What is the Edict of Worms?

• A. A decree condemning Luther as a notorious heretic.
• B. A decree exonerating Luther.
• C. An agreement between princes.
• D. A treaty ending the Reformation.

Answer: (A)

The Edict of Worms is a decree issued by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at the Diet of Worms in 1521. It declared Martin Luther an outlaw and a notorious heretic and ordered that his writings be banned, burned, and that no one in the empire could shelter or assist him. When Luther refused to recant, the edict formalized his status as an enemy of the state and the church. This makes it a condemnation of Luther, not an exoneration, an agreement among princes, or a treaty ending the Reformation. In practice, enforcement varied because some princes protected Luther, allowing his ideas to spread despite the decree.