Martin Luther

By jkurtz19
  • Nov 10, 1483

    Birth

    Birth
    Martin Luther is born in Eiselben, a town in what is now central Germany.
  • 1502

    Receives degree from University of Erfurt

    Receives his baccalaureate degree from the University of Erfurt in liberal arts.
  • Jul 17, 1505

    Receives his masters from Erfurt, Joins a monastic order.

    Receives his masters from Erfurt, Joins a monastic order.
    After receiving his masters in liberal arts Luther left the life of a scholar and joined the Order of the Hermits of Saint Augustine, and a particularly strict faction thereof.
  • 1512

    Receives his doctorate

    In 1512 Luther received his doctorate in theology from the University at Wittenberg and assumed the professorship of biblical studies at Wittenberg.
  • Period: 1513 to 1516

    Administration at Wittenberg

    Luther gained administrative power in the Augustinian order, and begins publishing theological doctrines, notably the 97 theses entitled "Disputation Against Scholastic Theology".
  • 1517

    Publishing of the 95 Theses

    Publishing of the 95 Theses
    Initiated by the selling of indulgences by a Dominican friar, Luther writes out 95 theses on the wrongdoings of the Catholic church and sends it to the friar's superior. This innocuous event ultimately spurs on the protestant reformation.
  • 1519

    Debate at Leipzig

    Debate at Leipzig
    Luther, having previously avoided public debate as to not draw unwanted attention, agreed to a debate with Johann Eck and Andreas Bodenstein von Carlstadt. The debate with Carlstadt went fairly uneventfully, but while discussing his similarity to John Hus Eck claimed that Luther held identical position to Hus. This forced Luther to say that general councils can be in error on issues not del fide.
  • 1520

    Luther's teachings are put to trial

    After a recommendation a consistory heard that Luther's orthodoxy was to be examined. After a one month trial his teachings were found to be heretical. Eventually the standing pope, Leo, Gave out the papal bull that the teachings were heretical, and gave Luther 60 days to recant his statement.
  • 1521

    Excommunication

    Excommunication
    Following Luthers refusal to bow to the papacy and recant his statements, he is declared a heretic and excommunicated from the church. While under normal circumstances a heretic would simply be burned, this was no such case, thus he was granted a trial at the diet of Worms.
  • 1522

    Aftermath of Worms.

    Aftermath of Worms.
    Following Luther's guilty verdict at Worms he fled to Wartburg, where he translated the New Testament into vernacular German, setting a precedent for other scholars to do the same.Also of note, the council of Worms made the theological conflict political and social.