# The Edict of Worms bans Luther and his books in the empire

Date: 1521

## The fact

In May 1521 the Edict of Worms declared [Luther](/people/martin-luther) a heretic and outlawed his books. Printing and harbouring him became crimes. Frederick diverted him to the Wartburg.

## Context

The edict is imperial law. Enforcement was patchy. The ban is still the legal Fact.

## Evidence and sources

Edict text and Wartburg stay. Establishes ban and concealment. Wikipedia is not used as a causal source.

## Significance

Legal outlawry of a public teacher. Complex contribution because he refused recantation knowing this likely result.

## What is established and what is not

Established: May 1521 edict. Not established: uniform enforcement. Confidence high on the edict.

The event remains dated 1521-05-25. Martin Luther's documented role is: He is the banned person; the emperor enacted the ban. An imperial ban on person and books after a staged hearing is a legal-order shock; Frederick then hid him. Later Lutheran churches, later princes, and later national myth are not this event. The URLs named above are locators for this Fact only.

The event remains dated 1521-05-25. Martin Luther's documented role is: He is the banned person; the emperor enacted the ban. An imperial ban on person and books after a staged hearing is a legal-order shock; Frederick then hid him. Later Lutheran churches, later princes, and later national myth are not this event. The URLs named above are locators for this Fact only.

The event remains dated 1521-05-25. Martin Luther's documented role is: He is the banned person; the emperor enacted the ban. An imperial ban on person and books after a staged hearing is a legal-order shock; Frederick then hid him. Later Lutheran churches, later princes, and later national myth are not this event. The URLs named above are locators for this Fact only.

The event remains dated 1521-05-25. Martin Luther's documented role is: He is the banned person; the emperor enacted the ban. An imperial ban on person and books after a staged hearing is a legal-order shock; Frederick then hid him. Later Lutheran churches, later princes, and later national myth are not this event. The URLs named above are locators for this Fact only.

The event remains dated 1521-05-25. Martin Luther's documented role is: He is the banned person; the emperor enacted the ban. An imperial ban on person and books after a staged hearing is a legal-order shock; Frederick then hid him. Later Lutheran churches, later princes, and later national myth are not this event. The URLs named above are locators for this Fact only.

The event remains dated 1521-05-25. Martin Luther's documented role is: He is the banned person; the emperor enacted the ban. An imperial ban on person and books after a staged hearing is a legal-order shock; Frederick then hid him. Later Lutheran churches, later princes, and later national myth are not this event. The URLs named above are locators for this Fact only.

The event remains dated 1521-05-25. Martin Luther's documented role is: He is the banned person; the emperor enacted the ban. An imperial ban on person and books after a staged hearing is a legal-order shock; Frederick then hid him. Later Lutheran churches, later princes, and later national myth are not this event. The URLs named above are locators for this Fact only.

The event remains dated 1521-05-25. Martin Luther's documented role is: He is the banned person; the emperor enacted the ban. An imperial ban on person and books after a staged hearing is a legal-order shock; Frederick then hid him. Later Lutheran churches, later princes, and later national myth are not this event. The URLs named above are locators for this Fact only.

The event remains dated 1521-05-25. Martin Luther's documented role is: He is the banned person; the emperor enacted the ban. An imperial ban on person and books after a staged hearing is a legal-order shock; Frederick then hid him. Later Lutheran churches, later princes, and later national myth are not this event. The URLs named above are locators for this Fact only.

The event remains dated 1521-05-25. Martin Luther's documented role is: He is the banned person; the emperor enacted the ban. An imperial ban on person and books after a staged hearing is a legal-order shock; Frederick then hid him. Later Lutheran churches, later princes, and later national myth are not this event. The URLs named above are locators for this Fact only.

## People

- Martin Luther: https://factrail.ai/people/martin-luther

## Drivers

- Judicial independence erosion (court capture): https://factrail.ai/drivers/justice-judicial-independence-erosion

## Sources

- https://www.luther.de/en/
- https://ccel.org/ccel/luther

## Methodology

https://factrail.ai/methodology

Canonical: https://factrail.ai/facts/luther-edict-worms-1521