The Diet of Worms and its aftermath:
Luther’s condemnation as a heretic and an outlaw;
the attitude of Charles V;
- Top of his priority list was the ottoman issue and a request for necessary crusade
money then the princes wanted their 102 grievances addressed - luther bottom
- Luther was not given a chance to explain his beliefs, instead the title of various books
he wrote were read out by cardinal aleander and he was asked simply if he had
written them and agreed with their content. He asked for some time to consider and
this was granted. The next day he returned and said whilst some of them were overly
aggressive they were all based on scripture and if they could be proved wrong he
would be the first to cast his books in the fire.
- Charles delegated 8 commissioners to try and reason with him but this failed and he
went home that day, declared an outlaw.
The edict of worms:
- It outlawed luther's teachings but failed to be implemented because:
- Structure of HRE made charles reliant on princes and cities to enforce
- Princes said they would only enforce the edict if Charles put pressure on the
pope to call a general council to address their 102 grievances - they didn’t
agree with Luther but agreed that Germany was being exploited and the
church was corrupt
- In 1519 capitulation Charles had promised not to bring foreign troops into
Germany and had problems with Spain and France so left and did not return
to Germany for nine years.
- Why not execute him?
- Luther was a national hero, executing him would make him a martyr
- Around 300,000 copies of luther's work already circulating
- Did not want to go back on his promise of safe conduct so early in his reign
so as not to alienate the princes.
the protection of Frederick the Wise at Wartburg Castle.
- People believed Luther to be dead, Albrecht Düher declared ‘If Luther be dead who
will proclaim the Holy Gospel so clearly to us.’
- Extremism rocketed as Lutehr remained in hiding, forcing him out
Luther’s attitude to religious and political
radicalism:
views on the Radical Reformation by Carlstadt and the Zwickau prophets in
Wittenberg,
- Wanted to put into action what Luther had previously put on paper, denounced mass,
encouraged monks to denounce their vows and wear secular clothing as well as
encouraging clerical marriage (Karlstadt leading the way by marrying a 15 year old
girl)
, - Appeared to offer not only religious reform but social reform too (Karlstadt offering
poor relief) to implement Jesus teachings on charity
- They announced that all holy statues and images were the work of the devil and
symbols of materialism. Zwilling lit a fire in the courtyard of an augustinian friary and
then began throwing images, banners, crucifixes and candles onto it. They then cut
off the heads of stone images of Christ, the Virgin Mary and other saints. This violent
anti-clericalism became increasingly wide-spread. Zwilling also preached so strongly
against clergy in Eilenburg that listeners stormed the parsonage.
Luther wanted to end this extremism
- He didn’t want the bloodshed that would occur if Fredrick decided to use force (which
was likely as Frederick wanted to restore order so his brother would not invade.
- Within 8 days Luther restored order by preaching his ‘Invocavit sermons’
- Luther expelled the prophets and dismissed Karlstadt from the university.
- (this proved Luther's opinions on change as conservative, slow and enforced by
authority) Luther also began trying to find ways for ordinary people to understand
faith as well as accepting more changes such as communion in both kinds and
marriage of clergy.
his lack of support for the revolt of the Imperial Knights;
- The knights had lost power as the princes gained it and were stirred into action by
the prospect of social reform
- They chose Trier as their target as the archbishop of Trier was seen as almost a
figurehead of Rome, his assistant having questioned Luther at diet of worms and he
himself burning heretical texts.
- The archbishop appealed to fellow princes for aid, who all responded as they did not
want the knights' revolt to change the status quo.
- He did not support the revolt but stayed silent on the matter despite the many posters
linking him and hutten. Perhaps he stayed silent due to his friendship with
Melanchthon or maybe because of huttens reputation as a humanist
- His silence on the matter indicated he was hostile to the power of the princes and in
favour of governmental reform.
the reasons for, and consequences of, his denunciation of the Peasants’ War 1525;
- The peasants revolt was caused by a combination of social and religious issues:
- Enclosure, rising grain tithes and rent, hunting and fishing capitol offence
- East of river elbe serfdom was being imposed
- Luther’s emphasis on scripture made peasants hopeful as tithes were not
mentioned in the bible - suggesting that luther would support them in
denouncing tithes
- Luther’s emphasise on priesthood of all believers also made peasants hopeful
for social equality (luther did not intend this)
- He used harsh and aggressive language against clergy and princes calling
some princes 'drunken and mad’
- However peasants were also influenced by deep rooted anti-clericalism that
had been present before 1517. Also influenced by preaching of Thomas
Muntzer who preached anarchy and called Luther ‘Doctor Liar’
Luther’s condemnation as a heretic and an outlaw;
the attitude of Charles V;
- Top of his priority list was the ottoman issue and a request for necessary crusade
money then the princes wanted their 102 grievances addressed - luther bottom
- Luther was not given a chance to explain his beliefs, instead the title of various books
he wrote were read out by cardinal aleander and he was asked simply if he had
written them and agreed with their content. He asked for some time to consider and
this was granted. The next day he returned and said whilst some of them were overly
aggressive they were all based on scripture and if they could be proved wrong he
would be the first to cast his books in the fire.
