The life and works of Martin Luther

1483 Born in Eisleben on November 10^th, son of the minor Hans Luther and his wife Margarethe.

1488-1497 Attends school in Mansfeld.

1497-1498 Attends school in Magdeburg.

1498-1501 Attends school in Eisenach.

1501-1505 Studies at Erfurt University and graduates with an M. A. degree (master of the seven liberal arts). At his father’s request, he switches to jurisprudence.

1505 On July 2^nd, he is overtaken by a thunderstorm near Stotternheim. When lightning strikes in his immediate vicinity, he vows to become a monk.

1505 On July 17^th , he enters the Monastery of the Augustinian Mendicant Friars in Erfurt.

1507 Ordination as a priest.

1508-1510 Lectures on philosophy and theology in Wittenberg and Erfurt.

1510/1511 Travels to Rome on matters concerning the Augustinian Order.

1512 Professor of theology and lecturer in interpretation of the scriptures at Wittenberg University where, from 1513 to 1518, he gives important lectures on Psalm and the letters to Romans, Galatians and Habrews.

1517 On October 31^st,Luther nails his 95 theses denouncing the dispensation of indulgences to the door of the palace church in Wittenberg.

1518 From October 12^th to 14^th, he is interrogated by Cardinal Cajetan in Augsburg.

1519 In June and July, the disputation with Eck in Leipzig, during which time Luther challenges the Pope’s infallibility.

1520/1521 Publication of the three major works on the Reformation: “To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation”, “On the Freedom of a Christian Person” and “On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church”.

1520 Luther burns the Canon Law and the Papal bull of condemnation in front of the Elster Gate in Wittenberg.

1521 On January 3^rd, Luther is excomminicated by the Pope.

1521 Luther defends himself on April 17^th and 18^th before the Imperial Diet in Worms; he refuses to recant as demanded by the Emperor Karl V. and is banned by him.

1521-1522 Luther is rescued by the Elector Frederick the Wise and taken to the Wartburg where, disguised as Junker Jörg, he translates the New Testament.

1522 Luther returns to Wittenberg.

1525 Nürnberg adopts the Reformation – the first imperial town to do so.

1525 Luther marries the former nun Katharina von Bora, who bears him three sons and three daughters.

by 1529 Compilation of the longer and shorter catechisms.

1530 Luther, Melanchthon, Jonas and Bugenhagen compile the Torgau Articles,

which form the basis of the Augsburg Confession.

1530 Luther stays in Coburg Fortress during the Imperial Diet in Augsburg.

1534 Luther’s translation of the entire Old and Nnew Testament appears in print.

1537 In Schmalkalden Luther, at the instigation of the Elector Frederick the Magnanimous, compiles the “Schmalkalden Articles” (the main elements of the advice proffered to the league of Protestant towns and princes).

1544 Consecration by Luther of the palace church in Torgau, the first Protestant ecclesiatical building.

1545/1546 Luther pays three visits to his original home in order to settle legal disputes between the counts of Mansfeld.

1546  Luther dies in Eisleben on February 18^th and is buried in the Palace Church in Wittenberg on February 22^nd.