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1517
Indulgence Crisis of 1517
The offering of indulgences by Pope Leo X for those who gave alms to rebuild St. Peters Basilica. This provoked Martin Luther to write his 95 Theses because he objected to indulgences -
1517
95 Theses
Martin Luther posts his 95 theses on the door of the Wittenburg Cathedral, and formally begins the Protestant Reformation -
1519
Leipzig Debate
Luther debates with Johann Eck about sola scriptura being the basis for Christian faith -
1519
The Lutheran Revolt
The creation and spread of Lutheranism -
1519
Charles V
Elected Holy Roman Emperor -
1520
Luther's Three Monumental Works
Martin Luther publishes his three monumental works: To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation, On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church, and On the Freedom of a Christian -
1521
Diet of Worms
Martin Luther appears at the Diet of Worms before Charles V to answer charges of heresy. Luther is formally excommunicated from the Catholic Church. -
1522
German Bible
Martin Luther works on a translation of the Bible into German and publishes his New Testament translation -
1522
The Spiritual Exercises
Ignatius Loyola composed The Spiritual Exercises, which were a set of Christian meditations, contemplations, and prayers. -
1525
Peasant Revolt
Sparked by the movement for reform in the Catholic Church, and the social and political up-upheavals that the Protestant Reformation caused. -
1529
Marburg Colloquy
Martin Luther meets Ulrich Zwingli at the Marburg Castle to discuss the issue of the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. They both have opposing views, and Luther defends his view of Sacramental Union. -
1529
Diet of Speyer
Lutheranism is outlawed because Charles V takes back permission of Lutheranism -
1530
Ausburg Confession
The publication of the Augsburg Confession which outlined Lutheran theology and practice -
1531
Death of Ulrich Zwingli
Zwingli was killed during the Battle of Kappel, which was an armed conflict between the Catholic and Protestant cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy -
1533
English Reformation
Henry VIII marries Catherine of Aragon but their marriage is declared null in defiance of the Catholic Church. Henry divorces Catherine and later marries Anne Boleyn. -
1534
Acts of Supremacy
This Act of Supremacy is an act of the Parliament of England that established King Henry VIII as supreme head of the Church in England. This causes separation from the Roman Catholic Church -
1534
Society of Jesus
Ignatius of Loyola founded the Society of Jesus order as part of the Catholic counter-reformation.
Parts of Poland, Hungary an Germany were reconverted from Protestantism to Catholicism. -
1536
Calvin's Institutes
John Calvin published his work: Institutes of the Christian Religion -
1540
Jesuit Order
Pope Paul recognizes the Jesuit Order -
1545
Council of Trent
The council of the Catholic Church is held to reform and clarify doctrine. It repudiated Protestantism and the outcome was conservative. The council played a vital role in revitalizing Roman Catholic Church in many parts of Europe -
1546
Death of Martin Luther
Martin Luther died at the age of 62. When he died, war began between the protestants and catholics -
1555
Peace of Augsburg
This treaty granted toleration to Luterans within the Holy Roman Empire using the principle of "Whose region, his religion" -
1564
Death of John Calvin
Calvin dies from illness and is succeeded by Theodore Beza who was a French Protestant Christian theologian -
Edict of Nantes
French Protestants are granted toleration by Henry IV in the Edict -
Revocation of Edict of Nantes
Louis XIV revokes the edict leading to an exodus of Protestants from France
