Martin Luther biography timeline

Birth of Martin Luther, Eisleben, Saxony, the son of a wealthy copper miner

Begins teaching at the university founded by Frederick the Wise.

Appointed Professor at Erfurt University

Luther is said to have posted the 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany

Luther is said to have posted the 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany

The 95 Theses which spread over most of Europe within 1 yr are provoked by the sale of Papal indulgences by the Archbishop of Mainz. Luther nails a list of 95 theses attacking use of indulgences on the Church door at Wittemberg. Disagrees with selling remissions for sins. Triggers off the Reformation

Disagrees with selling remissions for sins.

Luther expresses doubts over the legitimacy of indulgences and the Plenitudo Potestatis of the Pope.

Luther nails a list of 95 theses attacking use of indulgences on the Church door at Wittemberg.

Luther protests against the corruption in Rome & Germany.

The 95 Theses which spread over most of Europe within 1 yr are provoked by the sale of Papal indulgences by the Archbishop of Mainz.

Disagrees with selling remissions for sins.

Luther expresses doubts over the legitimacy of indulgences and the Plenitudo Potestatis of the Pope.

Luther nails a list of 95 theses attacking use of indulgences on the Church door at Wittemberg.

Luther protests against the corruption in Rome & Germany.

The 95 Theses which spread over most of Europe within 1 yr are provoked by the sale of Papal indulgences by the Archbishop of Mainz.

The 95 Theses which spread over most of Europe within 1 yr are provoked by the sale of Papal indulgences by the Archbishop of Mainz. Luther nails a list of 95 theses attacking use of indulgences on the Church door at Wittemberg. Disagrees with selling remissions for sins

The 95 Theses which spread over most of Europe within 1 yr are provoked by the sale of Papal indulgences by the Archbishop of Mainz. Luther nails a list of 95 theses attacking use of indulgences on the Church door at Wittemberg. Disagrees with selling remissions for sins. Triggers off the Reformation

Luther begins his Reformation by criticizing the selling of indulgences, insisting that the Pope had no authority over purgatory and that the Catholic doctrine of the merits of the saints had no foundation in the gospel

Luther begins his Reformation by criticizing the selling of indulgences, insisting that the Pope had no authority over purgatory and that the Catholic doctrine of the merits of the saints had no foundation in the gospel

Luther's translation of the Bible during the Reformation into German was a decisive moment in the spread of literacy, and stimulated the printing and distribution of religious books and pamphlets. From 1517 onward, religious pamphlets flooded Germany and much of Europe

Publication of "On the Freedom of a Christian Man". Publication of "On the Babyonian Captivity of the Church of God". Publication of "An Address to the Nobility of the German Nation"

Luther debates with Johann Eck arguing that sola scriptura (scripture alone) is the basis for Christian faith and doctrine

Publication of "On the Freedom of a Christian Man". Publication of "On the Babyonian Captivity of the Church of God". Publication of "An Address to the Nobility of the German Nation"

Publication of "On the Freedom of a Christian Man". Publication of "On the Babyonian Captivity of the Church of God". Publication of "An Address to the Nobility of the German Nation"

Luther debates with Johann Eck arguing that sola scriptura (scripture alone) is the basis for Christian faith and doctrine

Luther debates with Johann Eck arguing that sola scriptura (scripture alone) is the basis for Christian faith and doctrine

Luther is summoned to Rome on a charge of heresy for implying the Pope is fallible

Luther is summoned to Rome on a charge of heresy for implying the Pope is fallible. Luther is forced to deny the divine authority of the Church

The Pope bans Luthers works

Luther is excommunicated by the Pope

Publicly burns the Papal Bull at Wittenberg

Publicly burns the Papal Bull at Wittenberg during the Reformation

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, 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, 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, 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

The Pope bans Luthers works. Luthers books are publicly burned in Louvain by the Papal Nuncio Aleander

Pope Leo X had issues the Papal Bull Exsurge Domine, demanding that Luther retract forty-one of his 95 theses criticising the Church

Luthers books are publicly burned in Louvain by the Papal Nuncio Aleander

Pope Leo X had issues the Papal Bull Exsurge Domine, demanding that Luther retract forty-one of his 95 theses criticising the Church

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

Luther publishes To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation, On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church, and On the Freedom of a Christian

Luther publishes To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation, On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church, and On the Freedom of a Christian

Burns the papal bull condemning his 95 theses & is excommunicated by Pope Leo X

Burns the papal bull condemning his 95 theses & is excommunicated by Pope Leo X

Burns the papal bull condemning his 95 theses & is excommunicated by Pope Leo X

Burns the papal bull condemning his 95 theses & is excommunicated by Pope Leo X

Summoned to appear at the 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

Tried before the Emperor at the Diet of Worms & put under the ban of the Empire

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"

