Augustinian monk Marthin Luther spearheaded protests in the Holy Roman Empire against abuses in the Catholic church, where often aristocratic prelates behaved like princes rather then pastors. His 'back to the Bible' reasoning became opportune for many princes opposing the autocratic aspirations of Habsurg king of Spain Charles, elected Roman Emperor, who got Luther condemned in the Diet, but the Saxon elector, who remained Catholic, offered him sanctuary. Luther sides with the princes against the great peasant rising, translated the Bible into German and escaped execution. After the Augustianian Confession, his moderate proposal to maintain theological unity despite dismembering the church was rejected by emperor as well as pope, he radicalized, proclaimed celibacy abolished and lived as landed housemother. His legacy was manifold, besides splitting the church also politically and culturally, in some ways foreboding the present federal Germany, but also started centuries of religious wars and persecution.