View source for Diet of Worms

{{short description|Imperial assembly of the Holy Roman Empire (1521)}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
[[File:Лютер_в_Вормсе.jpg|thumb|upright=1.43|''Luther at the Diet of Worms'', an 1877 portrait depicting [[Martin Luther]] by [[Anton von Werner]]]]
The '''Diet of Worms of 1521''' ({{langx|de|Reichstag zu Worms}} {{IPA|de|ˈʁaɪçstaːk tsuː ˈvɔʁms|}}) was an [[Imperial Diet (Holy Roman Empire)|imperial diet]] (a formal deliberative assembly) of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] called by Emperor [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]] and conducted in the [[Imperial Free City]] of [[Worms, Germany|Worms]]. [[Martin Luther]] was summoned to the diet in order to renounce or reaffirm his views in response to a [[Exsurge Domine|Papal bull]] of [[Pope Leo X]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lindberg |first=Carter |title=The European reformations |date=2021 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-119-64081-3 |edition=3rd |location=Chichester, United Kingdom Hoboken, New Jersey |pages=71}}</ref> 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 the '''Edict of Worms''' (''Wormser Edikt''), a decree which condemned Luther as "a notorious [[Heresy in the Catholic Church|heretic]]" and banned citizens of the Empire from propagating his ideas.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lindberg |first=Carter |title=The European reformations |date=2021 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-119-64081-3 |edition=3rd |location=Chichester, United Kingdom Hoboken, New Jersey |page=72}}</ref> Although the [[Reformation]] 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 the [[Bischofshof]] palace in Worms, with the Emperor presiding.<ref>(Not a direct quote)[https://web.archive.org/web/20130102175338/http://www.worms.de/downloads/Chronik.pdf Chronik der Stadt Worms] Internet Archive</ref> Other imperial diets took place at Worms in the years [[Frankish synods of 829|829]], 926, [[Diet of Worms (1076)|1076]], [[Diet of Worms (1122)|1122]], [[Diet of Worms (1495)|1495]], and 1545, but unless plainly qualified, the term "Diet of Worms" usually refers to the assembly of 1521.

== Background ==
[[File:Summons for Luther to appear at the Diet of Worms.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Summons for [[Martin Luther|Luther]] to appear at the Diet of Worms signed by [[Emperor Charles V]]; the text on the left was on the reverse side.]]
In June 1520, [[Pope Leo X]] issued the [[Papal bull]] ''[[Exsurge Domine]]'' ("Arise, O Lord"), outlining 41 purported errors found in [[Martin Luther]]'s ''[[Ninety-five Theses]]'' and other writings related to or written by him. Luther first attracted the attention of ecclesiastical authorities after the publication of his ''95 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.<ref name="Mark">{{Cite web |last=Mark |first=Joshua J. |title=Diet of Worms |url=https://www.worldhistory.org/Diet_of_Worms/ |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=World History Encyclopedia |date=8 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lindberg |first=Carter |title=The European Reformations |date=2021 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=9781119640813 |edition=3rd |location=Chicester, United Kingdom |publication-date=2021 |page=67 |language=English}}</ref> This guarantee was essential after the treatment of [[Jan Hus]], who was tried and executed at the [[Council of Constance]] in 1415 despite a promise of safe conduct.

[[Emperor Charles V]] commenced the [[Imperial Diet (Holy Roman Empire)|Imperial 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.<ref>{{cite book |last=Lindberg |first=Carter |title=The European Reformations |date=2021 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |location=Chicester, United Kingdom |isbn=978-1-119-64081-3 |page=72 |edition=3rd}}</ref> Luther was summoned to renounce or reaffirm his views. When he appeared before the assembly on 16 April, [[Johann Eck|Johann von Eck]], an assistant of the [[Archbishop of Trier]] ([[Richard von Greiffenklau zu Vollrads]] at that time), acted as spokesman for the emperor. Luther refused to recant and was charged as a "notorious heretic" and outlaw, making him a criminal.<ref name="Mark"/>{{Better source needed|date=November 2025|reason=Was he 'charged' (source: Mark) or 'condemned' (Lead section)?}}

==Martin Luther==
[[File:Luther-in-Worms-auf-Rt.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|''Luther in Worms'', a 1577 tinted woodcut]]
[[File:Luther statue, Martin-Luther-Denkmal, Worms.JPG|thumb|upright=1.3|The Luther statue in [[Worms, Germany]]]]
The main events of the Diet of Worms relating to Luther took place from 16 to 18 April 1521.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lindberg |first=Carter |title=The European reformations |date=2021 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-119-64081-3 |edition=3rd |location=Chichester, United Kingdom Hoboken, New Jersey |pages=185}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gruber |first=L. Franklin |date=January–April 1918 |title=The Wittenberg Originals of the Luther Bible  |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24295672?searchText=Martin+luter+appeared+in+diet+of+worms&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3DMartin%2Bluter%2Bappeared%2Bin%2Bdiet%2Bof%2Bworms%26so%3Drel&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&refreqid=fastly-default%3Ad16c0a6201cc4da2834723d3e6542ae8&seq=1 |journal=The University of Chicago Press on Behalf of the Bibliographical Society of America |volume=12 |issue=1–38 |pages=1–33 |doi=10.1086/pbsa.12.1_2.24295672 |jstor=24295672}}</ref>

