It outlawed Martin Luther and his followers, and condemned Lutheranism as a heresy. The edict was a response to Luther's refusal to recant his teachings at the Diet of Worms.
The Edict of Worms had a number of significant impacts:
- It solidified the division between Lutherans and the Roman Catholic Church. Prior to the Edict, there was still hope that the Lutheran movement could be reconciled with the Catholic Church. However, the Edict made it clear that there was no room for compromise, and that Lutherans would be considered heretics.
- It led to the formation of the Lutheran Church. In the aftermath of the Edict of Worms, Lutheran leaders began to organize their own church, separate from the Catholic Church. This led to the establishment of the Lutheran Church, which quickly became one of the largest Protestant denominations in Europe.
- It sparked the Peasants' War in Germany. The Edict of Worms caused widespread discontent among the German people, who were already suffering from economic and political problems. This discontent led to a peasant revolt, known as the Peasants' War, which lasted from 1524 to 1525.
- It contributed to the rise of Protestantism in Europe. The Edict of Worms was a major factor in the rise of Protestantism in Europe. By persecuting Luther and his followers, the Catholic Church inadvertently helped to spread their ideas, which led to the conversion of many people to Protestantism.
The Edict of Worms was a significant event in the history of the Reformation and had a lasting impact on the religious landscape of Europe.