Martin Luther

Martin Luther posted 95 theses on the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church, criticizing the sale of indulgences and papal authority. This act initiated the Protestant Reformation, leading to the fragmentation of Western Christianity and the rise of Protestant denominations.

Luther was summoned before the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at the Diet of Worms and ordered to recant his writings. He refused, stating 'Here I stand, I can do no other.' The Edict of Worms declared him an outlaw and heretic.

While in hiding at Wartburg Castle, Luther translated the New Testament from Greek into German. This translation made the Bible accessible to common people, standardized the German language, and promoted lay literacy and individual interpretation of scripture.

Luther married Katharina von Bora, a former nun, publicly rejecting clerical celibacy. This marriage served as a model for Protestant clergy and challenged the Catholic Church's requirement of priestly celibacy, reshaping the social role of ministers.

Luther's colleague Philipp Melanchthon presented the Augsburg Confession to Emperor Charles V, outlining the core doctrines of the Lutheran movement. This document became the foundational confession of the Lutheran Church and defined the theological split from Catholicism.