Diet of Worms

The Diet of Worms of 1521 was an Imperial Diet of the Holy Roman Empire, convened by Emperor Charles V and held in the Imperial Free City of Worms, in present-day Germany. It is one of the most significant political and religious assemblies in European history, primarily because of its role in the early phase of the Protestant Reformation and its confrontation with Martin Luther. Although the Reformation is conventionally dated to 1517, the Diet of Worms marked the first clear and public rupture between Luther and imperial as well as papal authority.
The Diet was conducted between 28 January and 25 May 1521 at the Bischofshof palace, with the Emperor presiding. While many administrative and political matters were addressed, the proceedings concerning Luther overshadowed all other business and gave the Diet its enduring historical significance.

Background and Causes

Martin Luther first came to the attention of ecclesiastical authorities following the publication of his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517, which criticised the sale of indulgences and questioned aspects of Church authority. Over the following years, Luther continued to preach, write, and publish works attacking what he regarded as doctrinal corruption and abuses within the Catholic Church.
In June 1520, Pope Leo X issued the papal bull Exsurge Domine, which listed forty-one alleged theological errors in Luther’s writings and demanded that he recant. Luther refused and publicly burned the bull, leading to his excommunication in January 1521. Despite this, political considerations within the Holy Roman Empire made it impractical to proceed against Luther without giving him a formal hearing.
Luther’s prince, Frederick III, Elector of Saxony, secured a guarantee of safe conduct from Emperor Charles V, ensuring Luther’s safety to and from the Diet. This assurance was essential, given the earlier execution of Jan Hus at the Council of Constance in 1415 despite a similar promise of safe passage.

Proceedings of the Diet

The Imperial Diet formally opened on 23 January 1521, with Luther summoned to appear before the assembly in April. He arrived in Worms on 16 April 1521, where he was instructed to present himself before the Diet the following day.
On 17 April, Luther was confronted by Johann Eck, acting as spokesman for the Emperor. A collection of Luther’s writings was displayed, and he was asked two questions: whether the books were his and whether he would revoke their contents. Luther acknowledged authorship but requested time to consider his response, which was granted.
When Luther reappeared on 18 April, he delivered a carefully structured defence. He divided his writings into three categories:

1. Works of general Christian instruction, widely accepted even by his opponents, which he refused to retract.
2. Writings criticising abuses and corruption within the Church and papacy, which he argued could not be withdrawn without perpetuating injustice and oppression.
3. Polemical works against individuals, for which he apologised for their harsh tone but not for their substance.

Luther concluded that he would recant only if shown to be in error by Scripture or clear reason, asserting the primacy of biblical authority over ecclesiastical decree. According to later tradition, he ended with the declaration, “Here I stand, I can do no other. God help me. Amen,” though the exact wording remains debated.

The Edict of Worms

Following private deliberations, Luther was dismissed and permitted to leave Worms under the terms of his safe conduct. On 25 May 1521, Emperor Charles V issued the Edict of Worms, which formally condemned Luther as a notorious heretic and an enemy of the state. The Edict banned Luther’s writings, prohibited their circulation, and declared that anyone could lawfully kill Luther without legal consequence.
In theory, the Edict placed Luther under an imperial ban, stripping him of all legal protection. In practice, however, it proved difficult to enforce, particularly in territories sympathetic to reform.

Luther’s Protection and Exile

After departing Worms, Luther’s safety was again threatened. To protect him, Frederick III arranged for Luther to be abducted in a staged attack and taken into hiding at Wartburg Castle. Disguised as a knight, Luther remained there from early May 1521 until March 1522.
During his time at Wartburg, Luther continued his reforming work, most notably beginning his German translation of the New Testament, which had a lasting impact on both religious practice and the development of the German language.

Theological Significance

The Diet of Worms represented a decisive moment in Christian thought. Luther’s refusal to submit to papal or imperial authority unless convinced by Scripture crystallised the Reformation principle of sola scriptura, the belief that the Bible is the ultimate authority in matters of faith. His appeal to individual conscience, guided by Scripture, challenged the hierarchical structure of the medieval Church and laid the groundwork for Protestant theology.
Luther also maintained key doctrinal positions that had developed prior to Worms, including justification by faith alone (sola fide) and the belief that salvation did not depend on good works, indulgences, or sacramental mediation by the Church, but solely on divine grace.

Political and Administrative Decisions

Beyond religious matters, the Diet of Worms addressed significant political concerns. Emperor Charles V ruled vast and geographically dispersed territories, including Spain, the Netherlands, and overseas colonies. The Diet provided an opportunity to reorganise imperial administration to manage his frequent absences.
Charles elevated his brother Ferdinand to act as Imperial Lieutenant, granting him authority over the Austrian hereditary lands and representation within Germany. These arrangements were later formalised through agreements such as the Habsburg Compact of Brussels (1522) and eventually led to Ferdinand’s election as King of the Romans in 1531. Following Charles V’s abdication in 1556, Ferdinand succeeded him as Emperor.