Edict of Worms

The Edict of Worms, issued in 1521 by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, was a formal decree declaring Martin Luther an outlaw and heretic. Luther had challenged church doctrines and practices, sparking the Protestant Reformation. The edict prohibited his writings, banned his teachings, and mandated his arrest, making it illegal to support or spread his ideas within the empire. It marked a significant moment in religious history, solidifying the division between the Catholic Church and emerging Protestant movements.