The Reformation - 4K Documentary

Pike & Shot Channel
18 Jul 202160:12
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThe video script provides a comprehensive overview of the Reformation, a pivotal period in European history that saw the rise of Protestantism and the Catholic Church's response. It begins with Martin Luther's 95 Theses in 1517, challenging the Church's sale of indulgences and sparking widespread religious and political change. The script explores the corruption within the Church, the influence of humanism and the Renaissance, and the various reform movements that preceded Luther, including the Waldensians, Lollards, and Hussites. It details the spread of Lutheranism and the establishment of the priesthood of all believers, the defiance of the Pope's authority, and the rise of figures like John Calvin and the impact of Calvinism. The narrative also covers the Catholic Church's internal reforms, the Council of Trent, and the rise of the Jesuits. The summary concludes with the confessional divide across Europe, setting the stage for future religious conflicts such as the French Wars of Religion and the Thirty Years' War.

Takeaways
  • πŸ“œ Martin Luther's 95 Theses sparked the Reformation, challenging the Catholic Church's sale of indulgences and the Pope's authority.
  • πŸ• The Catholic Church in the late Middle Ages was facing a crisis of corruption and a loss of credibility, which paved the way for the Reformation.
  • πŸ’Ό Popes and the clergy were often more focused on wealth and power than spiritual matters, leading to widespread discontent among the faithful.
  • πŸ€” The concept of indulgences, which allowed people to buy their way out of punishment for sins, was a major point of contention for reformers like Luther.
  • πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡Ί The Reformation quickly spread throughout Europe, with various regions adopting different Protestant beliefs, leading to a religious and political fragmentation.
  • πŸ”₯ The rise of humanism and the translation of the Bible into local languages by figures like Wycliffe and Erasmus empowered individuals to interpret religious texts for themselves.
  • πŸ› The Council of Trent was convened to address the Protestant challenge and reaffirm Catholic doctrines, leading to a counter-reformation within the Church.
  • πŸ“š The Jesuits, founded by Ignatius of Loyola, played a significant role in the counter-reformation by focusing on education and missionary work.
  • βš–οΈ The Peace of Augsburg attempted to establish religious peace by allowing princes to determine the religion of their states, but it excluded Calvinists and was a source of future conflict.
  • πŸ›‘οΈ The Schmalkaldic League was formed by Protestant princes to defend against potential Catholic aggression, reflecting the growing religious and political tensions.
  • ✝️ The Reformation led to the establishment of state churches, where rulers had control over religious affairs, a significant shift from the universal authority of the Catholic Church.
Q & A
  • What was the main reason for Martin Luther's publishing of his 95-point thesis in 1517?

    -Martin Luther published his 95-point thesis as a response to what he saw as the corrupt practice of selling indulgences by the Catholic Church, which he believed was a grave endangerment to people's souls.

  • How did the Catholic Church's handling of the Avignon Papacy and the Great Western Schism affect its credibility?

    -The Avignon Papacy and the Great Western Schism led to a crisis in the Catholic Church, with multiple claimants to the papacy and internal strife, which significantly eroded its credibility and prestige.

  • What was the role of humanism in the lead-up to the Reformation?

    -Humanism played a significant role in the Reformation by promoting the study of classical texts, including the Bible, and advocating for a return to the simplicity and piety of the early Christian church, which stood in stark contrast to the perceived corruption of the 16th-century Church.

  • How did the invention of the printing press contribute to the spread of Reformation ideas?

    -The printing press allowed for the mass production and dissemination of texts, including Luther's 95-point thesis and other reformist writings, which could be printed and distributed throughout Europe, significantly contributing to the spread of Reformation ideas.

  • What was the significance of the Diet of Worms in relation to Martin Luther?

    -The Diet of Worms was significant as it was the forum where Martin Luther was called to recant his views. His refusal to do so, and the subsequent declaration of him as an outlaw and a heretic, marked a pivotal moment in the Protestant Reformation.

  • How did the concept of 'cuius regio, eius religio' emerge from the Peace of Augsburg?

    -The principle of 'cuius regio, eius religio' emerged from the Peace of Augsburg, which established that the ruler of a territory had the right to determine the religion of their state, allowing for the coexistence of Catholic and Lutheran faiths within the Holy Roman Empire.

  • Who were the Anabaptists and what were their beliefs?

    -The Anabaptists were a radical Christian movement that rejected infant baptism, advocating instead for adult baptism. They sought to return to the simplicity of the apostolic church and often rejected state authority, leading to persecution and the development of sects like the Hutterites, Amish, and Mennonites.

  • What was the impact of the Council of Trent on the Catholic Church?

    -The Council of Trent was a significant ecumenical council that clarified and reaffirmed the doctrines of the Catholic Church in response to the Protestant Reformation. It addressed issues such as the authority of the Pope, the value of tradition, and the sacraments, and it led to the establishment of the Jesuit order.

  • How did the teachings of John Calvin differ from those of Martin Luther?

    -While both Calvin and Luther were Protestant reformers, they differed in their views on the Eucharist. Calvin agreed with Huldrych Zwingli's view that the Lord's Supper was a symbolic act, rejecting Luther's belief in consubstantiation. Additionally, Calvin was more strict on the doctrine of predestination.

  • What was the role of the Jesuits in the Counter-Reformation?

    -The Jesuits, founded by Ignatius of Loyola, played a crucial role in the Counter-Reformation by focusing on education and providing the Church with well-trained and highly educated advocates. They were instrumental in combating Protestantism through intellectual debate and by serving as advisors to Catholic princes.

  • How did the religious conflicts in France and the Low Countries set the stage for the Thirty Years' War?

    -The religious conflicts in France and the Low Countries, marked by the French Wars of Religion and the Dutch Revolt, intensified the religious divisions in Europe. These conflicts, along with the rise of Calvinism, created an environment of tension and hostility that eventually led to the outbreak of the Thirty Years' War.

Outlines
00:00
πŸ“œ Martin Luther's 95 Theses and the Catholic Church's Corruption

In 1517, amidst the corruption and crisis within the Catholic Church, Martin Luther, a lecturer at the University of Wittenberg, published his 95-point thesis challenging the Church's sale of indulgences. This act catalyzed the Reformation, as the thesis was widely circulated across Europe, questioning the Pope's authority and the Church's practices.

05:02
πŸ›• The Church's Crisis and the Rise of Reform Movements

The Catholic Church's late Middle Ages crisis, marked by corruption and a lack of spiritual focus among its leaders, paved the way for reform movements. Groups like the Waldensians and Lollards sought a purer, less worldly Church, while the Hussites achieved a reformed Czech national church. The Renaissance and humanism further fueled these movements, with figures like Erasmus of Rotterdam translating the New Testament to increase accessibility.

10:03
πŸ’° The Sale of Indulgences and Luther's Rebellion

The sale of indulgences by the Church, particularly by Johann Tetzel, sparked Martin Luther's outrage. Luther's 95-point thesis not only denounced the sale but also questioned the Pope's authority over the 'treasure house of merit.' The Pope's response was to assert his infallibility and supreme authority, leading to a theological and political standoff with Luther.

15:04
πŸ”₯ The Radicalization of the Reformation and the Peasants' War

Luther's defiance, including his public burning of the Papal bull, marked him as a heretic. He further developed his religious views, rejecting key Catholic doctrines and advocating for the priesthood of all believers. His ideas spread, influencing radical groups like the Zwickau Prophets and the Anabaptists, which contributed to the outbreak of the Peasants' War in Germany.

20:06
🏰 The Political Ramifications and the Emperor's Response

The Reformation took on political dimensions as princes like Frederick III of Saxony used it to oppose the Emperor. The Diet of Worms in 1521 saw Luther condemned as a heretic, but he was protected by Frederick III, who saw the potential to diminish the Emperor's and Church's power. The Reformation led to significant social and religious changes, including the translation of the Bible into German.

25:06
🀝 The Spread of Lutheranism and the Role of Princes

Lutheranism spread beyond Germany, with figures like Gustav Vasa in Sweden and Christian III in Denmark adopting it to strengthen their rule. The Reformation was also marked by the involvement of secular authorities, with princes becoming the heads of their churches, a principle known as 'cuius regio, eius religio.'

30:06
πŸ› The Council of Trent and the Jesuit Order

In response to the Reformation, the Catholic Church initiated significant reforms under Pope Paul III, leading to the Council of Trent, which reaffirmed Catholic doctrines and practices. The Jesuit order, founded by Ignatius of Loyola, emerged as a militant force for the Church, focusing on education and combating Protestantism. These efforts helped to contain the spread of Protestantism.

35:08
🎼 Conclusion and Call to Action

The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to like, share, and subscribe to support the content creator's journey, highlighting the ongoing impact of the Reformation and the religious conflicts of the time.

