Martin Luther

1483 CE–1546 CE · Eisleben

Martin Luther (1483–1546) was a German Augustinian friar, theologian, and university professor whose 1517 circulation of the Ninety-Five Theses at Wittenberg ignited the Protestant Reformation. Born in Eisleben and educated at Mansfeld, Magdeburg, Eisenach, and Erfurt, he was ordained and professed as an Augustinian friar before being summoned to defend his views before the Diet of Worms in 1521. Placed under imperial ban, he sheltered at Wartburg Castle, where he translated the New Testament into German; he returned to Wittenberg, where he taught, preached, and led the Reformation movement until his death in Eisleben in 1546.

See Martin Luther’s journey on the map →

Life journeyclick any stop, or use ←/→Trace on the map →

Stop 1 of 71483–1484Born

EislebenGermany

What they did here

Born in Eisleben on 10 November 1483 and baptized there the next day; the family moved to Mansfeld in 1484.

About Eisleben

Eisleben, a town in Saxony-Anhalt, central Germany. Martin Luther was both born (1483) and died (1546) there.

See other sages who lived in Eisleben→

In the same place & time

Sages whose lives overlapped with Martin Luther’s in the same cities, drawn from their recorded journeys.

Across the traditions

Sforno· Rome

In the same tradition

Pope Paul III, Pope Leo X, Pope Paul IV, Philip Melanchthon

The world in their lifetime

Thinkers and teachers of other traditions whose lives overlapped with Martin Luther’s — a glimpse of the wider world they lived in. Drawn purely from recorded birth and death years.

Jewish world

Read the text →