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

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

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

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

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

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

Captured for his own safety by Duke Frederick of Saxony

Luther appears at the Diet before Charles V to to answer charges of heresy

On refusing to recant Luther is declared a heretic and is excommunicated by Pope Leo X

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

On refusing to recant Luther is declared a heretic and is excommunicated by Pope Leo X

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

Luther appears at the Diet before Charles V to to answer charges of heresy

On refusing to recant Luther is declared a heretic and is excommunicated by Pope Leo X

Prince Frederick seizes Luther and hides him in Wartenberg Castle, during his time in Wartenberg Luther begins his German translation of the Bible

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)

In refuge because of his denunciation by the Diet of Worms

In refuge because of his denunciation by the Diet of Worms

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)

Translates the Bible into German

Two of Luthers followers, Augustine monks from Antwerp, are burnt alive

Two of Luthers followers, Augustine monks from Antwerp, are burnt alive

Luther gives up monastic life & abandons his vows

Publication of "Against the Murdering, Thieving Hordes of Peasants"

Teaches the right to choose a pastor & oppose landlord oppression. Denounces the revolt in a leaflet "against the murdering thieving hordes of peasants"

Teaches the right to choose a pastor & oppose landlord oppression. Denounces the revolt in a leaflet "against the murdering thieving hordes of peasants". Advocates winning back common land

The peasant rebellion is crushed at Frankenhausen by the German Princes

Rebellion is inspired by Lutheran teachings

Rebellion is inspired by Lutheran teachings. Publication of "Against the Murdering, Thieving Hordes of Peasants". Based on the model community in Allstedt of common ownership

The Edict of Worms is temporarily suspended at the Diet of Speyer in 1526 but then reinstated in 1529

The Edict of Worms was temporarily suspended at the Diet of Speyer 1526 but then reinstated in 1529

The Edict of Worms is temporarily suspended at the Diet of Speyer in 1526 but then reinstated in 1529

Formalizes the basis of Protestant worship

Luther meets the Swiss Reformer Ulrich Zwingli to discuss the issue of the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Both parties are unable to come to an agreement, with Luther defending his view of a Sacramental Union of the body and blood and the bread and wine as opposed to the symbolic view of Zwingli

German Protestants form the Schmaldik League to resist the power of Emperor Charles V

A statement of Protestant faith held by the German reformers

Presented to Charles V at the Diet of Augsburg, the creed of the Lutheran Church

By 1530, over 10,000 publications are known, with a total of ten million copies. The Reformation was thus a media revolution. Luther strengthened his attacks on Rome by depicting a "good" against "bad" church.

Especially effective were writings in German, including Luther's translation of the Bible, his Smaller Catechism for parents teaching their children, and his Larger Catechism, for pastors

From there, it became clear that print could be used for propaganda in the Reformation for particular agendas. Reform writers used pre-Reformation styles, cliches, and stereotypes and changed items as needed for their own purposes.

Presented Charles V at the Diet of Augsburg & forming the creed of the Lutheran Church

A statement of Protestant faith held by the German reformers

Presented Charles V at the Diet of Augsburg & forming the creed of the Lutheran Church

Presented to Charles V at the Diet of Augsburg, the creed of the Lutheran Church

By 1530, over 10,000 publications are known, with a total of ten million copies. The Reformation was thus a media revolution. Luther strengthened his attacks on Rome by depicting a "good" against "bad" church.

Especially effective were writings in German, including Luther's translation of the Bible, his Smaller Catechism for parents teaching their children, and his Larger Catechism, for pastors

From there, it became clear that print could be used for propaganda in the Reformation for particular agendas. Reform writers used pre-Reformation styles, cliches, and stereotypes and changed items as needed for their own purposes.

By 1530, over 10,000 publications are known, with a total of ten million copies. The Reformation was thus a media revolution. Luther strengthened his attacks on Rome by depicting a "good" against "bad" church.

Especially effective were writings in German, including Luther's translation of the Bible, his Smaller Catechism for parents teaching their children, and his Larger Catechism, for pastors

From there, it became clear that print could be used for propaganda in the Reformation for particular agendas. Reform writers used pre-Reformation styles, cliches, and stereotypes and changed items as needed for their own purposes.

Following conflict between the Catholic and Protestant cantons of the Swiss confederacy, Zwingli is killed during the Battle of Kappel

The Church tries to reunite but the divisions are re-inforced

Dies in Eisleben, his place of birth