Background
Luther’s reform hinged on politics at the time. Charles I was elected Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor in 1519. He ruled over many territories including Spain, the Austrian Habsburg lands, Bohemia, Hungary, the Low Countries, and Naples in South Italy. He aimed to keep the Roman Catholic Church a priority. He was not very successful at achieving his goals, however, as a result of the French, the papacy, the Turks, and the internal situation of Germany. Because he was having so many problems, Luther was able to take advantage of it and grew his movement.
The French and the Papacy
Charles V had a rival in the French king Francis I. The two kings fought over the Habsburg empire, and especially over the territories of southern France, the Netherlands, the Rhineland, northern Spain, and Italy. This went on for 24 years, and was named the Habsburg-Valois Wars, starting in 1521 and going until 1544. Because Charles V spent so much time focusing on these matters, he could barely pay attention to Luther in Germany.
Charles also faced other problems. He was hoping that the Pope would cooperate with him on the Luther controversy, but since the Pope was controlled by the political world and not the religious one at the time, Pope Clement VII decided to takes sides with Francis I during the second Habsburg Valois War which lasted from 1527-1529. Charles V and his Spanish army furiously sacked the city of Rome in April of 1527. The Pope felt threatened, and realized his need for peace with Charles V, so he made an agreement, and Charles V was ruler over the majority of Italy by 1530.
Charles also faced other problems. He was hoping that the Pope would cooperate with him on the Luther controversy, but since the Pope was controlled by the political world and not the religious one at the time, Pope Clement VII decided to takes sides with Francis I during the second Habsburg Valois War which lasted from 1527-1529. Charles V and his Spanish army furiously sacked the city of Rome in April of 1527. The Pope felt threatened, and realized his need for peace with Charles V, so he made an agreement, and Charles V was ruler over the majority of Italy by 1530.
The Ottoman Empire
While this was happening, the Ottoman Turks posed a threat to Charles V from the east. They had taken over Constantinople and quite a bit of the Balkans. Once the beginning of the 16th century came around, they also were in control of the North African coast and the island of Rhodes. They also went on under Suleiman the Magnificent to defeat King Louis of Hungary at the Battle of Mohács in 1526. From there they kept marching into Austria and to Vienna, where they were stood up in 1529.
Politics in Germany
Charles finally was ready to face Germany in 1529. He did have a large task before him, because Germany consisted of hundreds of territories. Even though these territories were all subject to the emperor, they often were independent. They didn’t want an all powerful king ruling over them. Charles attempted to solve the Lutheran problem at the Diet of Augsburg in 1530, but to no avail. Charles then issued the deadline of April 15, 1531 for all of the Lutherans to return to the Catholic Church. There were 8 princes and 11 imperial cities who decided to defy Charles’ wish, and so they formed the Schmalkaldic League. The people of this league took a vow to protect each other under any circumstances, and to defend the Word of God. The creation of this league meant the division among two parties in Germany.
Charles was not able to follow through with his threat, however, because the Turks posed a threat to Vienna, so he turned his attention there. In the years of 1532-1535, all Charles was able to do was to defend against the Ottomans, Arabs, and Barbarians on the Mediterranean coasts. Then ensued another couple of Habsburg-Valois Wars which meant Charles had to focus on his military in France and the Low Countries. He was relieved at last when he could come to terms of peace with Francis in 1544, and the Turks in 1545. It was now 15 years after the Diet of Augsburg, and Charles V could finally work on the Protestants in Germany.
Charles knew however, that since Luther died in February of 1546, there was no way he could compromise now. He then decided to take military action against the Schmalkaldic League with his army of Germans, Dutch, Italians, and Spaniards in the Schmalkaldic Wars, lasting from 1546-1547. Charles got a break and overcame the Lutherans at the Battle of Mühlberg. A short time after that, however, the Schmalkaldic League got back up on its feet and was able to find a friend in Henry II, the French king, who was a Catholic at that time. This was the end of Charles V, who was too tired from trying to maintain Catholic orthodoxy, as well as defending his empire. He decided to give the throne to his brother, Ferdinand, in 1556, and he went to his estate in Spain where he died 2 years later.
In 1555, the Peace of Aubsburg was made official, and the religious world was finally at rest. It stated that Lutheranism was a new division of Christianity, and that Lutherans had the same value as Catholics. Also announced was the right of the ruler of Germany to determine what religion his subjects should follow. After many years, the idea of a united Christendom had completely been lost, and was replaced by a divide among Christians, the traditional Catholics, and the Protestants.
Charles was not able to follow through with his threat, however, because the Turks posed a threat to Vienna, so he turned his attention there. In the years of 1532-1535, all Charles was able to do was to defend against the Ottomans, Arabs, and Barbarians on the Mediterranean coasts. Then ensued another couple of Habsburg-Valois Wars which meant Charles had to focus on his military in France and the Low Countries. He was relieved at last when he could come to terms of peace with Francis in 1544, and the Turks in 1545. It was now 15 years after the Diet of Augsburg, and Charles V could finally work on the Protestants in Germany.
Charles knew however, that since Luther died in February of 1546, there was no way he could compromise now. He then decided to take military action against the Schmalkaldic League with his army of Germans, Dutch, Italians, and Spaniards in the Schmalkaldic Wars, lasting from 1546-1547. Charles got a break and overcame the Lutherans at the Battle of Mühlberg. A short time after that, however, the Schmalkaldic League got back up on its feet and was able to find a friend in Henry II, the French king, who was a Catholic at that time. This was the end of Charles V, who was too tired from trying to maintain Catholic orthodoxy, as well as defending his empire. He decided to give the throne to his brother, Ferdinand, in 1556, and he went to his estate in Spain where he died 2 years later.
In 1555, the Peace of Aubsburg was made official, and the religious world was finally at rest. It stated that Lutheranism was a new division of Christianity, and that Lutherans had the same value as Catholics. Also announced was the right of the ruler of Germany to determine what religion his subjects should follow. After many years, the idea of a united Christendom had completely been lost, and was replaced by a divide among Christians, the traditional Catholics, and the Protestants.