Summoned by the young Emperor Charles V to the Imperial Diet in the city of Worms, Martin Luther appeared on 17 and 18 April 1521 before the princes and the emperor and was asked to take back his writings. He answered that he could not, unless he was proved wrong from Scripture or by clear reason, since it was neither safe nor right to go against conscience. The words 'Here I stand, I can do no other' are probably a later addition. The Edict of Worms of 25 May declared him an outlaw. His protector, Frederick the Elector of Saxony, hid him in the Wartburg castle, where he translated the New Testament into German.
Before and after
- 6 April 1520Death of Raphael
- from 30 June 1520 to 1 July 1520La Noche Triste
- from 1521 to 1523Swedish War of Liberation
- from 1521 to 1526Italian War of 1521–1526
- 18 April 1521Martin Luther defies the Emperor at the Diet of Worms
- 27 April 1521Death of Ferdinand Magellan
- 13 December 1521Birth of Sixtus V
- from 26 June 1522 to 22 December 1522Siege of Rhodes
- from 27 August 1522 to 6 May 1523Knights' War
More in Society, economy & sport
- 1520Stockholm Bloodbath
- 1632Founding of University of Tartu
- 26 March 1640Founding of University of Helsinki
- 17th centuryFounding of Amsterdam Stock Exchange
- 22 January 1724Founding of Saint Petersburg State University
- 24 September 1724Founding of Euronext Paris
The era
This moment belongs to the Early modern world (1500 CE to 1760 CE), voyages, printing and new ideas. You can also browse everything in the 16th century.