Martin Luther's Life

  • 1501

    University

    Martin Luther enrolls in the University of Erfurt to study law at the age of 18.
  • Drops Out of College
    1505

    Drops Out of College

    Luther is caught in a terrible storm near the university when he vows to become a monk if St. Anne saves him. As he survives, he leaves law school immediately and devotes his life to becoming a monk and joins the monastery in Erfurt.
  • Protests
    1517

    Protests

    He starts to protest against the selling of indulgences and speaks his mind to everyone.
  • 95 Theses
    Oct 31, 1517

    95 Theses

    Luther nails the 95 Theses to Wittenberg Castle Church. Soon, the printing press makes a big impact by taking the 95 Theses and copying them, then handing them out to everyone.
  • Heresy
    1518

    Heresy

    Martin Luther has been charged with heresy in Rome (considered to be atheism). He then defends himself in Augsburg with him basing his arguments on the bible rather than the church’s doctrine. By this time, he has fled to Lutherstadt Wittenberg.
  • Diet of Worms
    1521

    Diet of Worms

    Luther had to speak in front of the council of worms where he challenged the authority of the church. On his way back to Lutherstadt Wittenberg, he is “kidnapped” and taken to the Wartburg Castle and spends ten weeks translating the new testament from Greek to German.
  • Reform
    1522

    Reform

    He returns to Lutherstadt Wittenberg where reform begins. Examples: He encouraged education for all (social reforms), encouraged musicians and poets to keep writing music and hymns for church services
  • Katharina Von Bora
    1523

    Katharina Von Bora

    He starts to become more serious with what he is doing and this is when he starts telling monks and nuns to leave their abbeys (buildings that nuns or monks live in). This is when he first meets his soon to be wife, Katharina Von Bora who left her abbey as she was a nun.
  • Marriage
    1525

    Marriage

    Martin Luther married Katharina Von Bora.
  • Protestant Service
    Dec 25, 1525

    Protestant Service

    Martin Luther hosts the very first Protestant service in Germany.
  • 1546

    Martin Luther Dies

    Luther dies at the age of 63 years, 2 months, and 10 days.