Charles Beard: Martin Luther and the Reformation: Ch.10-Diet of Worms, 4...

The Diet of Worms, 406-415. THE DIET WAS A BIG, BIG DEAL, NOT JUST THEOLOGICALLY., ALTHOUGH IT WAS THAT TOO. Beard spends a significant amount of time on the political situation leading up to, shaping and informing the Diet of Worms in 1521. It was the first Diet for Charles V. The Reichsregiment was a Supreme Court to adjudicate (and regionalize) judicial power from lower tribune. Charles wanted money for an escort to Rome for enthronement but Germans were unwilling to cough it up. Spain had internal turmoils with requests for Charles V to return. Francis 1, a competitor for the Empire, was Charles V’s peril, each arguing that they were the just heirs of the preponderance of Europe. Charles V added Austria, Burgundy, other kingdoms in Spain and also Naples. Diplomatic intrigues festered with varied Papal interventions through Alexander VI, Julian 2, Adrian and Leo’s times. Charles V had no time for doctrinal or disciplinary reforms being young and unread as a youth and he had no time for Luther. The Diet concluded 8 May 1521 and Luther’s condemnation was antedated to the same day. Charles was crowned at Aachen, btw. Early months: Elector of Saxon, 6 Jan 1521; Duke Henry of Brunswick, 7 Jan; Elector Palatine, 8 Jan; Philip of Hesse 22 Jan with 6oo horsemen; Elector of Brandenburg 7 Feb; English and French ambassadors were there as well as Papal nuncios, Carcciolo and Aleander; representatives of Hungary, Poland, Venice and Mantua. Prices, accommodations, supply and demand put a severe strain on Worms.