Mindmap
Religious tolerance within the Holy Roman Empire
Regio aeos religio principle
Religious identity becomes a political and social marker
Thirty Years' War
French Wars of Religion
Censorship to prevent heresy
Focus on education and combating Protestantism
Founded by Ignatius of Loyola
Reforms in the Catholic Church
Affirms Catholic doctrines and traditions
Calvinism in France and the Low Countries
Lutheranism adopted by various German states
Knights' Revolt
Peasants' War in Germany
Wide dissemination of Reformation texts
Reform in Geneva
Emphasis on predestination
Development of Calvinism
Influence on Northern Humanism
Translation of the New Testament
Conflict with the Pope and excommunication
Doctrine of salvation by faith alone
Thesis on indulgences as catalyst
Hussites led by Jan Hus
Waldensians and Lollards advocating for church reform
Simony and nepotism prevalent
Popes and Cardinals involved in worldly affairs
Corruption within the Church hierarchy
Indulgence sale by Johann Tetzel sparks outrage
Martin Luther publishes 95 Theses
Peace of Augsburg
Confessionalism
Religious Wars
Index of Forbidden Books
Jesuit Order
Council of Trent
Adoption by States
Social and Political Unrest
Printing Press
John Calvin
Erasmus of Rotterdam
Martin Luther
Pre-Reformation Movements
Catholic Church Crisis
Autumn 1517
Long-term Consequences
Counter-Reformation
Impact and Spread of Reformation Ideas
Key Figures of the Reformation
Context of the Reformation
The Reformation
Alert
Keywords
πŸ’‘Reformation
The Reformation refers to a major movement within Christianity in the 16th century that led to the creation of Protestant churches. It was initiated by figures like Martin Luther, who sought to reform the Catholic Church and is exemplified by his publication of the 95 Theses in 1517. The Reformation was a response to various perceived corruptions within the Church and is a central theme of the video.
πŸ’‘Indulgences
Indulgences were a practice within the Catholic Church where people could reduce the punishment for their sins by making a contribution, often to the Church. The sale of indulgences by Johann Tetzel is highlighted in the script as a key event that sparked Martin Luther's outrage and subsequently his call for reform, illustrating the Church's perceived corruption at the time.
πŸ’‘Humanism
Humanism was a cultural and intellectual movement that emphasized the study of classical antiquity and the importance of human potential. In the context of the video, Northern humanists like Erasmus of Rotterdam are shown to have played a significant role in the Reformation by translating the New Testament, which helped to disseminate new religious ideas and contributed to the push for Church reform.
πŸ’‘Papal Authority
Papal Authority refers to the power and jurisdiction of the Pope within the Catholic Church. The video discusses the concept of papal infallibility, which was asserted by Pope Leo X in response to Martin Luther's challenges. This claim of supreme authority was a major point of contention during the Reformation and is directly related to the disputes over the sale of indulgences and the interpretation of the Bible.
πŸ’‘Lollards
The Lollards were a religious group in England in the late 14th and early 15th centuries that followed the teachings of John Wycliffe, who translated the Bible into English. The Lollards, as mentioned in the script, were an early example of a movement that questioned the Catholic Church's practices and authority, and they advocated for a return to the Bible as the primary source of Christian doctrine.
πŸ’‘Hussites
The Hussites were a religious movement in the early 15th century led by Jan Hus, who was influenced by Wycliffe's ideas. They are noted in the script for their defiance of the Pope and the Catholic Church, particularly over the issue of indulgences. The Hussite Wars, as mentioned, were a series of conflicts that followed Hus's execution and represented early efforts to reform the Church.
πŸ’‘Anabaptists
Anabaptists were a radical Christian movement originating in the 16th century that rejected the practices of infant baptism and state authority. In the video, they are shown as a group that took extreme measures in their interpretation of Christian doctrine, including the establishment of a theocratic commune in MΓΌnster. Their actions were met with severe persecution, as depicted in the script.
πŸ’‘Calvinism
Calvinism is a branch of Protestantism that follows the theological teachings of John Calvin. As detailed in the script, Calvin's emphasis on predestination and the idea that God's will is sovereign in every detail of the universe resonated with many people. Calvinism is highlighted as a significant force in the spread of Protestant ideas and as a political tool for various European states seeking autonomy.
πŸ’‘Council of Trent
The Council of Trent was an important ecumenical council of the Catholic Church that addressed the issues raised by the Protestant Reformation. The council, as mentioned in the script, reaffirmed core Catholic doctrines and practices, such as the seven sacraments and the concept of transubstantiation. It was a key part of the Counter-Reformation and is depicted as a critical response to the spread of Protestantism.
πŸ’‘Jesuits
The Jesuits, or the Society of Jesus, is a religious order within the Catholic Church founded by Ignatius of Loyola. As described in the script, the Jesuits played a significant role in the Counter-Reformation by focusing on education and missionary work. They were known for their intellectual rigor and were often advisors to Catholic princes, contributing to the Church's efforts to reassert its authority and contain the spread of Protestantism.
πŸ’‘Schmalkaldic League
The Schmalkaldic League was a defensive alliance of Protestant princes within the Holy Roman Empire. The league, as mentioned in the script, was formed to protect its members from the Catholic Habsburgs and to preserve the religious and political gains of the Protestant Reformation. It represents the political and military efforts of Protestant states to safeguard their interests during a time of religious conflict.
Highlights

Martin Luther publishes his 95-point thesis in 1517, challenging the Catholic Church's sale of indulgences and sparking the Reformation.

The Catholic Church in the late Middle Ages faced a crisis of corruption, with many high-ranking officials being more focused on wealth and power than spiritual matters.

The rise of humanism and the translation of the Bible into local languages by figures like John Wycliffe contributed to the desire for religious reform.

The Hussite movement in Bohemia successfully established a reformed Czech national church, despite opposition from the Pope and European monarchs.

Erasmus of Rotterdam's translation of the New Testament into Latin from its original Greek led to a standard Bible, which was widely disseminated throughout Europe.

The invention of the printing press and the rise of literacy levels facilitated the spread of Reformation ideas among the masses.

Luther's theory of predestination, based on his interpretation of Paul's letters, argued that salvation is achieved by faith alone, not by human effort or free will.

The sale of indulgences by Johann Tetzel in Germany, which claimed to absolve future sins and those of the deceased, was met with outrage by Luther and the public.

Luther's defiance of the Pope's authority and his refusal to recant his views led to his excommunication and the formal beginning of the Protestant Reformation.

Luther's works, which denied transubstantiation and advocated for the priesthood of all believers, were widely circulated, contributing to the rapid spread of Protestantism.

The Imperial Diet of 1521, where Luther was called to recant, ended with the Edict of Worms condemning him and his followers, marking a significant escalation in the conflict.

The Peasants' War of 1524-1525, fueled by the spread of Lutheran ideas, resulted in a brutal crackdown with an estimated 100,000 peasants killed.

The Schmalkaldic League, formed by Protestant princes, sought to protect themselves against potential Catholic aggression and became a significant political force.

The Peace of Augsburg in 1555 established the principle 'cuius regio, eius religio', allowing princes to determine the religion of their territories, but excluding Calvinists.

The Council of Trent (1545-1563) was a major Catholic response to the Reformation, reaffirming traditional Catholic doctrines and establishing new standards for the Church.

The Jesuit order, founded by Ignatius of Loyola, played a significant role in the Counter-Reformation, focusing on education and missionary work to combat Protestantism.

The rise of Calvinism, with its emphasis on predestination and strict moral codes, attracted many followers and became a major force in the Reformation, despite initial exclusion from the Peace of Augsburg.

