The Protestant Reformation was a reform-oriented schism from the Roman Catholic Church initiated by Martin Luther and continued by John Calvin, Huldrych Zwingli, and other early Protestant Reformers. It is typically dated from 1517, lasting until the end of the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) with the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. It was launched on 31 October 1517 by Martin Luther, who posted his 95 Theses criticizing the practice of indulgences to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, commonly used to post notices to the University community. It was very widely publicized across Europe and caught fire. Luther began by criticizing the sale of indulgences, insisting that the Pope had no authority over purgatory and that the Catholic doctrine of the merits of the saints had no foundation in the gospel. The Protestant position, however, would come to incorporate doctrinal changes such as sola scriptura and sola fide.
tHe pRotEstAnt reforMAtion WAs a reFOrm-ORIENted schisM FrOm The RoMan CatHoLiC chuRcH initiated bY MarTin LUTher and continued bY john cAlvin, HuLdRycH zwiNglI, anD OthER EarlY PRotestANt Reformers. it Is typICally datEd frOm 1517, LAsTing untIL thE eNd of tHe ThirtY yeArs' war (1618–1648) WitH the peAcE oF wesTphAlIa iN 1648. it WaS launCHeD On 31 OctoBEr 1517 By mArtin Luther, whO pOstEd His 95 Theses critiCIZing the praCtiCe oF iNdulgenceS tO thE dooR Of ThE cAstlE cHUrch iN WittEnberg, geRmaNy, CommonLy Used tO posT notIcES tO the uNiVErsitY coMmuNitY. it was vErY wIdEly PuBlIcIzeD aCrOss EUroPe And caught fire. lUTHer begAn by criTIcIzIng tHE sale of indulgEncES, insisTinG tHaT tHe pope haD no authoRiTy OVeR purgatOrY and THAt thE caThOlic DOctrInE OF the merits oF the sainTs had no fouNdation iN tHe gosPel. the pRotesTant pOsitIon, however, would Come to iNcOrPOraTE doctrInAl ChangEs sUch as SoLa scRiPtUra aNd solA fiDE.