Earl_of_Somerset
Banned
i think luther could have one, since he didn't support taxing the nobility through the church. He would be elected just so they could save money
I'd lean towards #2, defined as Pope Martin Luther is part of something that isn't just about specifically "what if Luther was Pope?" but is part of how the changes that make him Pope also mean changes that add up to differences elsewhere in Europe (as well as the changes FROM Pope Martin making things different than OTL).
A Europe where Luther becomes Pope is a Europe which may see very different elements through out the whole of "Christendom" rising vs. OTL, not simply enough reformist cardinals.
I'm lost as to what Christian Europe looks like without a successful split of the religion, AND with a reformist Pope as a shining example.
As I suggested earlier, make the PoD the Papal Conclave of 1492. As Martin is a child around this time, you can make subtle adjustments to his personality without totally losing who he was OTL. You lose Alexander VI, Julius II and some of the other corrupt Popes which makes reform easier.
+1000000If Luther not only doesn't split off but also become pope, there's a real chance more radical folks like Calvin could still split.
+1000000
Making Luther Pope is not that difficult - all you need is the HRE to be the dominant force in Papal politics rather than the Italians. Then Luther convinces the Emperor that a church working with the secular authorities is a better bet than a church set above them.
The problem is that for Luther to win, devout old style catholics must lose and he would still face the pre-determinism debate with Calvin et al.
Short of a Lutheran inquisition which would make the Thirty Years War look like a minor skirmish I can't see schism in the faith being avoided
I've been wondering what the effect of Emperor Philip I (Charles V's father, who by predeceasing his father Maximilian I did not become emperor) would be on the Reformation, and it looks like with his humanistic bent Luther could likely be closer to the church hierarchy and gain Imperial support rather than a cold shoulder.
Making Luther Pope is not that difficult - all you need is the HRE to be the dominant force in Papal politics rather than the Italians. Then Luther convinces the Emperor that a church working with the secular authorities is a better bet than a church set above them.
Personally, I am always a bit leery of equating humanistic with Catholic. Were the patrons of the Italian renaissance crypto-protestants?
Personally, I am always a bit leery of equating humanistic with Catholic. Were the patrons of the Italian renaissance crypto-protestants?
Of course, the Empire had this issue in the past; the investiture controversy. I'm not sure how Luther would feel about reviving it.![]()