Transcripts
00:02

it's autumn

00:03

1517 to the great consternation of his

00:06

bishop and the pope

00:07

martin luther the young lecturer of the

00:09

university of wittenberg

00:11

publishes his 95-point thesis the

00:14

disputation on the power and efficacy of

00:16

indulgences

00:17

is reprinted in thousands of copies and

00:19

reaches all the major european countries

00:22

within a year

00:23

but how did we get here in 1517 the

00:27

catholic church is still in full control

00:30

catholic means universal a likely title

00:33

considering the church's monopoly over

00:35

the minds and souls of the western world

00:37

which is certainly universal or is it

00:41

by the late middle ages the church was

00:43

in a crisis

00:45

popes the figureheads of the catholic

00:47

church were figureheads of corruption

00:49

they were often no better than worldly

00:51

princes only caring about wealth and

00:53

power

00:54

not shying away from war treachery and

00:56

torture popes

00:58

often kept concubines fathered children

01:01

and some were even open homosexuals

01:04

cardinals bishops and archbishops were

01:06

not much better

01:08

being almost exclusively aristocrats

01:10

they shared the same outlook as the

01:11

popes

01:13

their offices were usually the results

01:14

of bribes rather than competence or

01:17

devotion

01:18

in many cases familial ties played a

01:20

role

01:21

the sons of popes becoming cardinals and

01:23

the sons of cardinals becoming bishops

01:26

if clever enough one such baron of the

01:28

church could amass as many officers as

01:30

he wanted

01:31

serving as bishop of two three or even

01:34

more diocese

01:35

and by service they often meant nothing

01:38

more than collecting rent from the many

01:39

offices that they held

01:42

actual work was done by the humble

01:43

parish priest or monk

01:46

most of these men were of peasant stock

01:48

just as poor and illiterate as their

01:49

congregation

01:51

like their superiors they frequently

01:53

kept concubines

01:54

fathered children and engaged in petty

01:56

corruption

01:57

mass was often nothing more than the

01:59

priest reciting verses in broken latin

02:02

that neither he nor his congregation

02:04

understood

02:05

much of the 14th century and the

02:07

beginning of the 15th century was marked

02:09

by the avignon captivity of the popes

02:12

and later the great western schism

02:14

during this time there were popes and

02:16

there are anti-popes

02:17

both claiming sovereignty over the

02:19

church later

02:21

during the concilia movement popes

02:23

battled a plethora of religious councils

02:25

for supremacy of the church

02:27

by the time the popes won the

02:29

credibility and the prestige of the

02:31

church were long gone

02:33

with such turmoil in the catholic church

02:36

it's no wonder that reformation was a

02:38

centuries-long desire

02:40

in the late 12th century a reforming

02:42

heresy arose in lyon

02:44

the wildensians advocated for a humbler

02:46

and poorer church

02:47

questioning many dogmas and religious

02:49

customs such as the purgatory

02:51

saints pilgrimages and

02:53

transubstantiation

02:55

the church mercilessly persecuted the

02:57

waldensians and the creed didn't spread

02:59

very far from its place of origin

03:01

by 1517 there are only isolated pockets

03:04

of worshippers

03:06

another sect the lollards emerged in the

03:09

late 14th century in england

03:11

the lollards were the followers of john

03:13

wycliffe an oxford scholar who

03:15

translated the bible into english

03:17

the catholic church had been using the

03:19

latin bible since the 4th century

03:21

however a few people in england

03:22

understood latin

03:24

wycliffe believed that the prime

03:25

authority in religious matters should be

03:27

the bible

03:28

based on this the lollards condemned the

03:30

pomp and ceremony

03:32

as well as the worldliness and

03:33

corruption of the church

03:35

similarly to the waldensians they did

03:37

not believe in transubstantiation

03:39

or the benefices of saints and

03:40

pilgrimages

03:42

initially some members of the nobility

03:44

were backing the lollards to oppose the

03:46

king

03:46

however after the peasant revolt of 1381

03:50

that was allegedly inspired by the

03:51

lollards they were declared heretics and

03:53

had been persecuted ever since

03:56

lola tree also didn't spread very far

03:58

neither did it enjoy a large following

04:02

the first reforming heresy to succeed

04:04

was that of the hussites

04:06

jan house director of the university of

04:08

prague started preaching in the defense

04:10

of wycliffe's ideas

04:13

in 1412 he openly defied the pope over

04:15

the selling of indulgences

04:18

in 1414 house was lured to the council

04:21

of constance to dispute his ideas with

04:23

the church's representatives

04:26

in spite of having received safe conduct

04:28

he was tried as a heretic and burned at

04:30

the stake

04:32

his followers quickly organized

04:34

themselves and vowed to defy the pope

04:37

when the king of bohemia died and

04:39

sigismund of luxembourg the king's

04:41

brother claimed the throne

04:42

the czech nobility adopted hussite

04:44

beliefs and turned against him

04:46

at the urging of the pope europe's

04:48

monarchs launched five crusades against

04:50

the hussites

04:51

all unsuccessful fighting lasted from

04:55

1419

04:56

to 1434 with the compacts of basil

04:59

ultar quests the moderate majority of

05:01

the hussites reached compromise with the

05:03

catholic church

05:04

allowing for a moderately reformed czech

05:07

national church

05:08

taborites the more radical arm of the

05:10

hussites lost all power

05:12

and their members had to go into hiding

05:15

the renaissance and humanism were the

05:17

intellectual driving forces behind these

05:19

refamist movements

05:21

humanists believe in studying and

05:23

attempting to emulate the classics of

05:25

antiquity

05:26

while italian humanists mostly concern

05:28

themselves with worldly matters

05:30

their northern counterparts focus their

05:32

attention on the most popular classic of

05:34

the day

05:34

the bible humanists are captivated by

05:37

the apostolic church of the early

05:39

christians

05:40

but its modesty and piety that stands in

05:42

stark contrast with the corruption of

05:44

the 16th century church

05:46

by careful reform and education the

05:49

humanists intend to reform the church

05:51

from within

05:53

to this end in 1516 erasmus of rotterdam

05:56

the leading northern humanist translates

05:58

the new testament from its original

06:00

greek into latin

06:02

at first the bible had been translated

06:04

into vulgate latin in the 4th century

06:07

this was copied by hand by generations

06:09

of monks

06:10

many passages being added others being

06:12

omitted

06:14

now with erasmus translation there is

06:16

finally a standard bible

06:17

and this time instead of being

06:19

laboriously copied by monks

06:21

it is disseminated all throughout europe

06:23

in printed form

06:25

in conjunction with humanism capitalism

06:28

is taking off in northern europe

06:30

urbanization is the order of the day and

06:32

with urbanization and printing comes

06:34

increased literacy

06:35

not only for the middle classes but also

06:38

for some members of the urban

06:39

proletariat

06:40

and even the peasantry universities

06:43

spring up left and right

06:45

from paris to krakow humanist take up

06:47

increasingly important roles at these

06:49

universities

06:50

educating new generations of humanists

06:52

and reformers

06:55

in spite of the continuous wars and the

06:57

church's corruption

06:58

or perhaps because of it popular

07:00

versions of piety are more fashionable

07:02

than ever saints and pilgrimages and

07:04

popular devotions to mary into the 14

07:07

stages of the cross are all the rage

07:10

all across europe and particularly in

07:12

the low countries

07:13

lay people set up religious fraternities

07:16

they live piously like monks without

07:18

being ordained themselves

07:20

they preach and teach doing the church's

07:22

job but without being in the church

07:25

one could almost think that the catholic

07:27

church and its services are not needed

07:29

anymore

07:32

this is the world luther was born into

07:34

in 1483.

