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Martin Luther posts his 95 Theses on the door of Wittenburg Cathedral, in protest at the Catholic doctrine of indulgences and formally begins the Protestant Reformation.
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Luther appears at the Diet before Charles V, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, to to answer charges of heresy. On refusing to recant, he is declared a heretic and formally excommunicated from the Catholic Church by Pope Leo X.
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While at the Wartburg castle, Luther works on a translation of the Bible into German and publishes his New Testament translation (The Old Testament translation is posted later, in 1534).
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William Tyndale publishes a translation of the New Testament in English.
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Henry VIII becomes supreme head of the Church in England, which separates from the Roman Catholic Church.
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Publication of the Confessio Augustana or Augsburg Confession, outlining Lutheran theology and practice.
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The marriage of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon is declared null and void by Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury in defiance of the Catholic church. Henry later marries Anne Boleyn
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Thomas More (1478-1535) is executed on the orders of Henry VIII for refusing to support the English Reformation.
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William Tyndale burnt at the stake for heresy. His final words were: Lord! Open the King of England's eyes.
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A treaty grants toleration to Lutherans within the Holy Roman Empire using the principle of cuius regio, eius religio or "Whose region, his religion".