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He was born in a wealthy family as his father was a copper-miner, in Saxony, Germany.
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From 1501-1505, he studied law as his father wished.
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One night in a violent thunderstorm, he was frightened by the flash of lightnong, he called out: " If you help me now, St Anne, I will become a monk."
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He left his education and entered an Augustinian friary in Erfurt
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Luther was appointed Professor of Theology at this Augustinain Monastery at Wittenberg, in the fall of 1508. He was to teach throughout the rest of his life.
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He went to Rome with great enthusiasm but retured very disappointed with the life-style of the pope and clergy in Rome.
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At age 30 (in 1513), he also became priest off-campus at Wittenberg's city church.
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After the arrival of Johann Tetzel, the indulgence-seller, near Wittenberg, Martin decided to state his criticism of the Catholic Church and indulgences. He nailed the "Ninety-Five Theses" on the church door at Wittenberg, which made the Pope was furious.
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The debate went through 18 days. Finally, Luther agreed that he was a heretic, but he would not recant his ideas.
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The Pope, Leo X, sent him the papal statement that if Luther did not recant within two months, he would be excommunicated. Luther got really angry and burned it in front of his followers.
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He was kidnapped by the prince named Frederick, who hid him at an isolated castle of Wartburg. Stayed for 9 months, during that time, he translated the Bible into German.
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The holy Roman Emperor, Charles V of Spain, came to Germany for Luther's case. At the Diet in the city of Worms, he offered Luther a safe conduct to present his case to him. This means Luther was in great danger.
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Luther's condemnation of the rebels made his beliefs more popular with German princes. Then, German devided into Protestant and Catholic areas.
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He married Katherine von Bora, a former nun. He was 41 and she was 21. Next 9 months, she brought him 9 children.
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He died during a visit to Eisleben, the home of his birth, at the age of 62.
