In order to address these sacrileges, Luther enclosed them in what came to be known as the ‘95 Thesis’. With the widespread, affordable distribution of the 95 Thesis and translations into languages such as German from the traditional Latin, Luther’s ideas entered the hands of many Europeans. Furthermore, other works accompanied Luther’s, such as the Prince, the Praise of Folly and the Bible itself from which individuals could validify the contradictions drawn by Luther.
The Pope was aware of Luther’s efforts to bring down his church, as was the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. In order to address his concerns, the Pope dispatched many of his followers to quell Luther’s efforts. Luther was defiant to the Pope’s efforts. As a result, in 1521, Luther was excommunicated by the church, in the bull Decet Romanum Pontificem.
The enforcement had reached the secular authorities subsequent to Luther’s excommunication, rising as an immediate issue. As a result, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V called the diet of Worms, an imperial diet that would determine Luther’s faith, along with many of the German princes.
The German princes were defiant to Charles V’s efforts to regulate the religion of their regions. Charles V could not risk his loss of power in the regions of these German princes, therefore agreed to allow these princes to choose the religion of the inhabitants of their region.
Further, in regards to the decision regarding Luther, when asked to recant his ideas and contradictions of the church, he refused, providing the argument that they were not his words but those of the bible, those of god. ‘Here I stand, I can do no other.’ Martin Luther was declared an outlaw. Those who aided him would be punished, those who arrested him would be prized. His literature was banned and his death was authorized.
In order to ensure his protection, Luther’s ally, the German Prince Frederick of Saxony, allowed Luther to hide within the Wartburg Castle. During his time in Wartburg Castle, Luther expanded his collection of works explaining his ideology, as well as translated the Bible from Latin into German.
From thereon, all was history. Luther returned to Wittenberg and continued to develop his ideology, which eventually lead to the formation of a new branch of reformed Christianity, one that abided only to the teachings of the Bible. The reformation of Christianity caused by this string of events was titled Protestantism, which may be split into numerous denominations, including Lutheranism, its earliest form.
The Catholic reformation had taken its grasp of Europe, transforming it into a nexus of political turmoil and religious dispute. Widespread conflict had erupted, seemingly ingressing Europe into one of its darkest ages. However, through this bedlam, innovation thrived and development succeeded.