The Diet of Speyer is convened in…
March 1529 CE
The Diet of Speyer is convened in March 1529, for action against the Turks, whose armies are pressing forward in Hungary, and will besiege Vienna later in the year, and against the further progress of Protestantism.
The Diet opens on March 15.
The Catholic dignitaries appear in full force, as do various princes and representatives of imperial cities who are leaning towards Luther and Zwingli's reforms.
Ascendant Roman Catholic forces, particularly given Charles V's recent successes against the French in Italy, aim to reverse the policy of religious tolerance adopted in 1526.
The meeting is not attended by Charles.
He sends instructions to his regent, Ferdinand, to pursue a conciliatory line, but his advice does not reach his brother in time.
Ferdinand instead, reads out his own far less conciliatory suggestions in Charles's name at the start of the Diet.
He condemns the way many princes had interpreted the recess issued in 1526 at Speyer.
He specifically denies them the right to choose which religious reforms will take effect in their states, and orders that Catholicism be followed in all states of the Holy Roman Empire.
The Protestants feel that "Christ was again in the hands of Caiaphas and Pilate."
The resultant recess of the Diet neutralizes the recess of the preceding Diet of 1526; it virtually condemns (without, however, annulling) the innovations made; and it forbids, on pain of the imperial ban, any further reformation until the meeting of the council, which is now positively promised for the next year by the Emperor and the Pope.
The Edict of Worms is therefore to be enforced after all, without waiting for a General Council.
The Zwinglians and Anabaptists are excluded even from toleration.
The latter are to be punished by death.
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