1510
- Growing dissent arises in Switzerland over mercenary service, led by voices like Zwingli in Glarus
- The Swiss Confederation is fractured — spiritually restless, politically unstable, and poised for radical change
- Ulrich Zwingli serves as pastor in Glarus, where he begins criticizing Swiss mercenary service
- Zwingli immerses himself in Greek, Hebrew, and classical authors, aligning with the values of Christian humanism
- Zwingli begins a correspondence with Erasmus, whose reform-minded scholarship would heavily influence him
1511
- Pope Julius II excommunicates King Louis XII of France for invading the Papal States
- In defiance, French bishops convene the **Council of Pisa**, a failed attempt to challenge papal authority — revealing deep fractures in the late medieval Church
- These cracks will widen in the coming decades, as humanism and dissatisfaction with Rome begin to stir within France
- Italy: Pope Julius II wages wars and plans the Fifth Lateran Council
- Spain: Cardinal Ximénez promotes Bible scholarship and monastic reform
- England: Thomas More and John Colet preach reform through learning
- Martin Luther is transferred to Wittenberg, where he begins teaching theology at the university
- Luther’s early lectures on the Psalms and Romans mark the beginning of a transformation that will spark the Reformation just six years later
- In Glarus, Ulrich Zwingli begins publicly preaching against Swiss mercenary service, challenging the political and moral compromise of his canton
- Meanwhile in Basel, Johann Froben’s printing house expands its reach — preparing to become the Reformation’s printing engine just a few years later
- Across the Swiss Confederation, tension grows over foreign influence, papal bribes, and the corruption of Church-backed warfare
- Poland: At the University of Kraków (Jagiellonian – Copernicus and I both attended classes here, ha true story!), humanist scholars begin teaching Scripture and the Church Fathers in the spirit of Erasmus
- Under King Sigismund I, Poland remains Catholic — but open, educated, and unusually tolerant compared to the rest of Europe
1512
- The Fifth Lateran Council opens in Rome — called to reform the Church, but ultimately ineffective and too late
- In Germany, Martin Luther is awarded his Doctor of Theology degree in Wittenberg and begins lecturing on Romans — laying the groundwork for his doctrine of justification by faith.
- In Switzerland, Ulrich Zwingli begins preaching in Einsiedeln, sharpening his opposition to indulgences and his call for scriptural reform
- In Basel, Johann Froben is printing the works of Augustine and Jerome — nourishing the theological roots of the Reformation
- In Heidelberg, Martin Bucer, a Dominican priest and rising scholar, is ordained and begins deep study of Augustine, Erasmus, and the Greek New Testament
- In Basel, Johannes Oecolampadius preaches at the cathedral and assists in publishing Greek editions of the Church Fathers with Johann Froben.
1513
- Giovanni de’ Medici (Leo X) becomes pope; known for extravagance and corruption. His papacy later provokes Luther’s protest
- Fifth Lateran Council continues – Ineffective Catholic reform council. Highlights the institutional failure to self-correct before the Reformation
- Luther begins Psalms lectures – Luther starts teaching Psalms at the university. Marks beginning of his theological transformation, culminating in sola fide
- John Colet’s reform preaching (London) Colet, Dean of St. Paul’s, continues to call for Church reform through Scripture and moral revival. Influences Erasmus and English reformers
- Erasmus prepares Greek New Testament (Basel) – Erasmus intensifies work on his 1516 NT. Promotes ad fontes humanism and scriptural clarity. Crucial to later Reformers
- Zwingli serves as Swiss army chaplain (Italy and Switzerland) – Zwingli accompanies Swiss mercenaries in Italian wars. Gains firsthand view of Church-state corruption
- Battle of the Spurs (France) – English forces defeat French. Boosts English nationalism, indirectly setting tone for future English Reformation
- Battle of Flodden – death of James IV (England) – Scottish king killed in battle. His death destabilizes Scotland, paving the way for later Protestant reforms under Knox
1514
- Fifth Lateran Council continues – The council, still under Pope Leo X, issues more decrees urging reform, including warnings against poor preaching—but with little enforcement. It illustrates Rome’s failure to enact meaningful change.
