95 Theses
Burns the papal bull condemning his 95 theses & is excommunicated by Pope Leo X
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1521 in Germany
Explore 26 historical events and records for Germany in 1521.
Historical records for Germany in 1521
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 26 of 26 unique records.
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January
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
April
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
May
Wartburg Protection
Protects Martin Luther at Wartburg Castle after the Diet of Worms.
Wartburg Refuge
Arranges Luther's protective custody at Wartburg Castle.
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
Diet of Worms
Martin Luther's powerful testimony of faith at the Diet of Worms in 1521 made an indelible impression upon the mind of George, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, who turned his eyes to the new faith earlier than any other German prince or any other member of the House of Hohenzollern
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
October
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
Other events (month unknown)
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
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.