Luther, MARTIN

1483–1546. Initiator of the Protestant Reformation, and its leader in Germany; son of a miner at Eisleben and Mansfeld; sent to school at Magdeburg and Eisenach; patronized by Frau Cotta; educated at Erfurt 1501-5; August in i an monk there 1505-8; priest 1507; prof. at Wittenberg 1508. He spent some weeks in Rome 1511; attacked indul gences, as preached and sold by Tetzel, and nailed his famous 95 theses to the ch. door Oct. 31, 1517; was cited to Rome, but protected by the Elector of Saxony; disputed with Cajetan and Eck 1519; was excommunicated by a papal bull, which he pub1521, under an imperial safe conduct, and maintained his pos i