TheDiet of Worms of 1521 (German:Reichstag zu Worms[ˈʁaɪçstaːktsuːˈvɔʁms]) was animperial diet (a formal deliberative assembly) of theHoly Roman Empire called by EmperorCharles V and conducted in theImperial Free City ofWorms.Martin Luther was summoned to the diet in order to renounce or reaffirm his views in response to aPapal bull ofPope Leo X.[1] In answer to questioning, he defended the views that had been criticized and refused to recant them. At the end of the diet, the Emperor issued theEdict of Worms (Wormser Edikt), a decree which condemned Luther as "a notoriousheretic" and banned citizens of the Empire from propagating his ideas.[2] Although theReformation is usually considered to have begun in 1517, this edict is the first overt schism associated with it.
The diet was conducted from 28 January to 25 May 1521 at theBischofshof palace in Worms, with the Emperor presiding.[3] Other imperial diets took place at Worms in the years829, 926,1076,1122,1495, and 1545, but unless plainly qualified, the term "Diet of Worms" usually refers to the assembly of 1521.
In June 1520,Pope Leo X issued thePapal bullExsurge Domine ("Arise, O Lord"), outlining 41 purported errors found inMartin Luther'sNinety-five Theses and other writings related to or written by him. Luther first attracted the attention of ecclesiastical authorities after the publication of his95 Theses (written 1517) in 1518. Luther continued to preach, write, and publish his attacks on the Church, was excommunicated in January 1521, and told to appear before the assembly at the city of Worms.[4] Luther was summoned by the emperor.Frederick III, Elector of Saxony obtained an agreement that, if Luther appeared, he would be promised safe passage to and from the meeting.[5] This guarantee was essential after the treatment ofJan Hus, who was tried and executed at theCouncil of Constance in 1415 despite a promise of safe conduct.
Emperor Charles V commenced theImperial Diet of Worms on 23 January 1521 where Luther was considered outlawed by the Catholic Church as all of his writings were condemned as heretical to the church.[6] Luther was summoned to renounce or reaffirm his views. When he appeared before the assembly on 16 April,Johann von Eck, an assistant of theArchbishop of Trier (Richard von Greiffenklau zu Vollrads at that time), acted as spokesman for the emperor. He refused to recant and was charged as a "notorious heretic" and outlaw, making him a criminal.[4]
The main events of the Diet of Worms relating to Luther took place from 16 to 18 April 1521.[7][8]
On 16 April, Luther arrived in Worms. He was told to appear before the diet at 4 PM the following day. Jerome Schurff, Wittenberg professor incanon law, was Luther's lawyer before the diet. The Pope did not appear.
On 17 April, the imperial marshal, Ulrich von Pappenheim, and the herald, Caspar Sturm, came for Luther.[9] Pappenheim reminded Luther that he should speak only in answer to direct questions from the presiding officer, Johann von Eck. Eck asked if a collection of books was Luther's and if he was ready to revoke their heresies. Schurff said: "Please have the titles read". There were 25 of them, probably includingThe Ninety-five Theses,Resolutions Concerning the 95 Theses,On the Papacy at Rome,To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation,On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church, andOn the Freedom of a Christian. Luther requested more time for a proper answer, so he was given until the next day at 4 p.m.[10]
On 18 April, Luther, saying that he had prayed for long hours and consulted with friends and mediators, presented himself before the diet. When the counselor put the same questions to him, Luther first apologized that he lacked the etiquette of the court. Then he answered, "They are all mine, but as for the second question, they are not all of one sort." Luther went on to place the writings into three categories: (1) Works which were well received even by his enemies: those he would not reject. (2) Books which attacked the abuses, lies, and desolation of theChristian world and the papacy: those, Luther believed, could not safely be rejected without encouraging abuses to continue. To retract them would be to open the door to further oppression, he said.[11] "If I now recant these, then, I would be doing nothing but strengthening tyranny".[11] (3) Attacks on individuals: he apologized for the harsh tone of these writings but did not reject the substance of what he taught in them; if he could be shown byScripture that his writings were in error, Luther continued, he would reject them. Luther then concluded, saying:
Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. May God help me. Amen.[12]
According to tradition, Luther is said to have declared, "Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise", before concluding with "God help me. Amen."[13]
According to Luther, Eck informed Luther that he was acting like aheretic:
