Martin Luther is one of the most famous historical figures of all time. His posting of theses in 1517 changed the world. Another date seems much more uncertain than previously assumed.
Eisleben (dpa/sa) - A historian and Luther expert raises doubts about the previously assumed year of birth of the reformer. "We know that he was born on November 10th and was baptized with the name Martin - November 11th is the name day of Saint Martin. However, there is no evidence of the year in which the reformer was born," said Mirko Gutjahr, head of the Luther Museums in Eisleben and Mansfeld, the German Press Agency. According to a quote from Melanchthon, Luther was possibly born in Mansfeld and died in Eisleben in 1546.
When Martin Luther published his 95 theses against the papal sale of indulgences in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517, he set the Reformation in motion. According to reference works, the Augustinian monk was 33 years old on that historic day. Gutjahr said he had no doubts about the date when the theses were posted. On the other hand, when asked in which year the church reformer was born, he could not answer with certainty.
Records from that time no longer exist in Eisleben, which at that time belonged to the County of Mansfeld. They were probably destroyed by fire. Luther himself was not quite sure, even his mother Margarethe could only remember the day but not the year, according to the scientist, who refers to Philipp Melanchthon (1497 to 1560). "There is a piece of paper on which Luther's close confidant wrote down the quote about his year of birth," reports Gutjahr.
Of course, doubts did not change anything about the world-historical event set in motion by Luther, said the director of the Luther memorials in Saxony-Anhalt, Stefan Rhein. According to him, it was Melanchthon who finally "fixed" 1483 as the year of birth. The Greek professor, who dealt not only with the ancient languages but also with astronomy and astrology, created a horoscope for his friend Luther and found that the planetary constellation in the said year had been particularly favorable for the career of this extraordinary personality.
