German Reformation Overview
German Reformation
The German Reformation began in 1517 when Martin Luther posted his Ninety-five Theses, challenging papal authority and the sale of indulgences. Supported by printing technology, reformist ideas spread rapidly across Europe, sparking fundamental shifts in theology, politics, and social structures. The movement emphasized salvation by faith alone and scripture as the ultimate authority, leading to the establishment of Protestantism, the German translation of the Bible, and widespread educational reforms throughout the Holy Roman Empire.
People
Birth
Death
Origin
Age (Death)
| 1482 | |
|---|---|
| 1483 | |
| 1484 | |
| 1486 | |
| 1490 | |
| 1491 | |
| 1497 |
Timeline
| Category | |
|---|---|
| Element |
| Year | German Reformation |
|---|---|
| 1482 |
Birth of Johannes Oecolampadius (Period: 1482 (Exact date unknown), Location: Weinsberg (present-day Baden-Württemberg, Germany))
|
| 1483 |
Birth of Martin Luther (Period: November 10, 1483, Location: Eisleben (present-day Saxony-Anhalt, Germany))
|
| 1484 |
Birth of Georg Spalatin (Period: January 17, 1484, Location: Spalt (present-day Bavaria, Germany))
|
| 1486 |
Birth of Andreas Karlstadt (Period: 1486 (Exact date unknown; some sources cite around 1477), Location: Karlstadt am Main (present-day Bavaria, Germany))
|
| 1490 |
Birth of Thomas Müntzer (Period: Late 1489 or around 1490 (Exact date unknown; some theories suggest December 21), Location: Stolberg (Harz, present-day Saxony-Anhalt, Germany))
|
| 1491 |
Birth of Martin Bucer (Period: November 11, 1491, Location: Sélestat (formerly Schlettstadt, present-day Alsace, France))
|
| 1497 |
Birth of Philip Melanchthon (Period: February 16, 1497, Location: Bretten (present-day Baden-Württemberg, Germany))
|
| 1499 |
Humanistic and Theological Studies in Heidelberg (Johannes Oecolampadius)
|
| 1501 |
Studies at the University of Erfurt (Martin Luther)
|
| 1502 |
Research at the University of Wittenberg (Georg Spalatin)
|
| 1505 |
Becoming an Augustinian Monk (Martin Luther)
Beginning of Activities at the University of Wittenberg (Andreas Karlstadt)
|
| 1506 |
Matriculation at the University of Leipzig (Thomas Müntzer)
Entry into the Dominican Order (Filippo Bruno)
|
| 1508 |
Appointment as Tutor to Johann Friedrich (Georg Spalatin)
|
| 1509 |
Studies at the University of Heidelberg (Philipp Schwarzerdt)
Activities as Secretary and Advisor to Friedrich III
|
| 1510 |
Journey to Rome (Martin Luther)
Obtaining a Doctorate in Theology (Andreas Karlstadt)
Publication of the "Chronicle of Saxons and Thuringians"
|
| 1512 |
Becoming a Professor of Theology at the University of Wittenberg (Martin Luther)
Research at the University of Tübingen (Philipp Schwarzerdt)
Research at the University of Frankfurt an der Oder (Thomas Müntzer)
Involvement in Obtaining Luther's Doctorate in Theology (Andreas Karlstadt)
|
| 1513 |
Ordination to the Priesthood (Filippo Bruno)
|
| 1515 |
Stay in Rome and Theological Theses of 1516
Collaboration on Erasmus's Edition of the Greek New Testament
Appointment as Preacher at Basel Minster (Johannes Oecolampadius)
|
| 1516 |
156 Theses of 1516
|
| 1517 |
Approaching Martin Luther (Thomas Müntzer)
Publication of the Ninety-five Theses
|
| 1518 |
Hearing at the Diet of Augsburg (Martin Luther)
Appointment as Professor at the University of Wittenberg (Philipp Melanchthon)
Approaching Luther's Reformation Thought
Obtaining a Doctorate in Theology (Johannes Oecolampadius)
Approaching Luther's Reformation (Georg Spalatin)
Mediation between Luther and Friedrich III
Heidelberg Disputation (Martin Bucer)
Inaugural Lecture at the University of Wittenberg (Philipp Melanchthon)
|
| 1519 |
Leipzig Debate
|
| 1520 |
Educational Reform in Wittenberg
Reformation Movement in Zwickau
Appointment as Preacher in Zwickau (Thomas Müntzer)
Formation of Reformed Theology with Zwingli (Johannes Oecolampadius)
Writing of Friedrich III's Biography and Reformation Historical Documents
Condemnation by the Papal Bull "Exsurge Domine"
Marriage (Philipp Melanchthon, Katharina Krapp)
|
| 1521 |
Translation of the German New Testament
Publication of "Loci Communes"
Activities during Luther's Stay at the Wartburg
Excommunication of Karlstadt
Reformation Activities in Prague and the "Prague Manifesto"
Move to Prague (Thomas Müntzer)
Release from Dominican Monastic Vows (Martin Bucer)
Activities Concerning Luther's Attendance at the Diet of Worms
Coordination Regarding the Wittenberg Reformation
Excommunication of Martin Luther
