Martin Luther's childhood and youth


Martin Luther (born as Martin Luder, later he called himself Luther) was born on November 10, 1483 into an extremely tense world. Great changes were waiting around the corner, and Luther, too, would take his part in these changes.

Luther's father, a farmer's son, moved from Eisleben to Mansfeld shortly after Luther's birth in 1484 to try to better the family's financial situation by mining copper. He was successful and already in 1491 the Luder's were one of the most respected families in Mansfeld.
Luther's mother, Margarete Luder, had many children to look after and was a harsh disciplinarian. Martin attended the Latin school (Lateinschule) in Mansfeld where barbaric teaching methods of the Middle Ages still reigned. Luther had been described as a quiet, reserved yet talented student who was intimidated by the strict order. In 1497, Luther went to Magdeburg where he attended the school 'Brother's for living together (a bording school; Bruder fuer Gemeinsamen Leben)' and then in 1498 went to Eisenach and lived with relatives. He was edcuated at the town's parish school in Eisenach.