# Ninety-five Theses (1517)

URL: https://germany-history.com/timeline/1517-ninety-five-theses
Location: Wittenberg
Categories: main-event

On 31 October 1517 Martin Luther sent his Ninety-five Theses against the sale of indulgences to the Archbishop of Mainz. According to tradition he nailed them to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. Printed copies spread across Germany within weeks.

## Why it matters
It launched the Protestant Reformation, which split Western Christianity.

Ruler at the time: [Maximilian I](https://germany-history.com/rulers/maximilian-i)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia – Ninety-five Theses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninety-five_Theses)
- [Wikipedia – Martin Luther](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica – Ninety-five Theses](https://www.britannica.com/event/Ninety-five-Theses)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica – Martin Luther](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Martin-Luther)