Electorate of Saxony - Protestant Reformation

Protestant Reformation

The Protestant movement of the 16th century was largely effected under the protection of the Saxon rulers. Ernest's son Elector Frederick the Wise established the University at Wittenberg in 1502, at which the Augustinian monk Martin Luther was appointed professor of philosophy in 1508; at the same time he became one of the preachers at the castle church of Wittenberg. On 31 October 1517, he posted up on the church door his Ninety-Five Theses against the sale of indulgences and other Catholic practices, thus beginning what came to be called the Reformation. The Elector did not become at once an adherent of the new opinions, but granted his protection to Luther. Owing to his intervention, Pope Leo X decided against summoning Luther to Rome in 1518, and the Elector secured for Luther Imperial safe-conduct to the 1521 Diet of Worms. When Luther was declared to be under the ban of the entire empire by Emperor Charles V, the Elector had him brought to Wartburg Castle in his Thuringian estates. Lutheran doctrines spread first in Ernestine Saxony.

In 1525, Frederick died and was succeeded by his brother, John the Constant. John was already a zealous Lutheran; he exercised full authority over the Church, introduced the Lutheran Confession, ordered the deposition of all priests who continued in the Catholic faith, and directed the use of a vernacular liturgy drawn up by Luther. In 1531 he formed with a number of other ruling princes the Schmalkaldic League, for the maintenance of Protestant doctrine and for common defence against the Habsburg Emperor Charles V, a fierce opponent of the Reformation. John was followed in 1532 by his son, John Frederick the Magnanimous (died 1554), who was also one of the heads of the Schmalkaldic League. In 1542, he seized the Diocese of Naumburg-Zeitz, and confiscated the secular possessions of the Dioceses of Meissen and Hildesheim. The Catholic faith was forcibly suppressed.