Germans & the Reformation

[Mart30000]

I'm researching the Reformation, and have two basic questions.

Do you know of any good sources on this historical event? It should particularly cover Germany and include the events right after the Reformation.

Naturally, everyone has biases, but preferably it should try to give the basic facts rather than just be a 100% pro-Protestant or pro-Catholic source.

How did things work out politically: Could a German prince say dictate, after the Reformation, what church you can go to? (A good source, for my first question, should cover the political angle. I'm very interested in how political power was used.)

Thank you so much for the help!

 

[roger1440]

I'm researching the Reformation, and have two basic questions.

Do you know of any good sources on this historical event? It should particularly cover Germany and include the events right after the Reformation.

Naturally, everyone has biases, but preferably it should try to give the basic facts rather than just be a 100% pro-Protestant or pro-Catholic source.

How did things work out politically: Could a German prince say dictate, after the Reformation, what church you can go to? (A good source, for my first question, should cover the political angle. I'm very interested in how political power was used.)

Thank you so much for the help!

A very good movie on the topic is "Martin Luther". It's a 1953 film.

"The National Board of Review named the film the fourth best of 1953. It was nominated for two Academy Awards, for Best Cinematography (Black-and-White) and Art Direction/Set Decoration (Fritz Maurischat, Paul Markwitz).["
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_(1953_film)

 

[Mart30000]

roger1440:

Well, I've seen the 2003 version. It wasn't bad. Which one do you think is better (if you've seen both)?

Do you (or anyone else) know of any good book references? Also, what about the use of political power after the Reformation? How much control did the different princes in Germany have over where people could go to church?

 

[Orontes]

I'm researching the Reformation, and have two basic questions.

Do you know of any good sources on this historical event? It should particularly cover Germany and include the events right after the Reformation.

Naturally, everyone has biases, but preferably it should try to give the basic facts rather than just be a 100% pro-Protestant or pro-Catholic source.

How did things work out politically: Could a German prince say dictate, after the Reformation, what church you can go to? (A good source, for my first question, should cover the political angle. I'm very interested in how political power was used.)

Thank you so much for the help!

Hello,

The best monograph treatment I know of is: The Reformation. There is also The Intellectual Origins of the European Reformation that I quite like, though it's a bit dated. The political dimension you asked about is more tied to the end of the Thirty Years War and the subsequent ways the Treaty of Westphalia (1648) was understood.

 

[roger1440]

roger1440:

Well, I've seen the 2003 version. It wasn't bad. Which one do you think is better (if you've seen both)?

Do you (or anyone else) know of any good book references? Also, what about the use of political power after the Reformation? How much control did the different princes in Germany have over where people could go to church?

The first movie is much better. Here is an except from it. Note the quote I use in my signature. I first saw this movie over 30 years ago. I been using this quote ever since. I don't follow politics. Sorry, I can't help you in that department.
[youtube]2xQsCtpcj_E[/youtube]
Martin Luther - Here I Stand, I Can Do No Other - YouTube

 

[roger1440]

roger1440:

Well, I've seen the 2003 version. It wasn't bad. Which one do you think is better (if you've seen both)?

Do you (or anyone else) know of any good book references? Also, what about the use of political power after the Reformation? How much control did the different princes in Germany have over where people could go to church?

Here is the entire movie. Enjoy.
[youtube]TEg02quz81Y[/youtube]
Martin Luther (1953) - YouTube