Changes

[[File:Martin Luther by Cranach-restoration.jpg|thumb|250px|Martin Luther in 1529, painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder]]

[[File:Martin Luther by Cranach-restoration.jpg|thumb|250px|Martin Luther in 1529, painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder]]

'''Martin Luther''' (November 10, 1483 - February 18, 1546)  was one of the most important leaders in [[Christian]] and [[Germany|German]] history. An Augustinian monk, priest, and professor of theology, he unintentionally launched the [[Protestantism|Protestant Reformation]] and founded the [[Lutheranism|Lutheran Church]].

'''Martin Luther''' (November 10, 1483 - February 18, 1546)  was one of the most important leaders in [[Christian]] and [[Germany|German]] history. An Augustinian monk, priest, and professor of theology, he unintentionally launched the [[Protestantism|Protestant Reformation]] and founded the [[Lutheranism|Lutheran Church]]. Today the largest [[Protestant]] school system in the [[U.S.]] is [[Lutheran]], having 130 high schools and roughly 2,400 schools at other levels.<ref>https://lsaschool.com/enroll/why-lutheran-education#:~:text=The%20Lutheran%20School%20system%20is,high%20schools%20across%20the%20nation.</ref>

Luther was the first to break [[Roman Catholic]] unity on a large scale, ignoring the Great Schism. He was excommunicated for the [[95 Theses]] he had written in 1517 as a direct challenge to Church  practice. Furthermore, he had the backing of several German princes who resented the Italian domination of the Church.

Luther was the first to break [[Roman Catholic]] unity on a large scale, ignoring the Great Schism. He was excommunicated for the [[95 Theses]] he had written in 1517 as a direct challenge to Church  practice. Furthermore, he had the backing of several German princes who resented the Italian domination of the Church.