Martin Luther

Martin Luther (1483–1546), born at Eisleben, was a German friar and theologian whose protest against indulgences split Western Christianity. After lightning struck near him in 1505 he vowed to become a monk, entered a monastery and from 1512 taught theology at Wittenberg, arguing that sinners are justified by faith alone.

In 1517 he issued the Ninety-five Theses against indulgence preaching; translated into German, they spread within weeks. Excommunicated in 1521, he refused to recant at Worms before Emperor Charles V and was outlawed. Hidden in Wartburg by his Saxon protector, he translated the New Testament into German; the full Bible appeared in 1534.

In 1525 he urged the nobles to crush the rebel peasants and married former nun Katharina von Bora, making clerical marriage respectable; his catechisms and hymns spread his teaching. His late writings against Jews called for burning synagogues. He died at Eisleben in 1546, still excommunicate.