Posting of the Ninety-Five Theses by Martin Luther
- When
- 1517–1519
- Where
- University of Wittenberg; Castle Church, Wittenberg; Germany
- Episodes
- 3
In 1517, Martin Luther, a professor at the University of Wittenberg, challenged the sale of indulgences by composing the Ninety-five Theses. He sent them to Archbishop Albert of Mainz on 31 October 1517, initiating a debate that marked the start of the Reformation.
Episodes
- Composition of the Ninety-five Theses
Luther composed the Ninety-five Theses in 1517 to challenge the sale of indulgences.
- Printing and Circulation of the Theses
The Latin Theses were printed in Germany in 1517 and translated into German in January 1518.
- Posting of the Theses in Wittenberg
On 31 October 1517, Luther sent the Theses to Archbishop Albert and allegedly nailed them to the Castle Church door.
Background and detail
Background. Martin Luther served as a professor of moral theology at the University of Wittenberg, founded in 1502. In 1517, Johann Tetzel was commissioned to sell indulgences to finance St. Peter's Basilica. Luther grew concerned when parishioners claimed indulgences removed the need for repentance, prompting him to preach against the practice.
The Posting. On 31 October 1517, Luther sent the Ninety-five Theses to Archbishop Albert of Mainz to protest the sale of indulgences. Legend holds that he also nailed the theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. This act is traditionally viewed as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.
Aftermath. The Latin Theses were printed in several locations in Germany in 1517. In January 1518, friends translated them into German. Luther's writings circulated widely, reaching France, England, and Italy by 1519. The event is commemorated as Reformation Day.
People involved
- Martin Luther · Professor of moral theology at the University of Wittenberg
- Johann Tetzel · Dominican friar commissioned to sell indulgences
- Albert of Brandenburg · Archbishop of Mainz under whose authority indulgences were sold
Sources
- Ninety-five Theses Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-17
- Martin Luther Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-17
- Wittenberg Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-12
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.