  Church hierarchy developed from Roman government  Roman government was a rigid pyramid/top-down political system  When Roman government collapsed, The Church was the only structure left  Roman Emperor had been seen as a God/god like  Pope seen as link to God/Christ’s representative on earth  Do these traits compliment or conflict with Renaissance ideals? Catholic Church

  Wealth and Political Power  Had to defend the Papal States from French and Italian Enemies  Lower clergy was often times illiterate and unofficially married  As literacy spread during the Renaissance, people began to expect more from their priests Renaissance Popes

  From a copper mining family  Father wanted him to be a lawyer  When caught in storm, he promised to become a monk  Fasted and prayed but still felt like a sinner  “The just shall live by faith”  Faith alone was needed for salvation Martin Luther

  Prompted by selling of indulgences by Johann Tetzel  Posted on the church door in Wittenberg  Within 6 months printing presses had spread it all over Germany  Called for a full reform of the Catholic Church  Did not call for a split from the Church The 95 Theses

 I.Salvation was by faith alone (not faith and good works) II.Bible was the only authority (not Church tradition) III.Priesthood of all believers (no need for priest class) Three Main Points of Luther’s 95 Theses

  Pope Leo X excommunicates Martin Luther  Holy Roman Emperor Charles V sides with the Pope against Luther Reactions of the Holy Roman Emperor and the Pope

  From the Hapsburgs, an Austrian noble family  The most powerful man in Europe  Won many lands through marriages Charles V

European Lands of Charles V

  German Princes who had remained loyal to Pope signed agreement to join forces against Luther  German Princes who had agreed with the teachings of Luther signed a protest against this Catholic league of princes and become known as Protestants  Augsburg Confession signed- asserts main tenants of what will become the Lutheran Church  The Protestant Princes form the Schmalkaldic League for mutual protection against the Catholic Princes And Holy Roman Emperor Charles V  Charles V feels safe form the French and Turks and attacks the Schmalkaldic League. Charles V vs. Protestant Princes

 Founders of the Schmalkaldic League Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse John Frederick I, Elector of Saxony

  Charles V could never wipe out the Protestant faith with initial military victories even though he won the Schmalkaldic War  He provoked another revolt of Protestant Princes by trying to force them back into the Catholic Church  Charles V flees from superior Protestant forces  Charles V agrees to the Peace of Augsburg Schmalkaldic War

  1555  Each prince could choose his own religion  Catholic or Lutheran- Not Calvinist  Retain loyalty to Holy Roman Emperor Peace of Augsburg

  Retires to monastery  Gives Spain, Netherlands, Americas to his son, Philip II  Gives Holy Roman Empire to his brother, Ferdinand I Charles V Disillusioned

Philip II of Spain