On 16 April, Luther arrived in Worms. He was told to appear before the diet at 4&nbsp;PM the following day. Jerome Schurff, Wittenberg professor in [[Canon law of the Catholic Church|canon 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.<ref>{{cite book |title=History of the Christian Church |last= Schaff|first= Philip|year=2015 |publisher=Arkrose Press |isbn= 978-1346209654 |page=145}}</ref> 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 including ''[[Ninety-five Theses|The 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]]'', and ''[[On 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.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Rev William |last=Wangelin |date=19 April 2021 |title=Luther at the Diet of Worms – Part 1 |publisher=Michigan District, LCMS |url=https://michigandistrict.org/commission/luther-at-the-diet-of-worms-part-i/ |access-date=10 February 2025 |language=en-US}}</ref>

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 the [[Christianity|Christian]] 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.<ref name="Oberman">Oberman, Heiko, ''Luther: Man Between God and the Devil'', New Haven: Yale University Press, 2006, {{ISBN|0-300-10313-1}}.</ref> "If I now recant these, then, I would be doing nothing but strengthening tyranny".<ref name="Oberman"/> (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 by [[Bible|Scripture]] that his writings were in error, Luther continued, he would reject them. Luther then concluded, saying:

{{blockquote|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.<ref name=Brecht>[[Martin Brecht|Brecht, Martin]]. ''Martin Luther''. tr. James L. Schaaf, Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1985–1993, 1:460.</ref>}}

According to tradition, Luther is said to have declared, "Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise", before concluding with "God help me. Amen."<ref name="christiainitytodayHIS">{{cite web|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/aprilweb-only/4-8-52.0.html|title='Hier stehe ich!'|first=Elesha|last=Coffman|work=Christianity Today|date=1 April 2002|access-date=20 January 2021}}</ref>

According to Luther, Eck informed Luther that he was acting like a [[Heresy in the Catholic Church|heretic]]:

{{blockquote|"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 that [[Pelagius]] and [[Arius]] maintained their doctrines. Arius, for instance, found the negation of the [[Pre-existence of Christ|eternity of the Word]]—an eternity which you admit, in this verse of the [[New 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 the [[council of Constance]] condemned this proposition of [[John 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/luther/lutherbyluther.html#secondnarrative|title=Life of Luther (Luther by Martin Luther)|author=Martin Luther}}</ref>}}

Private conferences were held to determine Luther's fate, but he was not arrested at Worms. Through negotiations by his prince, [[Frederick III, Elector of Saxony|Frederick III]], Luther was given a letter of safe conduct to and from the hearing. After his dismissal, he departed for his home in [[Wittenberg]]. However, fearing for Luther's safety, Frederick III sent men to fake a highway attack and abduct Luther, hiding him away at [[Wartburg]] 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".<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://doi.org/10.1002/9781394259861 |title=The European Reformations |year=2020 |publisher=Wiley |doi=10.1002/9781394259861 |isbn=978-1-119-64081-3 |editor-last=Lindberg |editor-first=Carter}}</ref>

The Edict of Worms was a decree issued on 25 May 1521 by Emperor [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lamal, Cumby, Helmers |first=Nina, Jamie, Helmer J |title=Print and Power in Early Modern Europe (1500–1800) |publisher=Brill |year=2021 |isbn=978-90-04-44889-6 |location= |page=7 |language=English}}</ref> 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: the [[imperial 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Edict-of-Worms |title=Edict of Worms  |access-date= 21 October 2023}}</ref> 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.<ref>Lindberg, Carter. The European Reformations. Wiley-Blackwell, 2009, pp. 185–186.</ref>

It was the culmination of an ongoing struggle between Martin Luther and the [[Catholic Church]] over reform, especially concerning the practice of donations for [[indulgences]]. However, there were other deeper issues that revolved around both theological concerns:
*On a theological level, Luther had challenged the absolute authority of the [[Pope]] over the Church by maintaining that the doctrine of [[indulgences]], as authorized and taught by the Pope, was wrong.<ref name=Noll>{{cite book|last=Noll|first=Mark A.|title=Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity|orig-year=1997|year=2000|publisher=Baker Academic|location=Grand Rapids, MI|isbn=978-0-8010-1159-7 |page=160}}</ref> 
*Luther maintained that salvation was by faith alone (''[[sola fide]]'') without reference to [[good works]], [[alms]], [[penance]], or the [[Catholic Church|Church's]] [[Catholic sacraments|sacraments]]. Luther maintained that the sacraments were a "means of [[Grace in Christianity|grace]]", meaning that while grace was imparted through the sacraments, the credit for the action belonged to God and not to the individual.<ref>{{cite web|last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |url=http://www.ctsfw.edu/etext/graebneral/soteriology.txt |location=Saint Louis, Missouri |publisher=Concordia |page=161 |access-date=15 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121113340/http://www.ctsfw.edu/etext/graebneral/soteriology.txt |archive-date=21 January 2012 }}</ref>