Accompanying to the Diet of Worms (Martin Bucer)
Diet of Worms (Martin Luther)
Hiding at the Wartburg Castle (Martin Luther)
Protective Transfer of Luther to Wartburg Castle
Reformed Celebration of the Lord's Supper in Wittenberg
|
| 1522 |
Wittenberg Iconoclasm Movement
Conflict with Luther (Andreas Rudolf Bodenstein von Karlstadt)
Reformation Activities in Wissembourg and Excommunication (Martin Bucer)
Pastoral Activities in Landstuhl (Martin Bucer)
Marriage (Martin Bucer, Elisabeth Silbereisen)
Knights' Revolt of Franz von Sickingen
Reformation Activities in Ebernurg
Reformation Movement in Basel (Johannes Oecolampadius)
Pastoral Activities in Ebernburg (Johannes Oecolampadius)
Marriage (Andreas Karlstadt, Anna von Mochau)
Return to Wittenberg (Martin Luther)
|
| 1523 |
Reformation in Orlamünde
Reformation in Allstedt
Liturgical Reform in Allstedt
Beginning of the Reformation in Strasbourg (Martin Bucer)
Leadership of the Strasbourg Reformation (Martin Bucer)
Lectures on the Bible at the University of Basel (Johannes Oecolampadius)
Marriage (Thomas Müntzer, Ottilie von Gersen)
|
| 1524 |
Eucharistic Controversy
Formation of the Allstedt League
Burning of the Mallerbach Pilgrimage Chapel
Power Struggle in Mühlhausen
Establishment of the Printing Press
Publication of the "Protestation or Proposition"
Sermon to the Princes
Luther's Visit to Orlamünde
Flight from Allstedt (Thomas Müntzer)
Expulsion from Saxony (Andreas Karlstadt)
Publication of "A Highly Provoked Vindication and Refutation of the Unfaithful Belief"
|
| 1525 |
Temporary Protection by Luther
Appointment as Pastor in Altenburg (Georg Spalatin)
Marriage (Georg Spalatin, Katharina Heidenreich)
Leadership of the Peasant and Citizen Movement in Mühlhausen
Battle of Frankenhausen
Arrest of Müntzer
Battle of Frankenhausen and Defeat
Interrogation and Torture (Thomas Müntzer)
Death of Thomas Müntzer
Execution of Müntzer
Marriage (Martin Luther, Katharina von Bora)
|
| 1526 |
Baden Disputation (Johannes Oecolampadius)
|
| 1527 |
Reformation of the Saxon Church and Church Visitation
Organization of the Saxon Evangelical Church (Georg Spalatin)
|
| 1528 |
Participation in the Bern Disputation (Johannes Oecolampadius)
Marriage (Johannes Oecolampadius, Wibrandis Rosenblatt)
|
| 1529 |
Authoring the Small Catechism (Martin Luther)
Diet of Speyer and the Protestant Movement
Emigration to Switzerland and Interaction with Zwingli (Andreas Karlstadt)
Abolition of the Mass in Basel and Institutionalization of the Reformation
Appointment as Antistes of the Basel Reformed Church (Johannes Oecolampadius)
Marburg Colloquy (Philipp Schwarzerdt)
|
| 1530 |
Diet of Augsburg and the Augsburg Confession
Drafting of the Augsburg Confession
Preparation of the "Apology of the Augsburg Confession"
Drafting of the "Tetrapolitan Confession"
Unification Movement of Protestant Factions
Diet of Augsburg
Diet of Augsburg and Tetrapolitan Confession (Martin Bucer)
Interaction with Michael Servetus (Johannes Oecolampadius)
|
| 1531 |
Involvement in the Schmalkaldic League
Deterioration of Relations with Zwingli (Martin Bucer)
Formation of the Schmalkaldic League
Second War of Kappel
Death of Johannes Oecolampadius
|
| 1534 |
Completion and Publication of the Complete Luther Bible
Appointment as Professor and Pastor at the University of Basel (Andreas Karlstadt)
|
| 1535 |
Publication of the Biography of Arminius
|
| 1536 |
Wittenberg Concord
|
| 1537 |
Involvement in the Smalcald Articles
|
| 1541 |
Regensburg Colloquy (Philipp Schwarzerdt)
Plague Epidemic in Strasbourg
Death of Andreas Karlstadt
|
| 1542 |
Marriage (Martin Bucer, Wibrandis Rosenblatt)
|
| 1545 |
Death of Georg Spalatin
|
| 1546 |
Refuge and Return to Wittenberg after the Schmalkaldic War
Writing of "Historia Lutheri"
Death of Martin Luther
|
| 1548 |
Response to the Augsburg Interim
Involvement in the Leipzig Interim (Philipp Schwarzerdt)
Augsburg Interim and Expulsion from Strasbourg (Martin Bucer)
|
| 1549 |
Appointment as Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Cambridge (Martin Bucer)
|
| 1550 |
Writing of "De Regno Christi"
|
| 1551 |
Death of Martin Bucer
|
| 1555 |
Peace of Augsburg
|
| 1560 |
Death of Philip Melanchthon
|
Map
| Category | |
|---|---|
| Element |
Europe
World
Related Links
| Group | List |
|---|---|
| Western Europe | The English royal family The English Reformation Renaissance science Renaissance Art |
| Central Europe | Holy Roman Emperor German Reformation German Renaissance Art Polish Science |
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