- Charles delegated 8 commissioners to try and reason with him but this failed and he
went home that day, declared an outlaw.
The edict of worms:
- It outlawed luther's teachings but failed to be implemented because:
- Structure of HRE made charles reliant on princes and cities to enforce
- Princes said they would only enforce the edict if Charles put pressure on the
pope to call a general council to address their 102 grievances - they didn’t
agree with Luther but agreed that Germany was being exploited and the
church was corrupt
- In 1519 capitulation Charles had promised not to bring foreign troops into
Germany and had problems with Spain and France so left and did not return
to Germany for nine years.
- Why not execute him?
- Luther was a national hero, executing him would make him a martyr
- Around 300,000 copies of luther's work already circulating
- Did not want to go back on his promise of safe conduct so early in his reign
so as not to alienate the princes.
the protection of Frederick the Wise at Wartburg Castle.
- People believed Luther to be dead, Albrecht Düher declared ‘If Luther be dead who
will proclaim the Holy Gospel so clearly to us.’
- Extremism rocketed as Lutehr remained in hiding, forcing him out
Luther’s attitude to religious and political
radicalism:
views on the Radical Reformation by Carlstadt and the Zwickau prophets in
Wittenberg,
- Wanted to put into action what Luther had previously put on paper, denounced mass,
encouraged monks to denounce their vows and wear secular clothing as well as
encouraging clerical marriage (Karlstadt leading the way by marrying a 15 year old
girl)
, - Appeared to offer not only religious reform but social reform too (Karlstadt offering
poor relief) to implement Jesus teachings on charity
- They announced that all holy statues and images were the work of the devil and
symbols of materialism. Zwilling lit a fire in the courtyard of an augustinian friary and
then began throwing images, banners, crucifixes and candles onto it. They then cut
off the heads of stone images of Christ, the Virgin Mary and other saints. This violent
anti-clericalism became increasingly wide-spread. Zwilling also preached so strongly
against clergy in Eilenburg that listeners stormed the parsonage.
Luther wanted to end this extremism
- He didn’t want the bloodshed that would occur if Fredrick decided to use force (which
was likely as Frederick wanted to restore order so his brother would not invade.
- Within 8 days Luther restored order by preaching his ‘Invocavit sermons’
- Luther expelled the prophets and dismissed Karlstadt from the university.
- (this proved Luther's opinions on change as conservative, slow and enforced by
authority) Luther also began trying to find ways for ordinary people to understand
faith as well as accepting more changes such as communion in both kinds and
marriage of clergy.
his lack of support for the revolt of the Imperial Knights;
- The knights had lost power as the princes gained it and were stirred into action by
the prospect of social reform
- They chose Trier as their target as the archbishop of Trier was seen as almost a
figurehead of Rome, his assistant having questioned Luther at diet of worms and he
himself burning heretical texts.
- The archbishop appealed to fellow princes for aid, who all responded as they did not
want the knights' revolt to change the status quo.
- He did not support the revolt but stayed silent on the matter despite the many posters
linking him and hutten. Perhaps he stayed silent due to his friendship with
Melanchthon or maybe because of huttens reputation as a humanist
- His silence on the matter indicated he was hostile to the power of the princes and in
favour of governmental reform.
the reasons for, and consequences of, his denunciation of the Peasants’ War 1525;
- The peasants revolt was caused by a combination of social and religious issues:
- Enclosure, rising grain tithes and rent, hunting and fishing capitol offence
- East of river elbe serfdom was being imposed
- Luther’s emphasis on scripture made peasants hopeful as tithes were not
mentioned in the bible - suggesting that luther would support them in
denouncing tithes
- Luther’s emphasise on priesthood of all believers also made peasants hopeful
for social equality (luther did not intend this)
- He used harsh and aggressive language against clergy and princes calling
some princes 'drunken and mad’
- However peasants were also influenced by deep rooted anti-clericalism that
had been present before 1517. Also influenced by preaching of Thomas
Muntzer who preached anarchy and called Luther ‘Doctor Liar’
