Protestant Christianity Key Events from 1500-2000

By mew3me
  • 1517

    95 Theses

    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.
  • 1519

    Leipzig Debate

    Luther debates against Johann Eck, arguing that the scripture alone is the basis for Christian faith and doctrine.
  • 1520

    Luther Publishes Three Monumental Works

    One of them 'The Christian Nobility of the German Nation,' outlines the doctrine of the priesthood of all and denied the authority of the Pope to interpret or confirm the interpretation of the Bible. The other two books were 'On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church' and 'On the Freedom of a Christian.
  • Period: Jan 28, 1521 to May 25, 1521

    Diet of Worms

    Luther appears at the 'Diet before Charles V, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, to answer charges of heresy. He refused to recant, causing him to be declared a heretic and formally excommunicated from the Catholic church by Pope Leo X.
    Frederick III, Elector of Saxony ensures that Luther is taken to the Wartburg Castle for his own safety.
  • Oct 11, 1521

    Defender of Faith

    Henry VIII of England is rewarded with the title 'Fidei Defensor' (Defender of the Faith) by Pope Leo X for writing 'Assertio Septem Sacramentorum' (Defence of the Seven Sacraments) in opposition to Luther.
  • 1529

    Marburg Colloquy

    Luther met with the Swiss Reformer Ulrich Zwingli to discuss the issue of the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, but both parties were unable to agree with each other, with Luther defending his view of a Sacramental Union of the body and blood and the bread and wine as opposed to the symbolic view of Zwingli.
  • 1530

    Augsburg Confession

    ‘Confessio Augustana’ or Augsburg Confession is publicised, outlining Lutheran theology and practice.
  • 1531

    Death of Ulrich Zwingli

    After the conflict between the Catholic and Protestant cantons of the Swiss confederacy, Zwingli is killed during the battle of Kappel.
  • 1533

    English Reformation

    The marriage of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon is nullified by Thomas Cramer, Archbishop of Canterbury in defiance of the Catholic Church. Henry later marries Anne Boleyn.
  • 1534

    Society of Jesus

    Ignatius of Loyola founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuit) order as part of the Catholic counter-reformation. Also, parts of Poland, Hungry, and Germany were reconverted from Protestantism to Catholicism.
  • Nov 3, 1534

    Act of Supremacy

    Henry VIII became supreme head of the Church in England, which became separated from the Roman Catholic Church
  • 1536

    Calvin’s Institutes

    John Calvin publishes his work of Systemic Theology: ‘Institutes of the Christian Religion’ in Latin.
  • 1546

    Luther Dies

    Martin Luther died at the age of 62, in Eisleben, Germany. With his final words being: “We are beggars: this is true.”
  • 1549

    Book of Common Prayer

    The first version of the Book of Common Prayer was published in the Church of England.
  • 1563

    39 Articles

    The 39 Articles of the Church of England were first published, with a summary of Anglican doctrine and practice. They were preceded by the 42 Articles, which were written largely by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer in 1552.
  • 1564

    Death of John Calvin

    Calvin died and was succeeded by Theodore Beza.

  • Edict of Nantes

    The French Protestants (Huguenots) were granted toleration in the Edict by Henry IV.

  • King James Bible

    The King James Bible which was commissioned by Church of England was published.
  • Period: to

    The 30 Years War

    The political and religious Thirty Years War devastated the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation in the 17th century. A religious conflict between the Protestant princes and the Catholic house of Habsburg, then degenerated into a European war due to the intervention of the foreign powers, Sweden and France. The treaty of Westphalia put an end to it in 1648, mostly to the benefit of Sweden and France.

  • Freedom of Worship

    Religious Freedom ( proclaimed in 1789 at the start of the French Revolution), is not the same as freedom of worship which the Constitution established in 1791, allowing people to now do collective practice, with possible events that could disrupt the peace.