- Luther lectures on Romans – Luther transitions from Psalms to Romans in his university lectures. These lectures are central to his discovery of justification by faith—what he would later call his “breakthrough.”
- Erasmus’s Praise of Folly spreads – Though published in 1511, Erasmus’s satirical critique of Church corruption gains popularity by 1514, stirring public awareness and sympathy for reform
- Zwingli appointed preacher at Einsiedeln Abbey – Zwingli moves to the Marian pilgrimage center of Einsiedeln, where he sharpens his biblical preaching and begins criticizing indulgences—two years before Luther does so publicly.
- Printing of vernacular religious texts increases – Early unauthorized German-language religious tracts and paraphrases are being distributed more widely, laying the groundwork for the explosive publishing boom of the Reformation
- Political calm under Francis I’s regency – The French monarchy, under Queen Louise of Savoy as regent for Francis I, invests in humanist education. Reform-minded thinkers like Lefèvre d’Étaples gain influence at court
- Death of Anne of Brittany – Wife of Louis XII dies, weakening political alliances between Brittany and France. This shifts French court dynamics, which would soon influence religious policy under Francis I
1515
- Francis I becomes King of France – Succeeds Louis XII. Francis is a Renaissance monarch who supports humanism and reform-minded scholars like Lefèvre d’Étaples. His reign has a mixed impact on Reformation movements in France.
- Concordat of Bologna – Agreement between Pope Leo X and Francis I. Gives the French king control over Church appointments while affirming papal authority. It delays Protestant reform in France by tying Church and monarchy closely together
- Martin Luther begins his lectures on Galatians, developing key themes of justification by faith, law and gospel, and Christian liberty. These ideas become central to Protestant theology
- Zwingli influenced by Erasmus (Einsiedeln) Zwingli receives a personal copy of Erasmus’s Greek New Testament manuscript. He begins studying it intensely and increasingly preaches from the Greek text rather than the Vulgate
- Battle of Marignano (Northern Italy) – French forces defeat the Swiss Confederates. Zwingli, who had been a Swiss army chaplain, turns sharply against Swiss mercenary service—this becomes a major theme of his later reforms.
- Printing presses flourish across German-speaking lands (which includes Switzerland) – Surge in pamphlet and theological tract printing—many humanist and proto-Reform voices begin circulating ideas more rapidly. The infrastructure for Luther’s later 95 Theses is now in place.
1516
- Erasmus releases the first printed edition of the Greek New Testament in Basel, alongside his own Latin translation.
- Charles becomes king at age 16. His later role as Holy Roman Emperor will shape the Reformation’s political landscape, especially in Luther’s case
- Lefèvre d’Étaples publishes his French New Testament commentary
- Ulrich Zwingli begins preaching at the Benedictine abbey in Einsiedeln
- Zwingli is influenced by Erasmus’s newly published Greek New Testament, he emphasizes the authority of Scripture over Church tradition.
- Zwingli begins preaching **against indulgences**, laying the groundwork for reform in Zurich
- Zwingli rejects the sale of indulgences being promoted in Switzerland, particularly those sold by the preacher Samson, a Franciscan friar active in nearby regions. Zwingli confronts him publicly.
- Zwingli’s preaching attracts pilgrims at the Einsiedeln abbey, not for relics or miracles, but for the power of biblical exposition—a major shift in focus from medieval piety
- Bucer joins the Dominican order in Heidelberg, continuing his studies in Thomistic philosophy and scholastic theology. At this point, he is still firmly within the Roman Catholic Church
1517
- Martin Luther posts the 95 Theses on the church door at Wittenberg.
“Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light…”
1519
- Martin Luther debated Johann Eck in Leipzig.
This was a major turning point where Luther publicly challenged papal authority — not just indulgences.
1521
- Luther defends his writings before the emperor at the Diet of Worms.
“Here I stand. I can do no other.”
