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Jan 1, 1468
Invention of printing press
Invention of printing press allowed dissenters to spread their ideas throughout Europe and made the Bible available to the common people. Print was a powerful tool for political and religious propaganda. Kings could now indoctrinate people as never before, and clergymen found themselves able to mass-produce both indulgences and pamphlets. -
Feb 22, 1519
The Election of Charles V
The death of the emperor before Charles V (Maximilian I) turned attention away from heresy in Saxony to the contest of who would be the new emperor. Charles V (a Hapsburg) created a campaign that got him the votes of 7 electors, including Fredrick of Saxony, but also put him in massive debt. This distracted rulers from Luther's rising power, allowing him to gain the hearts of many people, especially the lower class. By the time Charles V did something, Luther's impact was already permanent. -
Jan 1, 1520
Zwingli Renounces His Papal Pension
Zwingli was bound to the Papacy by his Pension, being a source of income straight from the Pope. Renouncing it set him free from the Catholic church to preach the Gospel to anyone willing to listen. From his efforts came a revolution, starting in Switzerland and quickly expanding outwards. Such notable people as Conrad Grebel and John Calvin were directly taught by Zwingli. -
Jan 1, 1521
The Diet of Worms
Luther contended that only the Bible would convince him. The diet issued the Edict of Worms, which basically forbade anyone to shelter Martin Luther or provide him with aid. The edict stated that Luther should be captured and punished as a heretic. After Luther was outlawed, he organized his reformed church and translated the Bible into vernacular, profoundly influencing the development of the modern German language.It was a critical moment in the Protestant Reformation. -
Period: Jan 1, 1521 to Jan 1, 1559
The Holy Roman Empire vs. France
The Holy Roman Empire, under the leadership of Charles V, included all of modern day Germany, Spain, and parts of the Netherlands. On the other side, King Francis I ruled most of modern day France, sitting directly between Spain and Germany. Four wars were fought over 38 years, with Charles V winning all of them. This is a significant political event to consider in the scope of the Reformation, as it reveals some of the many things Charles V had to deal with while Luther challenged Catholicism. -
Aug 24, 1524
The Peasants Revolt
During this time Luther had become a object of protest among the people. Peasants saw Luther as an ally, going against their lords, leaders, and customs. some peasants were Lutherans who agreed with his views but didn't believe luther was taking it far enough, so they revolted, searching for freedom and thinking Luther would be proud of them. However the opposite occurred, they revolted and Luther called for their Lords and Princes to kill them all. -
Feb 1, 1531
The Schmalkaldic League is Formed
The Schmalkaldic League was a unification of all Lutherans, headed by Elector John Frederick and Landgrave Phillip of Hesse. The League took up the Augsburg Confession, and later (1538) the Schmalkaldic Articles as its declaration of beliefs. Especially considering this was a direct response to the call for all Lutherans to revert to Catholicism at the Diet of Augsburg, it is really evident here that Lutherans are here to stay, and won't be easily dealt with. -
Jan 1, 1534
Anabaptists Take Control of Munster
Under extreme persecution from Catholics and Protestants alike, Anabaptist extremists took control of Munster and created their own government of pure Anabaptist believers. The city became very similar to modern day Amish settlements, seen as pure heresy by everybody else. The city was soon reconquered by a remarkable unification of Catholic and Protestant forces. This goes to show how, now that Catholicism doesn't tell people what to believe, old heresies can reemerge and cause massive damage. -
Jan 1, 1534
The Act of Supremacy
The Act of Supremacy made king Henry VIII the "Supreme Head of the Church of England". Not only did this give Henry VIII much power but it also gave him the ability to divorce his wife so he could marry another to get a male heir. The Act of Succession officially recognized the children of whomever Henry's wife may be as legitimate heirs to the throne. This meant less power to the church and a lot more power to the king of England. -
May 1, 1534
Calvin Surrenders His Catholic Benefices
Similar to Zwingli renouncing his Papal Pension, Luther cut all ties to Catholicism in this way. He immediately pursued religious reforms in Geneva under Zwingli's leadership. Soon Calvin would break from Zwingli as well, to form his own religious movement in Geneva, the Calvinists. By surrendering his benefices, he set in motion a chain of events throughout his life that would have a lasting impact on the world, as Calvinism rose to be of equal standing to Lutheranism. -
Sep 27, 1540
Recognition of the Jesuits by the Catholic Church
The Jesuits were founded by Ignatius of Loyala, and were a key part of the Counter-reformation. Jesuits practiced spiritual exercises (perfect discipline and self control) to strengthen and test their faith through disciplined study and regular practice. These were intended to reach Catholics to deny themselves and obey the church authorities who God placed in their rightful position for a reason. This caused many Protestants to convert back to Catholicism during the Counter-reformation. -
Period: Jan 1, 1545 to Jan 1, 1563
The Council of Trent
The Council of Trent responded to the challenge of Protestantism by defining Catholic dogma. It included affirmation of Catholic doctrine and reformation of church practice. Prompted by the Reformation, the Council of Trent was highly important for its sweeping decrees on self-reform and for its dogmatic definitions that clarified virtually every doctrine contested by the Protestants.It was the heart and soul of the Catholic Reformation and the definitive moment of the Counter Reformation. -
Jan 1, 1555
The Peace of Augsburg
The Peace of Augsburg, after over two decades of religious strife, allowed the German princes to choose the religion of their subjects, although the choice was limited to either Lutheranism or Catholicism. Cuius region, eius religio: “whose the region, his the region.” It officially ended the religious struggle between the two groups and made the legal division of Christendom permanent within the Holy Roman Empire.