07:36

luther turns out to be a bright young

07:38

man therefore his middle class parents

07:40

send him to law school

07:41

where luther receives a humanist

07:43

education

07:45

one fine day while walking home from

07:47

university luther is almost struck by

07:49

lightning

07:51

he interprets this as a message from god

07:53

and to the consternation of his father

07:55

decides to become a monk

07:58

in his novice year he is wracked by

08:00

doubts about his salvation

08:01

and becomes profoundly depressed

08:04

getting to heaven is not a simple thing

08:07

according to the catholic church

08:09

first of all one needs to have faith in

08:11

god second he has to do good works

08:14

doing good works means doing good deeds

08:17

living like a pious christian

08:18

praying and being charitable luther does

08:22

good works to the extreme

08:23

and gets even more depressed johann von

08:26

staupitz his superior

08:28

convinces him that salvation comes from

08:30

faith alone

08:31

at this realization luther snaps out of

08:33

his depression

08:34

becomes well adjusted to monkish life

08:38

later he becomes a lecturer at the newly

08:40

founded university of wittenberg

08:41

that is run by his religious order the

08:43

augustines

08:45

here he develops his theory of

08:46

predestination that is based on the

08:48

letters of paul

08:50

according to luther's interpretation of

08:52

paul salvation can only

08:54

be achieved by faith human effort and

08:56

free will being completely excluded

08:59

however if one is saved one will

09:01

automatically be inclined to do good

09:03

works

09:04

therefore good works are the result of

09:06

salvation not the cause

09:09

luther begins to teach his theory at

09:10

wittenberg however he fails to attract

09:13

significant attention

09:14

since such theories are quite common

09:16

nowadays

09:18

the great sale of indulgences of 1517

09:21

will change

09:22

everything indulgences are a key

09:24

component in the absolution of sin

09:27

according to the catholic church to be

09:29

absolved from sin

09:30

one has to complete three steps first

09:33

one has to confess his sin

09:35

second he has to be sorry and third he

09:38

has to do penance

09:39

completing all the steps is very

09:41

important because otherwise one would

09:43

end up in purgatory

09:44

a place almost as bad as hell

09:47

doing penance in general means doing

09:49

good works

09:50

however if your sin is too great or

09:53

you're just lazy

09:54

there's a shortcut indulgences are

09:56

special documents dispensed by the pope

09:58

which can be used to replace good works

10:01

their power is derived from the treasure

10:03

house of merit

10:04

the treasure house of merit is the

10:06

collection of all the merit of jesus

10:07

christ and of the early christians

10:10

the pope as the head of the catholic

10:12

church holds the key to this endless

10:13

amount of merit

10:15

indulgences have been around for

10:17

centuries however as the purchasing

10:19

power of the population had grown

10:21

so grew the scope and power of

10:23

indulgences

10:26

as it happened albrecht of brandenburg

10:28

the archbishop of magdeburg

10:30

luther superior had recently obtained

10:32

another archbishop rick

10:34

that of the electorate of mainz to pay

10:37

the bribes that are necessary to buy

10:38

such a position

10:40

albrecht took up loans from the footers

10:42

now he is penniless

10:44

and unable to pay his debt he asks the

10:46

pope for a loan

10:48

however leo proposes something even

10:50

better

10:51

he will organize a massive sale of

10:53

indulgences

10:54

he will keep half the profit and use it

10:56

to rebuild saint peter's basilica

10:58

and albrecht will get the other half to

11:00

repay his debt

11:02

the best market for this great sale is

11:04

germany and the pope sends his best

11:06

salesman to complete the job

11:10

johann tetzel bursts on the indulgence

11:12

market like a storm

11:14

he claims indulgences sold by him can be

11:16

used to atone for future sins

11:18

or for the sins of the deceased these

11:21

claims are unheard of

11:22

as indulgences are only supposed to be

11:24

valid in the here and now for sins

11:26

already committed

11:28

and only for those living not for the

11:30

dead

11:32

however as long as there is a market for

11:34

them tetzel is there to satisfy the

11:36

demand

11:38

luther takes this for what it is not

11:40

simply a scam

11:42

but a grave endangerment of people's

11:44

souls

11:45

he formulates his grievances in the 95

11:48

point thesis

11:49

not only denouncing the sale of

11:50

indulgences but also questioning the

11:52

pope's right to the treasure house of

11:54

merit

11:55

on october 31st 1517 luther sends his

11:59

disputation to his superior albrecht of

12:01

brandenburg

12:03

albrecht immediately sees a problem with

12:05

it and forwards a copy to the pope

12:08

leo the tenth is very displeased

12:12

what is to come if luther questions his

12:13

right to the treasure house of merit

12:16

papal power will again be eroded leo

12:19

must prevent this at all costs

12:22

his answer is blunt and unprecedented he

12:25

decrees that the pope is infallible

12:27

and also that the pope is the highest

12:29

authority in the church

12:30

even surpassing the bible as for luther

12:34

in 1518 the pope dispatches his best

12:37

theologian to

12:38

try to convince him of his errors and

12:39

determine him to recant

12:42

luther remains recalcitrant and insists

12:45

he is right about indulgences

12:48

in 1519 the pope deploys the hardliner

12:51

johann eck to debate luther in leipzig

12:55

ekk is determined to incriminate luther

12:57

so during the three-day public debate

12:59

he relentlessly questions him on papal

13:01

superiority

13:03

by the end he backs luther into a corner

13:06

luther makes declarations that may well

13:08

be interpreted as challenging the power

13:10

of the pope

13:11

and of the religious councils ek

13:14

declares luther to be a heretic and a

13:16

hussite

13:16

and runs back to the pope with the

13:18

evidence

13:20

the pope issues an edict calling on

13:21

luther to recant his theoretical views

13:23

within 60 days

13:24

or else be excommunicated luther will do

13:28

no such thing

13:29

he takes the papal bull and publicly

13:32

burns it

13:34

thus luther officially becomes a heretic

13:36

on the 3rd of january

13:37

1521. luther has nothing to lose now

13:42

so he concludes that as long as he is a

13:44

heretic he might as well formulate his

13:46

heresy

13:47

to this end he writes a series of books

13:49

outlining his views on religion

13:52

luther reaffirms his belief that

13:54

salvation can only be achieved through

13:56

faith in the humanist tradition he

13:58

denies transubstantiation

14:01

transubstantiation refers to the miracle

14:04

of the mass

14:04

when according to the catholic church

14:06

christ's body and blood turns into bread

14:08

and wine

14:10

luther believes in consubstantiation

14:13

meaning christ's body and blood is

14:14

present during the mass but it does not

14:16

turn

14:16

into bread and wine from this luther

14:19

deduces that clergy have no divine

14:21

powers

14:22

therefore they should also not have

14:24

special status within society

14:27

instead of a rigid church hierarchy

14:29

luther believes in the priesthood of all

14:31

believers

14:33

he insists that everyone should read and

14:35

interpret the bible

14:36

not just the priests most importantly he

14:39

states that the bible and not the pope

14:41

is the supreme authority in religion

14:45

by now luther's works are widely

14:47

circulated

14:48

with every major town having a printing

14:50

press books are usually reprinted

14:53

this allows printed material to spread

14:55

like wildfire

14:56

after the leipzig debate luther's ideas

14:59

began to garner nationwide fame

15:02

to stop this once and for all luther is

15:04

summoned to the imperial diet of 1521

15:07

to be held at firms with the newly

15:09

crowned emperor charles v

15:10

and all the princes of the realm in

15:12

attendance to ensure he gets a fair

15:15

hearing and doesn't end up burned at the

15:16

stake

15:17

he is given safe conduct by the emperor

15:20

on his way there he is cheered and

15:21

celebrated by large and enthusiastic

15:23

crowds

15:25

luther never intended to start a heresy

15:27

however to his surprise he discovers he

15:29

did just that

15:31

and was quite successful at it to say

15:33

the least

15:35

at worms he's confronted by his arch

15:37

enemy ek

15:38

he's ordered to recant all his heretical

15:41

views

15:42

to everyone's dismay luther decides to

15:45

listen to his conscience and refuse to

15:47

disavow anything he had said or written

15:50

in response the emperor issues the edict

15:52

of firms

15:53

condemning luther and all those who aid

15:55

him or follow him as heretics of the

15:57

highest order

15:58

practically a death sentence luther

16:01

still has two days worth of safe conduct

16:04

however after that he is fair game as an

16:07

infamous outlaw he may be killed or

16:09

captured by anyone looking for a rich

16:11

reward

16:12

with this premise luther sets out for

16:14

wittenberg

16:15

and the certainty of uncertainty

16:17

awaiting him there

16:19

with his days numbered he can only trust

16:21

in god

16:22

as unpredictable as god's ways are

16:30

it's 1521. luther is traveling home from

16:34

the diet of worms

16:36

he's just been declared an outlaw and a

16:38

dangerous heretic

16:40

his days are numbered predictably he is

16:42

set upon by armed men

16:44

he is held at gunpoint and kidnapped

16:48

the twist is that the kidnappers are

16:49

working for his prince frederick iii

16:52

elector of saxony frederick is far from

16:54

being a lutheran

16:56

however he'll not miss out on such a

16:57

good chance to oppose the emperor

17:00

like all princes of the realm he has a

17:02

deep disdain for the all-powerful

17:03

habsburg

17:05

the holy roman empire is a collection of

17:07

around 300 de facto independent states

17:09

and statelets

17:11

the most important principalities are

17:12

the electorates of brandenburg

17:14

saxony and the palatinate as well as

17:16

hesse and bavaria

17:18

there are also extensive ecclesiastical

17:20

