1517- 1525
Peasant Revolt

The Perfect Storm for Reform!!!!
 Charles V
 Humanism
 Corruption in Roman Catholic
Church
 Gutenberg’s Printing Press

Renaissance literature supports
Luther’s ideas
 Elements in common – satire; anti-clerical; education
 More- (Eng) Utopia “a good place which is no place”
 Rabalais- (Fr) Gargantua
 Erasmus- (Neth) Praise of Folly: simple faith; vernacular Bible; ind. faith; no priest middleman; less formal worship

Reasons for dissatisfaction with RCC
 Pluralism
 Absenteeism
 Excessive wealth
 Simony
 Inappropriate behavior of Popes
 Lack of education of lower clergy

AND ….
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1.
2.
3.
Tetzel“As soon as coin in coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs!”
To pay off Rome’s debts & debt from simony (Fugger Loan)
Justified indulgences as:
God is merciful
Treasury of merits
Church grants spiritual benefits for merits

Luther- 95 Thesis
 Undermines power of the Pope by questioning use of penance
 Rejected salvation through good works –
Salvation by FAITH ALONE (says
Luther)
 If personal relationship with God is possible- no need for clergy
 Person interprets Bible himself

Luther
Continued
 Church is defined by Luther as
“priesthood of believers
 2 sacramentsbecause supported by scripture baptism, Eucharist
 Transubstantiation vs consubstantiation
 All vocations have merit- not monks as highest
 Authority rests in Bible with individual

Founding of Lutheranism
 New religion was never Luther’s intention
 Called protestant as Luther protested against the ills of the RCC
 Results in excommunication
 Summoned to Diet of Worms (Charles V)
 Refused to recant
 While in hiding after Worms, translated
Bible into German

 City governments did not like privilege of clergy ( paid no taxes)
 Immorality of clergy
 Peasants associated with Luther’s ideas
“Equality of Believers before God”

Luther – On Christian Liberty
 “ A Christian man is the most free lord of all and subject to none.”
 This quote becomes foundation for peasant Revolt in 1525

Why Luther is successful….
 Support of Frederick of Saxony ( what are his motives for protecting Luther???)
 Language skills
 Printing press
 Geography
 Inexperience of Charles V (at Worms)
 What was Luther’s position on women???

 Support from Germanic princes/ looking for disintegration of Papal
Authority (curia)
 coveted wealth of church
 League of Schmalkalden-
Protestant princes united against
Charles V

Economic Impact
 HRE Princes looking to control tithe/church wealth
 Indulgences

 Each principality began to choose what religion – mostly by geographic grounds
North versus South
 Results in Peace of Augsburg- 1555
Each prince/duke /Elector in HRE decides religion for his territory
ONLY 2 Choices- Catholic or Lutheran
 Cuius regio, eius religio!!