Wartenberg Luther begins his German translation of the Bible
1522
Bible, The
While at the Wartburg castle, Luther works on a translation of the Bible into German and publishes his New Testament translation (The Old Testament translation is posted later, in 1534)
Diet of Worms
In refuge because of his denunciation by the Diet of Worms
Exile of Martin Luther
In refuge because of his denunciation by the Diet of Worms
Refotmation, The
While at the Wartburg castle, Luther works on a translation of the Bible into German and publishes his New Testament translation (The Old Testament translation is posted later, in 1534)
Translation of Bible
Translates the Bible into German
1523
Death of Martin Luther
Two of Luthers followers, Augustine monks from Antwerp, are burnt alive
Execution
Two of Luthers followers, Augustine monks from Antwerp, are burnt alive
1524
Reformation, The
Luther gives up monastic life & abandons his vows
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.