states particularly in the west

17:23

the most important ones being the

17:24

electorates of trier mainz and cologne

17:27

germany is a priest-ridden and

17:29

fragmented place

17:30

since the emperor is merely a figurehead

17:33

all the church lands are given directly

17:35

from rome

17:35

therefore all the money collected from

17:38

germany flows to rome

17:40

frederick would like to see the emperor

17:41

even more powerless

17:43

and the church a lot poorer with his

17:45

wealth and his power thus increased

17:47

if he could become the head of the

17:48

church within his own realm

17:50

he and not rome would dispose over the

17:52

church's income

17:54

simply put frederick sees luther as a

17:56

useful pawn in his dynastic plans

17:59

after whisking him away he hides luther

18:01

at vat bird castle

18:02

all the while pleading ignorance about

18:04

his whereabouts

18:06

luther keeps busy while at wartburg he

18:09

translates the new testament into german

18:11

so that every man can read and interpret

18:13

the bible

18:14

he also establishes that confession

18:16

should be a private affair without a

18:18

priest

18:18

and that vows of celibacy and those made

18:20

to religious orders are invalid and may

18:23

be broken at will

18:24

hearing this monks and nuns escape their

18:26

monasteries and nunneries and become new

18:28

converts to lutheranism

18:31

while luther is away his colleague

18:33

andreas karlstadt

18:34

implements his reforming ideas in

18:36

wittenberg

18:37

after christmas three strange men appear

18:40

in wittenberg

18:42

the zvika prophets have the curious

18:44

custom of only baptizing adults

18:47

this custom is quite unnerving since all

18:49

christendom agrees that one should be

18:51

baptized shortly after birth

18:53

never to be re-baptized again

18:56

additionally

18:56

these anabaptists believe that

18:58

revelation from the holy spirit is the

19:00

supreme authority

19:01

not the bible they are also millenarians

19:04

believing the end times are near

19:06

when only those chosen by christ will

19:08

get resurrected

19:10

these chosen ones will then live for a

19:11

thousand years in the kingdom of god

19:14

when luther hears of this he rushes back

19:16

to wittenberg and puts an

19:17

end to the nonsense he is horrified by

19:20

the recent developments

19:22

as his intentions were for a slow and

19:24

controlled evolution

19:25

instead of a fast and out of control

19:27

revolution

19:29

to luther's surprise he soon discovers

19:31

that people do

19:32

have free will france von sikkingen

19:35

the most colourful character in germany

19:37

is one of many who intend to use

19:39

luther's ideas to further their own

19:41

goals

19:42

as a petty prince sicking had to look

19:44

out for himself

19:46

gaining fame in the emperor's service as

19:48

well as infamy when he invaded most of

19:49

his neighbours

19:51

he is typical of the nightly class the

19:54

nightly class are remnant of feudalism

19:57

they're quickly losing their power to

19:58

the more adaptive city-dwelling middle

20:00

class

20:02

they also feel oppressed by the princes

20:03

who are encroaching on their territory

20:05

and they are jealous of the vast amount

20:07

of wealth and land the church controls

20:10

similarly to frederick sickenking

20:12

intends to justify his politics with

20:14

lutheranism

20:16

in 1522 he gathers a large army of

20:18

knights

20:19

and claims to act in the emperor's name

20:21

while charles v

20:22

is away in spain the knights formulate

20:25

several demands

20:26

they want the abolition of princely

20:28

power and the creation of a centralized

20:30

monarchy

20:31

where all men of noble birth would be

20:33

equal more importantly they want to

20:35

secularize church property using

20:37

lutheran arguments

20:39

to add weight to their word the knights

20:41

attacked the archbishopric of trier

20:44

the siege of trier ends five days later

20:46

when sickening runs out of gunpowder

20:49

soon philip of hesse and the elector

20:51

palatine comes to the archbishop's aid

20:53

and easily crush the rebellious knights

20:56

sickening dies fighting

20:58

and the knights are a coherent force no

21:00

more

21:01

luther strongly disapproves of the

21:03

knight's interpretation of his doctrine

21:05

however the night's revolt was just the

21:07

beginning

21:09

peasants are the largest class within

21:11

society

21:12

they enjoy increasing wealth and

21:14

mobility with serfdom being almost

21:16

abolished

21:17

as princes are centralizing their rule

21:20

these meager gains of the peasantry are

21:22

in danger again

21:23

the proletariat of the cities have

21:25

similar qualms

21:27

they feel they are being held back by

21:29

the rigid guild system

21:30

implemented by the oligarchy of the

21:32

cities

21:33

in the autumn of 1524 in the south of

21:36

germany

21:37

a group of peasants are ordered by their

21:39

lady to collect snail shells

21:41

the peasants refuse and tell her that

21:43

those days are over

21:45

the rebellion quickly spreads throughout

21:47

swabia rebellious peasants and urban

21:49

poor take over memingen

21:51

where their representatives meet to

21:53

formulate a list of grievances

21:55

in the 12 articles the peasants demand

21:57

the abolition of serfdom

21:59

the abolition of the church tithe and

22:01

the death tax

22:02

an end to the enclosure of common land

22:05

the right to hunt and fish

22:06

lower rents and the right of communities

22:09

to elect church officials

22:11

to underline their points the peasants

22:13

begin to rob murder and rape the

22:15

rebellion extending all the way north

22:17

into throwing gear

22:18

and south into the swiss lands in tyrol

22:20

by the next year

22:22

the ransacking of castles and

22:24

monasteries by mobs is nothing new

22:26

this time however the peasants have an

22:28

ideology

22:29

they are doing exactly what youth had

22:31

told them to they read the bible and

22:33

interpreted it to the best of their

22:35

knowledge in their reading the bible

22:37

says the meek will inherit the earth

22:39

consequently taxes and social classes

22:41

should be abolished

22:43

printing is extensively used by the

22:45

rebels circulating tens of thousands of

22:47

pamphlets filled with inflammatory

22:49

propaganda

22:51

their spiritual leader is thomas munso a

22:53

radical reformer associated with the

22:55

trick-out prophets

22:57

munster is also a millenarian he

22:59

believes the apocalypse is near

23:01

he will lead the righteous to victory

23:04

luther is outraged that his ideas of

23:06

reforming the church are being used as

23:08

arguments for a rebellion and mob rule

23:11

he strongly condemns the rebels in

23:13

several pamphlets

23:14

calling on the princes to put them down

23:16

like rabid dogs

23:18

initially the princes were caught off

23:20

guard however by early 1525

23:23

they begin to mobilize their forces

23:26

since the emperor is in spain

23:27

and his armies are on campaign in italy

23:30

it is left to the swabian league

23:31

a coalition of southern german states to

23:34

put down the rebellion

23:35

in april league armies defeat a large

23:38

peasant army at lightheim near augsburg

23:41

in may they crush a peasant army at

23:43

frankenhausen

23:44

muntzer is captured tortured and

23:47

executed

23:48

simultaneously other league armies

23:50

annihilate a group of burblingen

23:53

fighting continues for a while but the

23:55

resistance of the peasants is already

23:57

broken

23:58

they never managed to unite their forces

24:00

they had been defeated in every battle

24:02

and the cities closed their gates when

24:04

they saw the tide turn

24:06

repression is brutal with at least a

24:08

hundred thousand peasants killed

24:10

social mobility is finished and the

24:12

princes have confirmed that they are the

24:14

true rulers in their land

24:17

by this time several princely states and

24:19

imperial cities had adopted lutheranism

24:23

as a consequence of the peasants war

24:25

luther decides that reforming the church

24:27

from the bottom up

24:28

is undesirable instead of preaching to

24:30

the masses

24:31

he starts to preach to the princes two

24:34

of his most important converts are

24:36

philip of hesse

24:37

and john of saxony they are the

24:39

champions of lutheranism at the diet of

24:41

spire in 1526

24:44

the emperor is represented by his

24:46

brother the archduke ferdinand

24:48

ferdinand comes to the table with a very

24:50

bad hand

24:51

the turks have just defeated the kingdom

24:53

of hungary at mohat

24:54

killing the young king louis ii this

24:57

vacated both the thrones of bohemia and

25:00

hungary

25:00

with ferdinand having the best claim

25:03

bohemia is added to the empire without a

25:06

hitch however in hungary

25:08

charles and ferdinand have to contend

25:10

with the anti-habsburg faction on one

25:12

part

25:12

and the ottomans on the other in italy

25:15

imperial forces are still engaged

25:17

against france venice florence and the

25:19

pope

25:19

in the war of the league of cognac thus

25:22

ferdinand has to give concessions to the

25:24

lutherans

25:25

in order to obtain their help and

25:26

cooperation the edict of worms is

25:29

temporarily suspended and it's left up

25:31

to the princes to choose the religion of

25:33

their provinces

25:34

therefore princes become the effective

25:36

heads of their churches

25:38

establishing the curious regio as

25:40

religio principle

25:42

meaning he who rules the land chooses

25:44

the religion

25:46

while lutherans are being burned at the

25:47

stake in habsburg lands

25:49

more and more german states become

25:51

lutheran prussia

25:53

anzbak brunswick hesse saxony silesia

25:56

the cities of nuremberg strasbourg

25:58

augsburg frankfurt lubeck bremen and

26:00

hamburg could become lutheran

26:03

luther doesn't take a direct part in the

26:05

process of reformation

26:06

as he believes worldly authorities such

26:08

as princes or city oligarchs should

26:10

decide

26:11

thus church and state are no longer

26:13

separate

26:15

printers pamphletes and the young

26:17

graduates of the university of

26:18

wittenberg provide the foot soldiers for

26:20

the reformation

26:22

luther continues his writing and serves

26:24

his advisor for several protestant

