Martin Luther: Diet of Wörms, 1521 Richard Fitzsimmons Strathallan School

Background … Luther had been summoned before the Imperial Diet and the new young Emperor Charles V to answer for his writings and teachings He had been given a promise of safe conduct by the Emperor, though many in Germany did not expect Charles to keep to it. (c.f. Jan Hus in 1415) He had been granted a hearing before his peers in Germany as a favour to Frederick the Wise, and because of a law passed by Maximilian I that Germans could not be place on trial outside of Germany Luther was unaware of the amount of public support he had on the journey to Wörms – he was to receive a shock when he got to Wörms

What was the situation in 1521 ? Luther’s rejection of the Bull Exsurge Domine at the end of 1520 meant that the internal church mechanisms for controlling opinions had failed to bring him back to orthodoxy. The rapid spread of his writings, and the effectiveness of their appeal to the German people, threatened the established religious structure in Germany. As Luther’s writings began to divide educated opinion in Germany, his campaign was becoming as much of a political as a religious issue. Any physical punishment of Luther would require either the cooperation of his own ruler, Frederick the Wise, or action by the Imperial authorities.

A fatal invitation ? Charles V became German Emperor just as Luther’s campaign was spreading – he did not appreciate the level of support that Luther’s ideas had amongst the Germans Charles himself was a deeply committed Catholic: he felt that he was the heir to good Catholic rulers and that he should uphold their example. Although he was Emperor, Charles was in a relatively weak position as an inexperienced ruler, while the German princes were eager to see how their ruler would react to Luther’s challenge Rather than seek to punish Luther immediately, he decided to summon him to an Imperial Diet at Wörms where he could answer for his views.

Who was Charles V ? On the death of Emperor Maximilian in 1519, his grandson, Charles I of Spain, was elected Emperor Through the inheritance of his mother, Joanna of Castile, Charles had already been King of Spain since He now became Emperor Charles V, and ruler of Flanders, Sicily, Naples and the New World.

Safe Conduct … Martin Luther was offered a safe-passage to appear before the Emperor at Wörms on 17 April In 1415, the Czech reformer, Jan Hus, had been given a similar safe-passage to the Council of Constance. He was arrested and burned at the stake. Luther’s life was certainly in danger – not necessarily from the Emperor but perhaps from someone anxious to ingratiate themselves with their new ruler Would the Reformation have died there and then if Luther had been burnt at Wörms ?

Luther at Wörms … Luther was asked whether he was prepared to recant the views that he had held. He refused and defended himself. “I do not set myself up as a saint. It is not my life that I am arguing about, but the teaching of Christ. It is not right for me to retract these works …” He concluded: “Here I stand, I can do no other.”

What did the Emperor say ? Charles V was infuriated by Luther, and replied: “After Luther’s stiff-necked reply yesterday, I now repent that I have so long delayed proceedings against him and his false doctrines. I have resolved never again, under any circumstances, to hear from him. Under protection of his safe conduct he shall be escorted home, but forbidden to preach and to seduce men with his evil doctrines and incite them to rebellion.”

The Edict of Wörms, 1521 Charles V kept his promise and Luther was allowed to return to Saxony. Elector Frederick abducted Luther and hid him in the Wartburg Castle, for his own protection, until The Edict of Worms gave imperial confirmation and support for the Pope’s Bull of Excommunication of 3 January Luther was now condemned both by the Pope and the Emperor.

The situation after Wörms … Luther was not only an excommunicate, but also now an outlaw in the Empire – he could be seized by anyone and handed over as a heretic. Luther ‘disappeared’ into the protective custody of Frederick the Wise at the Wartburg castle ( ) Charles departed for Spain thinking that the official Ban passed by the Diet would be enough to dampen down the ‘Luther Affair’ – he was wrong. His absence and delegation of power to his brother Ferdinand meant that the Habsburg response to the spread of Lutheranism was ‘hardly vigorous or sustained’. There was widespread sympathy for Luther’s criticisms of the Church throughout Germany, and Charles’ Edict was upheld in some areas, ignored in others. Certain groups took up Luther’s ‘cause’ enthusiastically, among them the Imperial Knights.