== Other decisions ==
The Diet of Worms was also the occasion for Charles V to reform the administration of [[Holy Roman Empire|the Empire]]. The domains of the [[House 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 the [[Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands|Governors of the Netherlands]] and the [[Regent of Spain|Regents of Spain]], for the times he was absent.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

Charles V elevated his younger brother [[Emperor Ferdinand I|Ferdinand]] to the status of [[Archduke]] as Imperial Lieutenant. As such, Ferdinand became regent and governor of the [[Austrian hereditary lands]] of Charles V and the Emperor's representative in Germany. Ferdinand's role as chairman of the German [[Imperial 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 secret ''Habsburg compact of Brussels'' in 1522, according to which Charles also agreed to favor the election of Ferdinand as [[King of the Romans]] in Germany, which took place [[Imperial election, 1531|in 1531]].

Following the abdications of Charles V in 1556, Ferdinand succeeded Charles as emperor and became ''[[suo jure]]'' Archduke of [[Archduchy of Austria|Austria]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=arSYDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA36 |title=The Holy Roman Empire: A Historical Encyclopedia [2 volumes]|first1=Brian A.|last1=Pavlac|first2=Elizabeth S.|last2=Lott|year=2019|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1440848568}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GwV_DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA50 |title=History of the German speaking nations|date=2019|isbn=978-1789017182|language=en|last1=Kanski|first1=Jack J.|publisher=Troubador Publishing }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XsQeBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA25 |title=The Emperor Charles V|first=Martyn|last=Rady|date=2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1317880820}}</ref>

== Aftermath ==
When Martin Luther eventually emerged from [[Wartburg]], 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 the [[Habsburg Netherlands]], comprising present-day [[Belgium]], [[Luxembourg]], and the [[Netherlands]], 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 the [[Augustinians|Augustinian]] monastery in [[Antwerp]], 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 were [[burned at the stake]] in Brussels.<ref>Brecht, Martin. Martin Luther. tr. James L. Schaaf, Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1985–93, 2:102ff.</ref>

The 1522 and 1524 [[Diets of Nuremberg]] attempted to execute the judgement of the Edict of Worms against Luther, but they failed.<ref>1899 [https://books.google.com/books?id=H3NBAAAAYAAJ&dq=Nuremberg+Convention+%281522-1523%29&pg=PA350 Lutheran Cyclopedia] article titled "Nuremberg Convention"</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

===Works cited===
{{Cite book |url=https://doi.org/10.1002/9781394259861 |title=The European Reformations |year= 2020 |publisher=Wiley |doi=10.1002/9781394259861 |isbn=978-1-119-64081-3 |editor-last=Lindberg |editor-first=Carter}}

== External links ==
* {{In Our Time|Diet of Worms|p0038x8z|Diet_of_Worms}}
* [http://www.bartleby.com/268/7/8.html Luther's Statement at Worms] from Bartleby
* [https://archive.org/stream/martinlutherand00beargoog#page/n425/mode/1up "The Diet of Worms"] by [[Charles Beard (Unitarian)|Charles Beard]] Chapter IX of ''Luther and the Reformation in Germany'' 1896
* [https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315839752 The Emperor Charles V]
* [https://wrlc-gm.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01WRLC_GML/1prj2t5/alma9947007051604105 Martin Luther a Christian between reforms and modernity]
* [https://wrlc-gm.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01WRLC_GML/19u1omk/cdi_askewsholts_vlebooks_9781317648611 Martin Luther]
* [https://www.britannica.com/event/Diet-of-Worms-Germany-1521 Diet of Worms]
* [https://www.worldhistory.org/Diet_of_Worms/ Diet of Worms]
* [https://study.com/learn/lesson/the-diet-of-worms-in-1521-history-summary-significance.html Diet & Edict of Worms]
{{Martin Luther}}
{{Christian History|collapsed}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:1520s in the Holy Roman Empire]]
[[Category:1521 in Christianity]]
[[Category:1521 in politics]]
[[Category:1521 in the Holy Roman Empire]]
[[Category:16th-century anti-Protestantism]]
[[Category:16th-century Catholicism]]
[[Category:Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor]]
[[Category:History of Catholicism in Germany]]
[[Category:History of Rhineland-Palatinate]]
[[Category:Imperial Diets (Holy Roman Empire)|Worms]]
[[Category:Martin Luther]]
[[Category:Worms, Germany]]