26:26

princes

26:28

lutheranism also spreads beyond germany

26:31

in 1527 gustav vassa initiates the

26:34

swedish reformation

26:36

lutheran is had already developed roots

26:38

in sweden the new testament had been

26:40

translated into swedish in 1526

26:43

and olaus petri a wittenberg educated

26:45

theologian

26:46

is advising the king sweden had just

26:49

gained independence from the kalmar

26:50

union

26:51

a personal union of scandinavian

26:53

countries headed by the danish king

26:55

during the kalmar union power shifted

26:57

from the monarch to the nobility in the

26:59

clergy

27:00

gustav the first a shrewd politician

27:02

clearly sees lutheranism's advantages in

27:05

building a strong

27:06

centralized monarchy therefore in 1527

27:09

at the assembly of the estates he

27:11

proposes to make himself the head of the

27:13

church

27:14

to confiscate all clerical assets to

27:16

subject clergy to secular law

27:18

and to declare the bible the supreme

27:20

authority in matters of religion

27:22

the estates approve his proposal and

27:25

lutheranism becomes the official state

27:26

religion of sweden and by default of

27:28

finland then in personal union with

27:30

sweden

27:32

lutheranism had also come to denmark it

27:35

was already adopted in the south

27:37

in the lands ruled by the crown prince

27:39

christian and tolerated in the rest of

27:41

the country

27:42

when king frederick the first dies in

27:44

1533

27:45

the nobility in the clergy side the

27:47

christian's younger brother

27:49

a civil war ensues however when the

27:52

rebels ask lubeck for help

27:53

popular opinion turns against them

27:56

christian iii

27:57

is victorious and in 1536 lutheranism

28:00

becomes the state religion of denmark

28:02

similarly to gustav vassar the king uses

28:05

religion to strengthen himself

28:07

confiscating clerical estates and

28:09

arresting bishops and nobles who opposed

28:11

him

28:11

later lutheranism would be spread to the

28:14

kings of the domains

28:15

norway iceland and greenland

28:18

simultaneously

28:19

lutheranism spreads to france unlike

28:22

lesser kings

28:23

france's monarch already had the right

28:25

to name bishops and tax the church

28:27

therefore francis the first is no

28:29

particular reason to reform the church

28:32

however being an avid humanist he has a

28:34

natural curiosity and tolerance to new

28:36

ideas

28:37

the downfall of this nascent

28:39

protestantism comes in 1534

28:42

when radicals nailed an anti-catholic

28:44

pamphlet to the door of the king's

28:45

bedchamber

28:46

francis sees this as a personal affront

28:49

and starts to persecute protestants

28:51

many flee others go underground waiting

28:54

for more favorable conditions

28:57

across the channel the exact opposite

28:59

happens

29:00

king henry viii is a staunch

29:02

conservative who hates luther

29:04

but he has a major problem his wife

29:07

catherine of aragon hasn't given him a

29:08

male heir

29:09

and she was already over 40. therefore

29:12

in 1527 he requested a divorce from the

29:15

pope

29:16

catherine however is charles viii's aunt

29:19

and after the sack of rome

29:21

pope clement vii is in the emperor's

29:23

pocket

29:24

henry's request is refused so the king

29:27

decides to follow the protestant example

29:29

and break from rome

29:30

he achieves this in 1534 and

29:33

subsequently starts to confiscate church

29:35

property

29:36

in 1536 a pro-catholic rebellion breaks

29:39

out

29:40

in the law the pilgrimage of grace

29:42

convinces henry that further religious

29:44

reform is not needed

29:46

since all he wanted to do was to become

29:48

the head of the church

29:49

he considers the english reformation

29:51

done

29:53

meanwhile germany prepares for the

29:55

imperial diet of 1529 to be held in

29:58

spire

29:59

ferdinand has a much stronger hand than

30:01

three years earlier

30:03

imperial armies are once again

30:05

victorious in italy

30:06

and francis the first seems finally

30:08

ready to make peace

30:10

ferdinand declares that all heretical

30:12

activities must be suspended until the

30:14

proper church council is convened

30:16

and all property and offices of the

30:18

catholic church should be restored

30:20

this is unacceptable to the lutherans

30:23

therefore they leave the diet in protest

30:25

this is where the name protestant comes

30:27

from a few months later

30:30

fortunes turn the ottomans have attacked

30:33

again

30:33

and are besieging vienna charles v

30:36

decides to convene another diet the next

30:38

year

30:39

where he would attend in person his plan

30:42

is to hammer out some sort of compromise

30:44

so that the resources of the holy roman

30:46

empire could be used to fight the turk

30:48

instead of being wasted on internal

30:50

squabbles

30:51

the protestants also come with

30:53

compromise in mind

30:55

philip merlangton luther's colleague

30:57

jeffsy augsburg confession

30:58

a document detailing what lutheran

31:00

convictions are and defending them based

31:02

on the bible

31:04

even though the augsburg confession was

31:06

intended to be a rather conciliatory

31:07

document

31:08

charles still judges it excessive

31:11

nevertheless he proposes that the

31:12

catholic prince's write a refutation

31:15

six weeks later the refutation is

31:17

published and charles realizes that

31:19

compromise between catholics and

31:21

protestants is impossible

31:23

the augsburg diet ends in a stalemate

31:26

charles is unable to take action against

31:28

the protestants

31:28

as france allies was the ottomans and

31:31

attacks against the empire continue from

31:33

the east

31:33

the west and the mediterranean in 1532

31:38

as the ottomans approached vienna once

31:40

again ferdinand is forced to grant

31:42

religious peace to the lutherans in

31:44

return for their help

31:45

nevertheless the lutheran princes see

31:47

the writing on the wall

31:49

they are safe for now but what about

31:51

later to guard themselves against

31:53

catholic aggression

31:54

the protestants formed the schmalkaldic

31:56

league in 1531

31:58

with the leadership of philip of hesse

32:00

and frederick of saxony

32:01

the league grows powerful even

32:03

concluding an alliance with denmark

32:06

lutheranism now has a sure footing in

32:08

the holy roman empire

32:10

however events elsewhere will overtake

32:12

lutheranism in scope and determination

32:21

it's 1519. holdrick spingley starts his

32:25

job as a priest in zurich

32:27

zurich is already leaning towards church

32:29

reform said sphingley is the perfect man

32:31

for the job

32:33

sphingoli was born in the canton of

32:34

saint garland and is the same age as

32:37

luther

32:38

like luther he was educated at a

32:40

humanist university in basel

32:42

in 1506 he became a priest

32:45

in 1513 he joined a swiss army and

32:48

participated in the battle of navara

32:50

returning home he started reading

32:52

humanists particularly erasmus

32:55

by the time he assumes his position in

32:57

zurich he's already aware of luther's

32:59

teachings

33:00

his doctrine will be a mixture of

33:02

lutheranism and erasmian humanism

33:04

like erasmus swingly believes that the

33:07

ideal world would be wrong resembling

33:08

the apostolic church of the early

33:10

christians

33:11

as portrayed in the bible a world based

33:13

on simplicity and piety and nothing else

33:17

but unlike luther stringly is a

33:19

practical man

33:20

he believes there should be absolutely

33:22

no separation between church and state

33:25

stingley is primarily interested in

33:27

civic reform

33:28

he believes religious and secular

33:30

authorities should work hand in hand

33:32

non-equal footing to conduct civic

33:34

reforms that would be informed by the

33:36

bible

33:37

spingley's first open conflict with the

33:39

church arises in 1522 when he organizes

33:42

a barbecue during lent

33:44

he argues that the concept of lent is

33:46

not in the bible

33:48

therefore it's irrelevant later swingly

33:51

and a few other priests cause

33:52

controversy again

33:53

when they marry their concubines in a

33:55

very public ceremony

33:57

swingly again argues that priestly

33:59

celibacy is not in the bible

34:01

therefore it's unnecessary eager to

34:04

resolve the conflict in

34:06

1523 the city authorities call a debate

34:09

between sphingli and catholic

34:10

representatives

34:11

sphingley wins the debate and henceforth

34:14

he will decide the future of zurich's

34:16

church and the city's policies

34:18

he begins with the abolishing of the

34:20

mass unlike

34:22

luther he doesn't believe in either

34:23

transubstantiation or

34:25

consubstantiation claiming that the body

34:27

and blood of christ

34:28

is not present in any form in bread and

34:30

wine

34:32

from now on communion will only be had

34:34

four times a year

34:35

and church service will focus solely on

34:37

preaching

34:38

he also orders the removal of statues

34:41

paintings and stained glass windows

34:43

since these weren't in the bible either

34:45

therefore according to stringly they

34:46

constitute idolatry

34:49

church property is seized and swingly

34:51

opens a school to train missionaries and

34:53

manufacture pamphlets

34:54

he exports his ideas far and wide and

34:57

soon the more urbanized northern cantons

34:59

join zurich in adopting zvinglianism

35:02

this is too much for the more rural and

35:05

more conservative cantons in the south

35:07

to the urging of johann eck luther's old

35:10

nemesis

35:10

five catholic cantons form an alliance

35:13

to protect themselves from zwingli's

35:15

as a consequence zwingli and his

35:17

followers become alarmed

35:18

and form an even larger protestant

35:20

alliance to protect themselves from

35:22

catholics

35:23

in response the catholic league

35:24

concludes an alliance with ferdinand

35:27

sphinglians see this alliance as a

35:29

declaration of war

35:30

both sides mobilize however war is

35:33

averted when cena might prevail

35:36

to strengthen his alliance swingly

35:37

appeals to the lutheran princes of

35:39

germany for help

35:41

philip of hesse is eager to form an

35:43

alliance with the swiss

35:44

therefore in 1529 he organizes a meeting

35:47

between luther and springly

35:49

