Martin Luther Becomes Pope

[NapoleonXIV]

In 1517 Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Cathedral in Wittenberg. The Pope, Leo X, hardly noticed. His continuation of the abuses which aroused Luther's ire is seen by most as one of the many precipitating causes of the Protestant Reformation.

Let us say, however, that Luther's righteousness (which did not suggest a break until later) strikes a chord in the hedonistic pontiff who once said the papacy was to be enjoyed. He rises from his throne to order the immediate burning of this upstart heretic, turns purple with rage, and dies.

Somewhat upset, the College of Cardinals goes through the same process they did in OTL some years early and elects the reformer, Adrian. Surprised and chagrined by the sullen resistance his austerity measures meet this new Church leader decides he must meet the cause of all this upset. Luther is summoned to Rome and obeys, within a week he is the newest Cardinal and the "Pontiff's Bulldog."

Over the next year his zeal for reform sweeps the Church, hundreds, even thousands of years of corruption are washed away and hundreds of Bishops and Cardinals go with it. Two years later, when Adrian dies, a new group is solidly ensconced in Rome and the next Pope is a foregone conclusion. Martin Luther becomes Pope Adrian VII.

Would the world then develop differently than it has? How?

[DuQuense]

No Schism, No Thirty Years War. No Rise of Nationism in the early 1600's. When it finally arises in the 1700's The Shape Borders] of Nations is different.

[edvader]

I wrote this before the site went down. Kingsley Amis wrote THE ALTERATION in whih it happens. NO cultural or scientific advances. No St. Peter's Basilica or Sistine Chapel-there goes Michaelangelo-including the Pieta. BTW there is an amusing scene at the beginning with two Cardinals-Heinrich and Lavrenty enjoying the castrati choir. Last names-Himmler and Beria-probably members of Secret groups.

[Faeelin]

Originally Posted by DuQuense

No Schism, No Thirty Years War. No Rise of Nationism in the early 1600's. When it finally arises in the 1700's The Shape Borders] of Nations is different.

Nationalism existed by 1500 in France, England, and the Spanish states.

I'd also argue that nationalism is a myth, but hey.