-
He was born on November 10, 1483
-
The family moves to the village of Mansfeld-Lutherstadt.
-
Martin Luther starts school in Eisenach.
-
Caught in a terrible storm in Stotternheim, Luther vows to become a monk if St. Anne saves him. He survived the storm, and he gives up his career as a lawyer and joins the Augustinian order at the monastery in Erfurt.
-
Luther celebrates his first mass.
-
Luther arrives in Lutherstadt Wittenberg to lecture and study at the university.
-
Luther preaches against the selling of indulgences. On October 31, he puts the 95 Theses to the door of Lutherstadt Wittenberg's Castle Church. Translated from Latin into German, this printed declaration spreads extremely fast. Martin also changes his name from Luder to Luther.
-
Luther is charged with heresy in Rome. He defends himself in Augsburg with arguments based on the Bible instead of the church doctrine. He must return to Lutherstadt Wittenberg under the protection of the Elector Frederick III.
-
Luther is excommunicated and summoned to appear before the Diet of Worms. His words "I neither can nor will recant" challenged authority in a way that would change the course of history. On his journey back to Lutherstadt Wittenberg, he is 'kidnapped' and taken to Wartburg Castle near Eisenach. When he is safe, Luther grows a beard and goes by the name of Squire George. In 10 weeks, he translates the New Testament from Greek into German.
-
Luther goes back to Lutherstadt Wittenberg and sends a series of theological and social reforms, such as education for all. He wants musicians and poets to write music and hymns for church services.
-
Luther wants monks and nuns to leave their abbeys. One nun who followed what he said was Katharina von Bora. She left to Lutherstadt Wittenberg where she would come to meet Luther.
-
Luther marries Katharina von Bora. Luther holds the German Mass, the very first Protestant service.
-
He publishes The Large Catechism, an easy way to understand the Christian religion
-
The Augsburg Confession is written by Philipp Melanchthon. He presents it to the Diet of Augsburg, but they are rejected. However, this document was is still the base of the Lutheran faith.
-
"A Mighty Fortress is our God", is published. That is his best known hymn.
-
Luther presents his Articles of Faith, a summary of Lutheran doctrine.
-
Luther dies in Lutherstadt Eisleben. His coffin is burried at Lutherstadt Wittenberg in the castle church
