October 31, 1517Reputable sourceWell documented
Luther's Ninety-Five Theses
On the timeline · around October 31, 1517 ·
What happened
On 31 October 1517, the monk and theologian Martin Luther issued ninety-five theses denouncing the sale of indulgences — writs the Church sold to reduce time in purgatory — as unbiblical and greedy. He meant them as an invitation to scholarly debate, but once translated from Latin into German and spread by the printing press, they became a direct challenge to Church authority.
Why it matters
Luther's theses ignited the Protestant Reformation, splitting Western Christianity and reshaping the politics, religion, and culture of Renaissance Europe.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Martin Luther's 95 Theses · Reputable source