springly had been conversing with luther

35:51

for a while however the two men don't

35:53

think very highly of each other

35:55

luther brings a list of 15 principles

35:57

finley must agree to

35:59

springly agrees to 14 points but he

36:01

disputes the last point

36:03

consubstantiation luther believes that

36:05

the spirit of jesus christ is present in

36:07

bread and wine in the form of

36:09

consubstantiation

36:10

sphingli insists this is nonsense

36:14

the negotiations break down on this one

36:16

issue and that sphinglians are left to

36:18

face the catholics alone

36:19

sphingli tries to plead his case to

36:21

france and then to the emperor the diet

36:24

of augsburg

36:25

but nobody gives him much thought he

36:27

becomes even more radicalized and urges

36:30

his allies to attack the catholics

36:32

eventually a blockade is imposed against

36:34

the catholic cantons

36:36

however all this does is anger them even

36:38

more in 1531 the catholics decide to

36:41

attack

36:42

this catches the protestants by surprise

36:44

and they fail to mobilize effectively

36:47

zurich's forces are outnumbered three to

36:49

one however stringly is undeterred

36:52

he dons his armor and fights in the

36:54

front ranks

36:55

as his army is routed he himself falls

36:58

with his death swiss protestants are

37:00

left without a leader

37:02

however protestantism is already strong

37:04

enough to survive

37:05

peace is concluded with the catholics

37:07

and the north of switzerland becomes a

37:09

bastion of protestantism

37:11

but sphinglians weren't the only

37:12

protestants in the swiss confederacy

37:15

with swingley's rise there came the

37:17

anabaptists of zurich

37:19

like their german counterparts these

37:21

anabaptists believe in adult baptism and

37:24

reject infant baptism

37:26

they are even more radical in their

37:27

desire to return to the apostolic church

37:30

unlike sphingley they outright reject

37:32

the state seeing it as evil

37:34

they refuse to pay taxes refuse to serve

37:37

in the army

37:38

they don't have priests and they isolate

37:40

themselves and the rest of the community

37:43

understandably springly doesn't take

37:45

kindly to the anabaptists

37:47

in 1526 they are given an ultimatum

37:50

either stop add or baptism or die after

37:53

swingling shows them that he means

37:54

business by drowning a few heretics

37:56

the anabaptists flee zurich due to their

37:59

unconventional beliefs

38:01

both catholics and protestants persecute

38:03

them wherever they go

38:05

a group winds up in moravia under the

38:07

leadership of jakob hutter

38:08

who advocates communal ownership of

38:10

goods a primitive form of communism

38:13

hutter is eventually burned as a heretic

38:15

however his followers will become the

38:17

ancestors of the hutterites

38:19

eventually ending up in the new world

38:22

another group

38:22

seeks refuge in the netherlands their

38:24

leader is melchior hoffman

38:26

a visionary millenarian he believes the

38:29

second coming of christ is near

38:31

and it will happen in strasbourg hoffman

38:33

goes to strasbourg where he is promptly

38:35

arrested

38:37

one of his lieutenants jan matas becomes

38:39

the man in charge

38:41

mathis also has a vision he claims the

38:43

second coming will happen in munster

38:46

therefore in 1534 mathis and his

38:48

followers go there and through an

38:50

audacious coup

38:51

take over the city adult baptism is

38:54

immediately introduced and those who

38:56

refuse are driven out

38:57

munster's expelled bishop soon gathers

38:59

reinforcements

39:00

helped by the princes who are anxious to

39:02

avoid under the peasant war

39:04

as the bishop lays siege to the city

39:06

matais introduces communism

39:08

and later polygamy after a year munster

39:12

succumbs

39:12

and the anabaptists are massacred to the

39:14

last man

39:16

the anabaptists still in the netherlands

39:18

reform themselves under the leadership

39:20

of menos simmons

39:22

they denounce all violence and survive

39:24

in the netherlands at the fringes of

39:25

society

39:26

their descendants will become the amish

39:28

and the mennonites

39:30

another group influenced by the

39:32

anabaptists are the unitarians

39:34

their ideas are very similar to the

39:36

aryan christians of the 5th century

39:38

and the gnostic movements of the high

39:40

middle ages

39:41

they reject the trinity of the father

39:43

son and the holy spirit

39:45

and insist that god alone is divine and

39:47

jesus was a mere person

39:49

they are also persecuted and finally end

39:52

up in poland and transylvania

39:54

where religious tolerance is already the

39:56

norm later these denominations will

39:58

spawn numerous offshoots

40:00

ending up in england and from there in

40:02

the new world

40:04

shortly after swingly's death the swiss

40:06

confederacy again becomes the center of

40:08

the reformation with john calvin

40:11

calvin was born in 1509 in piketty a

40:14

full 26 years after luther

40:16

in his youth he studies law and comes

40:19

under the influence of the humanists and

40:20

protestants of paris

40:22

his awakening and conversion is a slow

40:24

process but by the mid-1530s he

40:26

considers himself a protestant

40:29

in 1534 francis the first starts

40:31

persecuting protestants

40:33

therefore in 1535 calvin flees to basil

40:37

here he continues his religious studies

40:39

and starts to formulate his beliefs in

40:41

his book the institutions of the

40:43

christian religion

40:44

calvin agrees with luther on most issues

40:47

however on the question of the lord's

40:48

supper he shares

40:49

finley's view he is also stricture on

40:52

predestination

40:53

claiming that god has already decided

40:55

not just who goes to heaven

40:57

but also who goes to hell there is no

41:00

way to influence the outcome

41:01

or to know who is selected for what

41:03

however

41:04

calvin assumes that those who are chosen

41:06

for heaven will live pious and

41:08

successful lives

41:10

little does calvin know but this feature

41:12

will make his teachings very attractive

41:14

to the virtue signaling middle class

41:17

in 1536 calvin is on his way to

41:20

strasbourg

41:20

however he makes a detour to geneva

41:23

where a fellow reformer

41:24

william pharrell is working as a pastor

41:27

calvin is also hired

41:28

and the two men begin to reform geneva

41:31

here calvin's real nature comes out

41:34

like swingly calvin is mainly concerned

41:36

with ethics rather than theology

41:39

he is also a civic reformer and believes

41:41

that church and state should work hand

41:43

in hand to bring about a total reform

41:45

society

41:46

that will be strictly based on the bible

41:48

this is much to the displeasure of the

41:50

nobles and merchants of the city

41:52

as they see it as an attack on their

41:54

liberties in 1538

41:56

calvin and pharrell are asked to leave

41:58

geneva

42:00

calvin receives an invitation from

42:01

martin buser the reformer of strasbourg

42:04

strasbourg was one of the first cities

42:06

to adopt lutheranism

42:08

and brucer its leader and civic reformer

42:10

is an excellent role model for calvin

42:13

in 1541 the citizens of geneva have a

42:16

change of heart

42:17

and ask calvin to come back calvin

42:19

agrees on the condition that they will

42:21

let him do the necessary reforms

42:24

calvin puts the greatest emphasis on

42:26

religious education

42:27

especially of the young he establishes

42:30

four groups of church officials

42:32

pastors to preach doctors to instruct

42:34

believers in the faith

42:36

elders to provide discipline and deacons

42:38

to administer to the poor

42:40

he introduces the consistory a religious

42:43

court made up for pastors and lay people

42:45

he also bans paintings sculptures music

42:48

dancing

42:49

swearing and theater however he does

42:51

allow usury

42:52

provided the interest is fair pubs are

42:55

only allowed to function if scripture is

42:57

read aloud to the patrons

42:59

calvin's detractors try to resist but

43:02

this is an uphill battle

43:03

calvin wins argument after argument and

43:06

when protestant refugees arrive from

43:08

france

43:08

the balance of power shifts in calvin's

43:10

favor by 1555 his power is unchallenged

43:15

under his leadership geneva becomes the

43:17

most pious

43:18

most industrious and most orderly city

43:20

in europe

43:21

all who visit geneva are amazed

43:24

missionaries rage far and wide

43:26

and calvin's pamphlets are being read

43:28

out all across europe

43:29

the middle and upper classes find it

43:31

particularly attractive

43:33

seeing it as a more potent and more

43:35

fashionable form of protestantism

43:37

many who are already open to lutheranism

43:39

soon become calvinists

43:42

the south west of france and the low

43:43

countries soon become bastions of

43:45

calvinism

43:46

in these places calvinism becomes even

43:48

more politicized than lutheranism

43:51

in france the southern aristocrats see

43:53

calvinism as a counterweight to the

43:55

centralizing policy of the monarchy

43:58

in the low countries it becomes a

43:59

vehicle for the province's quest for

44:01

autonomy and later independence

44:04

as the counter-reformation kicks into

44:06

high gear calvinism and catholicism are

44:08

on a crash course

44:10

many fear that war cannot be averted

44:18

it's the 1530s while calvin is working

44:22

on his theory

44:23

in germany there's a sort of cold war

44:26

the religious peace of 1532 is holding

44:29

but just barely the emperor is just as

44:32

eager to crush the rebellious protestant

44:34

princes

44:34

but for now he is still embroiled in a

44:36

vicious war on three fronts with the

44:38

ottomans and the french

44:40

he absolutely needs the help of the

44:42

princes therefore he must accommodate

44:44

even the most bellicose ones

44:47

john frederick the first elector of

44:49

saxony and philip of hesse

44:51

are on a war path they have a

44:53

long-standing feud with duke henry of

44:54

brunswick wolfenbootle

44:56

the last catholic prince in the north in

44:59

1541 when the duke attacks the

45:01

protestant city of goslar

45:02

the two princes mobilize against him and

45:05

occupy his dukedom

45:06

church property is seized and the

45:08

dukedom is forcibly converted to

