Martin Luther

Martin Lutherwas born in Saxony in 1483. He went to university to study law but he later became a monk. He was a proessor of Theology at the University of Wittenburg. Luther was convinced that he was a terrible sinner and believed that the Churchs teachings on how to get to heaven was wrong.

The Catholic Chruch taught a kixture of faith and good work saved a person. Luther believed that a person was saved by faith alone. Luthers idea became known as Justification by Faith Alone.

He disagreed with the sale of indulgences. In 1517 as a protest against their sale he began to explain his ideas. He is reputed to have nailed a list of 95 theses or arguments to the University church door in Wittenberg.

He started to write pamphlets explaining his beliefs and his ideas spread quickly around Germany with the help of the newly invented printing press.

At first Pope Leo X tried to compormise but as his idead spread he issued a Papal Bull in 1520. This Letter Exsurge Domine gave Luther sixty days to recant his teachings or he would be excommunicated. Luther publicly burned the Bull and other Catholic Books.

He was also called to appear before the Emperor Charles V at the zimperial parliment or Diet of Worms. Here Luther refused to take back his teachings. He was condemmed as a heretic and an outlaw by the Edict of Worms.

Luthers ruler Fredrick the Wise now came to his rescue. He had Luther kidnapped and hidden in his castle at Wartburg. Here Luther transalted the New Testament into German.

After 1522 his ideas began to spread rapidly. Northern Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway adopted his ideas.

He married a former nun Catherine von Bora and continued to write pamphlets and preach. He also wrote a number of hymns. He died in 1546. The religious revoloution he had started became known as the Reformation.