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Religious and political movement in
16th-century Europe to reform the Roman
Catholic Church, and leading to the
establishment of Protestant Churches.
Anticipated from the 12th century by the
Waldenses, Lollards, and Hussites, it became
effective in the 16th century when the
absolute monarchies gave it support by
challenging the political power of the papacy
and confiscating church wealth. 1517 The
German priest Luther's protest against the
sale of indulgences began the Reformation in
Europe. 1519 Zwingli led the Reformation in
Switzerland. 1529 The term `Protestant' was
first used. 1533 Henry VIII renounced papal
supremacy and proclaimed himself head of the
Church of England. 1541 The French theologian
Calvin established Presbyterianism in Geneva,
Switzerland. 1559 The Protestant John Knox
returned from exile to found the Church of
Scotland. 1545-1563 The Counter-Reformation
was initiated by the Roman Catholic Church at
the Council of Trent. It aimed at reforming
abuses and regaining the lost ground by using
moral persuasion and extending the Spanish
Inquisition to other countries. By 1648, at
the end of the Thirty Years' War, the present
European alignment had been reached, with the
separation of Catholic and Protestant
churches.