45:10

protestantism

45:12

the emperor tries to help henry however

45:14

at this time he can barely spare any

45:16

resources

45:17

so henry's defeated again and imprisoned

45:20

but not everyone is as eager about

45:21

punishing the duke and forcefully

45:23

converting catholics

45:25

the southern states and the cities of

45:27

the schmalkardic league see this is a

45:28

foolhardy gamble

45:30

that will surely result in the ruin of

45:32

the protestant cause

45:33

instead of strengthening the league this

45:35

show of force weakens it

45:37

and divides it meanwhile fortune is

45:40

turning for charles

45:42

in 1544 he makes peace with france and a

45:45

few years later with the ottomans

45:47

now he can finally focus all his power

45:49

and energy on his german subjects who

45:51

are in open rebellion

45:53

but even though charles is acting in the

45:54

name of catholicism

45:56

he cannot count on the support of

45:57

catholic princes who are just as

45:59

skeptical of imperial power

46:01

the most charles can get is their

46:03

neutrality therefore he must gather his

46:05

own habsburg forces from all across the

46:07

empire

46:09

this however will take time the league's

46:13

plan

46:13

hinges precisely on this fact they can

46:16

mobilize and concentrate their forces

46:18

faster

46:19

therefore they can attack preemptively

46:21

and defeat the emperor's forces one by

46:23

one

46:25

in 1546 they go on the attack catching

46:28

the emperor by surprise and forcing him

46:30

to retreat sound

46:32

next they strike into tyrol but due to

46:34

john frederick's ineptitude they failed

46:36

to prevent italian reinforcements from

46:38

linking up with the emperor

46:40

this is when the emperor strikes back he

46:43

has an ace up his sleeves

46:45

decades ago saxony had been split

46:47

between two lines of the same dynasty

46:50

the ernestine line represented by john

46:52

frederick

46:53

rules the electorate of saxony and his

46:55

cousin maurice of saxony of the

46:57

albertine line

46:58

rules the dukedom of saxony maurice is a

47:01

protestant and a member of the league

47:03

however charles had already bought his

47:05

favor promising a rich reward if he

47:07

turns against his own side

47:09

just as league forces almost grasp

47:11

victory in the south

47:12

maurice and archduke ferdinand launched

47:14

an attack in the north

47:16

john frederick has no choice but to take

47:18

his forces north to defend his lands

47:21

charles immediately seizes the

47:22

opportunity and moves to pacify the

47:24

south

47:25

his forces are led by the duke of alba

47:28

the best general of his time

47:30

the southern protestants who are already

47:32

reluctant participants in the war

47:34

quickly yield before the imperial army

47:36

meanwhile

47:37

john frederick successfully defends his

47:39

lands and gather reinforcements

47:41

however he has to send part of his army

47:43

into bohemia to block maurice in

47:45

ferdinand

47:46

meanwhile alba martin's north unopposed

47:50

his army already outnumbers john

47:51

fredericks by two to one

47:54

on the 23rd of april 1547 he stealthily

47:57

crosses the river elbe

47:59

and utterly crushes the protestants john

48:01

frederick is captured

48:03

and the league falls apart philip of

48:05

hesse quickly surrenders

48:06

and is also imprisoned seemingly the

48:09

protestants are finished

48:11

however as soon as the emperor turns his

48:13

back resistance continues to simmer

48:15

now centered around magdeburg charles

48:18

wants to end the war at all costs

48:20

so he proposes a compromise the augsburg

48:23

interim of 1548 gives a little and takes

48:26

a little

48:26

leaving both catholics and protestants

48:28

unsatisfied

48:30

the protestants form a new league and

48:32

secretly agree with the french to attack

48:33

the emperor from two sides

48:36

the unlikely leader of this new league

48:38

is none other than maurice of saxony

48:40

even though the emperor made him the

48:42

elector of saxony he is still

48:43

unsatisfied he is a german first and a

48:46

subject of the emperor

48:48

second in the autumn of 1551 the french

48:51

attack along the rhine

48:53

and in spring 1552 the prince's launch

48:56

an attack against tyrol

48:58

charles is desperate to avoid another

48:59

war on two fronts

49:01

so he's forced to give the protestants a

49:02

better deal

49:04

in 1555 the piece of augsburg is

49:06

proclaimed

49:07

reinstating the curious regio aeos

49:09

religio principle

49:11

meaning the protestant princes are free

49:13

to choose the religion of their states

49:15

this freedom however only refers to

49:17

lutherans

49:18

calvinists are not included and may be

49:21

persecuted as heretics

49:23

this aspect is most unfortunate as

49:25

calvinism had just begun its meteoric

49:27

rise all across europe

49:29

and within the empire while all this was

49:32

going on

49:33

catholics were not sitting still the

49:36

preoccupation with church reform is not

49:38

exclusive to protestants

49:40

the first pope to seriously consider

49:42

internal reform is adrian vi

49:45

adrian is dutch and thus is far removed

49:47

from italian dynastic politics that

49:49

prevented reform during the reign of leo

49:51

the 10th

49:52

his papacy however is short-lived

49:55

lasting from 1522 to 1523

49:58

adrian's reign is again followed by 11

50:01

years of ineffective popes preoccupied

50:03

with italian affairs

50:05

in 1534 however the reformer paul iii

50:09

is elected and his papal sea will last

50:11

for 15 years

50:12

giving him ample time to launch a

50:14

vigorous reaction to protestantism

50:16

paul recognizes that such things as

50:18

simony absenteeism

50:20

pluralism nepotism and the mass sales of

50:22

indulgences cannot continue

50:25

therefore these aspects are purged from

50:27

the church

50:28

paul also recognises the importance of

50:30

education

50:31

not just for the higher echelons of the

50:33

clergy but also for the humble parish

50:35

priest who up until now was barely

50:38

literate

50:39

to make sure that his reforms will

50:40

continue after his death

50:42

paul only appoints fellow reformers to

50:44

the college of cardinals

50:46

his biggest achievement however is the

50:48

council of trent convened in 1545.

50:51

this grand council of bishops cardinals

50:54

and religious scholars from all across

50:55

europe last for 18 years

50:57

and will prove to be a milestone of

50:59

catholicism the council affirms that the

51:02

bible is not the only authority in

51:03

religion

51:04

but in fact authority is shared between

51:06

the pope the religious councils

51:08

various catholic traditions and the

51:10

bible

51:12

also they recognize that the 5th century

51:14

latin translation of the bible is the

51:15

official one

51:17

they reaffirm the seven sacraments of

51:19

the church and that salvation can be

51:21

achieved through faith and

51:22

good works they stand by the elaborate

51:25

ceremonies of the church

51:27

as these are done to celebrate the glory

51:29

of god

51:30

the council also stands by the concept

51:32

of transubstantiation meaning members of

51:34

the clergy do have special

51:36

powers and therefore they should have a

51:38

special status within society

51:41

all these assertions and reassertions

51:43

are very important to strengthen the

51:44

base

51:45

and show a united front to the

51:47

protestants and also to those who are

51:49

wavering

51:51

parallel to the council of trent a new

51:53

religious order is being set up

51:56

ignatius of loyola establishes the

51:58

militant order of the society of jesus

52:00

otherwise known as the jesuits

52:03

had been a soldier fighting in the

52:05

emperor's service after he was wounded

52:07

he was due to a monastery where he had a

52:09

vision of god that lasted for eight days

52:12

awakened to his new purpose loyola

52:14

writes the spiritual exercises

52:16

a self-help book focusing on meditation

52:19

and developing a deep religious calling

52:21

loyola soon gathers a country of loyal

52:24

followers

52:24

and in 1540 paul iii grants him

52:27

permission to establish a religious

52:29

order

52:30

the jesuits proved to be a nemesis to

52:32

the protestants

52:33

they recognized that protestantism grew

52:35

out of the universities

52:37

therefore they placed an even greater

52:38

emphasis on education

52:41

jesuits are like soldiers armed with the

52:43

most up-to-date knowledge and the best

52:45

debating skills

52:47

they are often the bridge between church

52:49

and state most catholic princes having a

52:51

jesuit advisor or two

52:53

in catholic countries cults of

52:55

inquisition are set up

52:56

and an index of forbidden books is

52:58

published making sure that all future

53:00

heresy is nipped in the bud

53:02

protestantism is finally contained and

53:05

will not spread any further than it

53:06

already did

53:08

but by the 1550s with the rise of

53:10

calvinism

53:12

europe is already a powder keg waiting

53:14

to explode

53:15

it is true that even in catholic france

53:17

and the habsburg netherlands

53:18

there is a sort of accommodation with

53:20

protestantism but this does not mean

53:22

religious tolerance

53:24

catholics lutherans and calvinists all

53:26

live in their designated

53:27

enclaves with rare exceptions like

53:30

transylvania or poland

53:32

confessionalism becomes the norm this

53:34

means that in lutheran states one must

53:36

agree with the points laid out in the

53:38

augsburg confession

53:39

in catholic countries one must conform

53:42

to the decisions of the council of trent

53:44

and in calvinist lands one must agree to

53:46

the confessions of faith of calvin

53:48

and various other calvinist scholars in

53:51

the holy roman empire the peace of

53:53

augsburg will hold until 1618. however

53:56

in france in the low countries

53:58

calvin has thrown a collision course

53:59

with catholics the french wars of

54:02

religion

54:02

and the dutch revolt will be followed by

54:04

the bloodiest period of european history

54:07

the 30 years war

54:17

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so

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so

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so

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