Martin Luther (1483-1546), German theologian and founder of the Protestant Reformation. Luther was born at Eisleben. Initially trained in law, in 1505 he entered the monastery at Erfurt and dedicated himself to the monastic life. He left in 1507 to continue his theologial studies and in 1512 he joined the faculty at the University of Wittenberg. In 1517 he wrote to his Archbishop protesting the sale of indulgences by the papacy, the remission of punishment for a sin through giving money to the church. Luther condensed his objections into his 95 Theses which he posted on the door of the church at Wittenberg. This act is seen as the start of the Protestant Reformation. Luther was excommunicated in 1520 and declared an outlaw at the Diet of Worms in 1521. Luther translated the Bible into German and his hymns inspired the development of singing in churches.