History: Edict of Worms

1520

In response to Martin Luther's strong condemnation of church doctrine, Holy Roman Emperor Charles~V, 1519- 1556 convened a meeting to force Luther to recant his heretical stance. Undaunted, Luther stood fast, and proclaimed that [paraphrase] he had arrived at his beliefs based on the word of God, and only the word of God would dissuade him. The Emperor, not being one to withstand such a rebuff, quickly issued the Edict of Worms, making Luther an outlaw and required Luther to be captured and his works to be burned.