Martin Luther's Life

University

1501

Martin Luther enrolls in the University of Erfurt to study law at the age of 18.

Drops Out of College

1505

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

He starts to protest against the selling of indulgences and speaks his mind to everyone.

95 Theses

Oct 31, 1517

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

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

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

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

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

Martin Luther married Katharina Von Bora.

Protestant Service

Dec 25, 1525

Martin Luther hosts the very first Protestant service in Germany.

Martin Luther Dies

1546

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