"Martin," said he, "there is no one of the heresies which have torn the bosom of the church, which has not derived its origin from the various interpretation of the Scripture. The Bible itself is the arsenal whence each innovator has drawn his deceptive arguments. It was with biblical texts thatPelagius andArius maintained their doctrines. Arius, for instance, found the negation of theeternity of the Word—an eternity which you admit, in this verse of theNew Testament—Joseph knew not his wife till she had brought forth her first-born son; and he said, in the same way that you say, that this passage enchained him. When the fathers of thecouncil of Constance condemned this proposition ofJohn Huss—The church of Jesus Christ is only the community of the elect, they condemned an error; for the church, like a good mother, embraces within her arms all who bear the name of Christian, all who are called to enjoy the celestial beatitude."[14]
Private conferences were held to determine Luther's fate, but he was not arrested at Worms. Through negotiations by his prince,Frederick III, Luther was given a letter of safe conduct to and from the hearing. After his dismissal, he departed for his home inWittenberg. However, fearing for Luther's safety, Frederick III sent men to fake a highway attack and abduct Luther, hiding him away atWartburg Castle. Disguised as a knight, he was kept in protective custody at Wartburg Castle for nearly a year (early May 1521 to early March 1522). "There, high above the surrounding hills," Luther said, he was ensconced in the land of the birds. It was a fitting respite for one whom the Nuremberg Mastersinger Hans Sachs called "the Wittenberg nightingale".[15]
The Edict of Worms was a decree issued on 25 May 1521 by EmperorCharles V.[16] Its contents proscribed Luther's writings, declaring him a heretic and an enemy of the state, even permitting anyone to kill Luther without legal consequence: theimperial ban. Though it was never enforced, (the movement for reform and protection from Protestant supporters acted in his favour) Roman Catholic rulers sought to suppress Luther and his followers, and Luther's travels were restricted for the rest of his life.[17] Beyond its political implications, the Edict of Worms had profound theological significance. Carter Lindberg notes that Luther's unwavering stance at Worms underscored a pivotal shift in Christian thought, emphasizing the authority of Scripture over ecclesiastical hierarchy. This moment crystallized the principle of sola scripture, asserting that the Bible, rather than church tradition or papal authority, is the ultimate guide for faith and practice. Luther's appeal to individual conscience, guided by Scripture, laid the foundation for Protestant emphasis on personal faith and interpretation.[18]
It was the culmination of an ongoing struggle between Martin Luther and theCatholic Church over reform, especially concerning the practice of donations forindulgences. However, there were other deeper issues that revolved around both theological concerns:
The Diet of Worms was also the occasion for Charles V to reform the administration ofthe Empire. The domains of theHouse of Habsburg stretched far beyond the Empire and included the Netherlands and Spain, which itself was gaining foreign colonies. Charles V was frequently travelling and juggling the business of his different territories. He appointed deputies, including theGovernors of the Netherlands and theRegents of Spain, for the times he was absent.[21][22][23]
Charles V elevated his younger brotherFerdinand to the status ofArchduke as Imperial Lieutenant. As such, Ferdinand became regent and governor of theAustrian hereditary lands of Charles V and the Emperor's representative in Germany. Ferdinand's role as chairman of the GermanImperial government was never implemented, however, and ended in 1523 with the body's dissolution. Ferdinand's rule of the Austrian lands in the name of the Emperor was confirmed with the secretHabsburg compact of Brussels in 1522, according to which Charles also agreed to favor the election of Ferdinand asKing of the Romans in Germany, which took placein 1531.
Following the abdications of Charles V in 1556, Ferdinand succeeded Charles as emperor and becamesuo jure Archduke ofAustria.[21][22][23]
When Martin Luther eventually emerged fromWartburg, the emperor, distracted with other matters, did not press for Luther's arrest. Ultimately, because of rising public support for Luther among the German people and the protection of certain German princes, the Edict of Worms was never enforced in Germany. However, in theHabsburg Netherlands, comprising present-dayBelgium,Luxembourg, and theNetherlands, the Edict was initially enforced against Luther's most active supporters. This could be done because these countries were under the direct rule of Emperor Charles V and his appointed regent,Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Savoy and Charles' aunt.
In December 1521, Jacob Proost, prior of theAugustinian monastery inAntwerp, was the first Luther-supporting cleric to be arrested and prosecuted under the terms of the Worms Edict. In February 1522, Proost was compelled to make public recantation and repudiation of Luther's teachings. Later that year, additional arrests were made among the Augustinians in Antwerp. Two monks,Jan van Essen and Hendrik Vos, refused to recant; on 1 July 1523, they wereburned at the stake in Brussels.[24]
The 1522 and 1524Diets of Nuremberg attempted to execute the judgement of the Edict of Worms against Luther, but they failed.[25]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Lindberg, Carter, ed. (2020).The European Reformations. Wiley.doi:10.1002/9781394259861.ISBN 978-1-119-64081-3.
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