Statue of Martin Luther

Luther, the founder of the European Reformation, was born in Eisleben, Germany, in 1483. In 1510, he traveled to Rome and was shocked by the corruption of the clergy there. On October 31, 1517, Luther posted his "95 Theses" on the door of the All Saints Church in Wittenberg.

The scope of Luther's protests against the Holy See quickly expanded to include the Pope and the Archbishop. He insisted that only the Bible and truth could guide him. In 1521, he was declared a heretic and unprotected by the law by the Council of Worms, and his writings were banned. If the verdict were followed, Luther would have been burned at the stake. However, Luther's views were widely circulated among the German people and were supported by some leaders. The religious reform influenced the development of thought in Western Europe. After the Reformation, many countries accepted the idea of religious freedom and people were free to think about other issues.

He died on February 28, 1546.

Tomb of Martin Luther