MARTIN LUTHER (1483–1546)
Life
Martin Luther was born on 10 November 1483 in Eisleben in Saxony. He studied at the University of Erfurt, where he first received an education in the liberal arts and later studied theology.
In 1505 he entered an Augustinian monastery and became a monk of the Augustinian order. Later he worked as a professor of theology at the University of Wittenberg.
Conflict with the Catholic Church
Luther entered into open conflict with the Catholic Church mainly because of his criticism of the sale of indulgences. In 1517 he published his famous Ninety-five Theses in Wittenberg.
His criticism led to a serious dispute with the papacy. In 1518 he was declared a heretic and in 1521 he was outlawed at the Diet of Worms.
Despite this, his ideas spread rapidly and gained support among many German princes and among the general population.
Translation of the Bible
One of Luther’s most important achievements was his translation of the Bible into German. This translation had a profound influence not only on religious life but also on the development of the German language.
The Luther Bible became the foundation of modern standard German.
Luther and the Peasants’ War
Between 1524 and 1526 large peasant uprisings took place in the Holy Roman Empire. Some of the rebels were inspired by Luther’s ideas.
However, Luther eventually opposed the violent course of the revolt and supported the suppression of the uprising by the ruling authorities.
Luther and Jáchymov
According to some later traditions Luther may have visited Jáchymov during a journey to Bohemia while seeking economic and military support for the German Peasants’ War.
This visit, however, remains uncertain. It is not mentioned even by the Jáchymov chronicler and Luther’s pupil Johannes Mathesius.
Death
Martin Luther died on 18 February 1546 in his birthplace Eisleben.
