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Oct 31, 1517
Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses
Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses on October 31st 1517 on the door of the Casle Church in Wittenberg and that heralded the start of the "Reformation" -
Jun 1, 1519
Andreas von Carlstadt and Luther debated with John Eck.
At the Disputation at Leipzig, Andreas von Carlstadt and Luther debated with John Eck. Eck forced Luther to admit that he agreed with Hus (who was considered a heretic), but this only served to strengthen Luther's resolve. -
Jan 27, 1521
Many Imperial discussions (Diets) were held in Worms, but the most famous Diet of Worms was the one Martin Luther attended in 1521
Many Imperial discussions (Diets) were held in Worms, but the most famous Diet of Worms was the one Martin Luther attended in 1521. Emperor Karl V called for the discussion to allow Cardinal Aleander (1480-1542) who was the Pope's ambassador, to examine Luther to see if he was a heretic. They decided that he was and he was banned from the Holy Empire. -
May 25, 1521
The Edict of Worms...declared Martin Luther a heretic
The Edict of Worms, signed by Emperor Charles V declared Martin Luther a heretic and placed him under an imperial ban. It also specified that all Luther's books were to be burned. -
Jan 29, 1523
Ulrich Zwingli presented his 67 Theses at the Zurich Disputation
Ulrich Zwingli presented his 67 Theses at the Zurich Disputation, before hundreds of educated men. These included such topics as allowing clergy to marry, the mass being a celebration not a sacrifice etc. It was successful and widespread reform spread. -
Apr 4, 1524
The German peasants, angered by rising prices and the feudal system, decided to revolt 1524-26
The German peasants, angered by rising prices and the feudal system, decided to revolt in June 1524. The Peasant's Revolt began peacefully, but by 1525, the protests turned violent and more than 40 German monasteries and castles were burnt. Luther opposed the Revolt and the peasants rejected Lutheranism. -
Jan 1, 1526
William Tyndale published an English language New Testament in Worms
William Tyndale published an English language New Testament in Worms, after a narrow escape from Johannes Dobneck (1479-1552) who had organized a raid on Tyndale's secret printing press. The Bibles were then smuggled into England and distributed. -
Jun 25, 1530
The Augsburg Confession.
The Augsburg Confession. In 1530, Emperor Karl V called the Parliament together in Augsburg to resolved the political, religious and social problems created by the Reformation. As Luther couldn't attend, Philip Melanchthon represented him. The result was a document called the Augsburg Confession, which is still the Lutheran doctrinal standard. -
Dec 1, 1530
The Schmalkaldic League was formed in the winter of 1530-31
The Schmalkaldic League was formed in the winter of 1530-31 as a defensive alliance against the empire. In a meeting set up by princes Philip of Hesse and John of Saxony, eight princes and eleven cities met and adopted the Augsburg Confession. -
Jan 1, 1536
Menno Simons, the former Priest, gathered the scattered Anabaptists into congregations
Menno Simons, the former Priest, gathered the scattered Anabaptists into congregations. They then became known as Mennonites. This group has influenced Baptists, Amish, Hutterites and Quakers.