Martin Luther was a German professor of theology, composer, and key figure of the Protestant Reformation. He was born in Eisleben, Saxony-Anhalt, to Hans and Margarethe Luther. His father was a copper miner, and his mother was the daughter of a successful businessman. Luther's childhood was marked by hardship and discipline, and he was sent to study in Magdeburg, Eisenach, and Erfurt.
In 1505, Luther was caught in a thunderstorm while traveling and feared for his life. He vowed to become a monk if he survived, which he did. He entered the Augustinian monastery in Erfurt and spent the next six years in prayer, study, and penance. During this time, he struggled with doubts about his faith and the church, which would ultimately lead to his break with the Catholic Church.
In 1512, Luther received his doctorate in theology and began teaching at the University of Wittenberg. He became increasingly critical of the church's practices, particularly the sale of indulgences, which promised to reduce the time a person spent in purgatory. In 1517, Luther famously nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, which criticized the sale of indulgences and called for reform.
Luther's ideas spread rapidly throughout Europe, fueled in part by the printing press, which allowed for the rapid dissemination of his writings. In 1520, he was excommunicated by Pope Leo X for his views, and in 1521 he was summoned to the Diet of Worms to recant his beliefs. He famously refused, stating, "Here I stand; I can do no other."
Following the Diet of Worms, Luther was declared an outlaw and fled to the Wartburg Castle, where he translated the New Testament into German. He returned to Wittenberg in 1522 and continued to preach and write, promoting his ideas of salvation through faith alone and the priesthood of all believers. He also married Katharina von Bora, a former nun, in 1525, and they had six children together.
Luther's legacy was profound, and his ideas paved the way for the Protestant Reformation, which would ultimately result in the formation of numerous Protestant denominations. He died in 1546 in Eisleben, his birthplace, at the age of 62.