1483 – Martin Luther is born in Eisleben. 1501- Luther begins studies at University of Erfurt. 1505- Luther is caught in powerful rainstorm. He vows to Saint Anne that if he is saved he will become a monk, and soon enters the Augustinian monastery in Erfurt. 1507 - Luther is ordained a priest. 1512 – Luther receives a Doctor of Theology degree from University of Wittenberg and takes a position on the faculty. 1517 – Luther posts 95 Theses challenging the abuse of indulgences sales by Dominican monk, Johann Tetzel. 1519 – Luther and fellow Wittenberg professor Andreas Karlstadt engage in a pubic debate with Johann Eck, a professor at the University of Ingolstadt. Eck accuses Luther of heresy. 1520 – Pope Leo X issues the papal bull Exurge Domine condemning Luther a heretic. Luther burns the papal bull outside of Wittenberg and publishes three books challenging the authority of the church. 1521 – The Diet of Worms – Before Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, and church authorities. Luther refuses to recant his positions and is branded both a heretic and an outlaw. 1521-22 – Luther hides out in Wartburg Castle where he translates the New Testament into German.
1522-25– Luther returns to Wittenberg where he continues to write and preach, He works closely with fellow professor Philipp Melanchthon codifying the theology of salvation by grace alone. 1525– Luther marries former nun Katharina von Bora. The next year the first of their six children is born. 1525– Swiss and English reform movements depart from Luther’s vision. 1529– Luther meets with Swiss reformer Zwingli in an unsuccessful effort to bridge their theological differences. 1530– Diet of Augsburg – Melanchthon presents his Augsburg Confession in an attempt to unify the theology of all parties. It fails, but it becomes the basic framework for Lutheranism. 1534– Luther completes his translation of the Bible, Old and New Testament. 1546– Luther dies in Eisleben. He is buried in the Castle Church in Wittenberg. 1555- The Peace of Augsburg ends the military and political struggles between Catholics and Reformers. Lutheranism can now be practiced without fear of reprisal.