Martin Luther | Timeline

Martin Luther (10 November 1483 – 18 February 1546), was a German professor of theology, composer, priest, monk and a seminal figure in the Protestant Reformation. (Intro from Wikipedia)

November 10, 1483 - Eisleben - Martin Luther is born

January(?) 1(?), 1484 - Mansfeld - Luther family moves to Mansfeld, where Martin's father was a leaseholder of copper mines and smelters and served as one of four citizen representatives on the local council

January(?) 1(?), 1497 - Magdeburg - Hans Luther sends his son to the Latin School in Magdeburg

January(?) 1(?), 1498 - Eisenach - Hans Luther sends his son to study in Eisenach

January(?) 1(?), 1501 - Erfurt - At the age of 19, Martin Luther enters the University of Erfurt (which he later described as a beerhouse and whorehouse)

January(?) 1(?), 1505 - Erfurt - Martin Luther receives his master's degree

July 2, 1505 - Erfurt - Returning to university on horseback after a trip home, during a thunderstorm, a lightning bolt strikes near him. He was terrified of death and divine judgment, and cried out, "Help! Saint Anna, I will become a monk!". He came to view his cry for help as a vow he could never break =(START)

July 17, 1505 - Erfurt - Luther sells his books, leaves law school and enters St.Augustine's Monastery

April 3, 1507 - Erfurt - Luther is ordained priest by Jerome Scultetus, Bishop of Brandenburg, in Erfurt Cathedral

January(?) 1(?), 1508 - Erfurt - Von Staupitz, first dean of the newly founded University of Wittenberg, sends for Luther, to teach theology

March 9, 1508 - Erfurt - Luther receives a bachelor's degree in Biblical studies

January(?) 1(?), 1509 - Luther receives a bachelor's degree in the "sentences" by Peter Lombard (XII century)

October 19, 1512 - Wittenberg - Luther is awarded his Doctor of Theology

October 21, 1512 - Wittenberg - Luther is received into the senate of the theological faculty of the University of Wittenberg, having succeeded Staupitz as chair of theology

October 31, 1517 - Wittenberg - Luther writes to his bishop, Albert of Mainz, protesting the sale of indulgences
October 5, 1518 - Nuremberg - Luther, accompanied by two of Elector Frederick's advisors, come through Nuremberg on their way to the Diet at Augsburg. He meets with Albrecht Dürer's neighbor, Lazarus Spengler, the secretary to the Nuremberg Council

October 12, 1518 - Augsburg - Over a three-day period, Luther defends himself under questioning by papal legate Cardinal Cajetan

January 1(?), 1519 - Altenburg - The Papal Nuncio Karl von Miltitz adopts a more conciliatory approach. Luther makes certain concessions to the Saxon, who was a relative of the Elector, and promised to remain silent if his opponents did.

July 1(?), 1519 - Leipzig - Luther is invited to speak in a public debate. Johann Eck tries to expose his doctrine

June 15, 1520 - Wittenberg(?) - The Pope warns Luther with the papal bull (edict) "Exsurge Domine" that he risks excommunication unless he recants 41 sentences drawn from his writings, including the Ninety-five Theses, within 60 days

October 1(?), 1520 - Wittenberg(?) - Luther sends the Pope a copy of "On the Freedom of a Christian"
November 12, 1520 - (While at Wittenberg)(?) - News of a papal bull ordering the burning of Luther's books arrive in Cologne

December 10, 1520 - Wittenberg - Luther publicly burns the papal bull (edict) and decretals

January 3, 1521 - Wittenberg - Luther is excommunicated by Pope Leo X, in the bull "Decet Romanum Pontificem".

April 18, 1521 - Worms - Luther appears as ordered before the Diet of Worms

May 1, 1521 - Wartburg Castle, Eisenach - Luther is taken to the Castle of Wartberg by Frederick III to save his life

August 1, 1521 - Wartburg Castle, Eisenach - Letter to Philip Melanchthon (German lutheran reformer)

December 1(?), 1521 - Wittenberg - Luther visits Wittenberg, in disguise

March 1, 1522 - Wartburg Castle, Eisenach - End of Luther's stay at Wartburg Castle, after translating the "New Testament"

March 6, 1522 - Wittenberg - Luther secretly returns to Wittenberg

March 9, 1522 - Wittenberg - Luther restarts preaching his sermons - Eight sermons in eight days, which became known as the "Invocavit sermons"

April 1(?), 1523 - Nimbschen Convent, Grimma, SE Leipzig - Luther helps twelve nuns escape from a Cistercian convent at Nimbschen, including Katharina von Bora, his future wife, when he arranges for them to be smuggled out in herring barrels

June 13, 1525 - Wittenberg - Luther marries Katharina von Bora

January 1, 1526 - Wittenberg - Luther starts reorganizing the practises of the Church in depth

October 1, 1529 - Marburg - Beginning of the Marburg Colloquy, convoked by Philipp I, Landgrave of Hessen

October 4, 1529 - Marburg - End of the Marburg Colloquy

January(?) 1(?), 1536 - Wittenberg - Luther begins suffering from kidney and bladder stones, and arthritis

December 1(?), 1544 - Wittenberg - Luther begins feeling the effects of angina

February 15, 1546 - Eisleben, W. of Halle - Luther's last sermon

February 18, 1546 - Eisleben - Martin Luther dies, aged 62 =(END)