Timeline

Luther’s 95 theses are posted on the door of the Wittenberg Castle

Luther debate John Ecks, a theologian, on the authority of the pope. Ulrich Zwingli begins his teaching of Protestantism in Switzerland.

Pope Leo I excommunicates Luther. Luther declared an outlaw by Emperor Charles V at the Diet of Worms.

Peasants’ rebellion in Germany partly stirred by Luther’s writing. Luther condemns their actions.

Henry VII Of England petitions Pope Clement II for a divorce from Catherine of Aragon.

German Lutheran princes meet at the Diet of Speyer to protest imperial decrees against their faith and the Marburg Colloquy happened between Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli at this time.

Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Crammer annuls the marriage of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon.

Ulrich Zwingli killed.

The Act of Supremacy recognizes Henry VIII as the head of the Church of England. The English Reformation is complete.

John Calvin publishes The Institutes of Christian Religion in Geneva.

Six Articles are passed by the British Parliament reaffirming many sacraments of the Catholic Church.

The Jesuits founded by Ignatius Loyola (1534) are recognized and encouraged by Rome to fight the spread of Protestantism.

John Knox begins the Calvinist Movement in Scotland.

Pope Paul III calls the Council of Trent, which reaffirms traditional Catholic doctrines on seven sacraments and authority of the pope.

Parliament repeals the Six Articles.

The British Parliament adopts the Anglican mass and Book of Common Prayer as the models for the new state religion.

Peace of Augsburg allows German princes the right to choose the religion of their subjects. There is no mention of Calvinism.

Elizabeth I of England ascends to the throne and reigns for 45 years.

William of Orange leads a rebellion against Spanish powers.

William of Orange is assassinated.

Spanish Armada is defeated by the English.

Reign of Henry of Navarre (Henry IV of France) begins; he converts to Catholicism in 1593.

Edict of Nantes is passed, granting religious toleration to the French Protestants (Huguenots).

The Thirty Years War Begins.

Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II defeats the Bohemians at the Battle of White Mountain.

Gustavus Adolphus, Swedish Protestant King, wins a military victory at Luetzen, though he is fatally wounded.

Peace of Westphalia is signed; Thirty Years War ends and the Netherlands wins independence from Spain.

Erasmus writes in Praise of Folly

St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre, where French Catholics killed French Huguenots during the French Wars of Religion.