Martin Luther

Martin Luther (1483–1546) was a German theologian and Augustinian monk who became a central figure in the Protestant Reformation. In 1517 he authored the Ninety-Five Theses, a set of propositions that challenged aspects of church practice and helped spark widespread religious debate. Luther’s writings and preaching emphasized theological reform and contributed to the emergence of Protestant traditions in Europe. His work reshaped Western Christianity and influenced religious, political, and cultural life in the early modern period. Remembered as a reformer and controversialist, Luther remains one of the most significant religious figures of the sixteenth century.