Diet of Nuremberg

The Diet of Nuremberg is often called the Imperial Diet at Nuremberg.

There were several of them because, according to the Golden Bull of 1356, each Holy Roman Emperor had to hold his first diet in Nuremberg after his election. There were also a number of other diets held.

1211 elected the future emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen German king.

1356 Charles IV issued his Golden Bull - regulating the election of Holy Roman Emperors.

Important to Protestantism (and the Turks) were the:

1522 - 1st Diet of Nuremberg

1524 - 2nd Diet of Nuremberg

1532 - 3rd Diet of Nuremberg

1522 Diet of Nuremberg

This Diet has become known mostly for the reaction of the papacy to the decision made on Luther at the Diet of Worms the previous year. The new pope, Adrian VI, sent his nuncio Chieregati to the Diet, to insist both that the edict of Worms be executed, and that action be taken promptly against Luther. This demand, however, was coupled with a promise of thorough reform in the Roman hierarchy, and openly admitted the partial guilt of the Vatican in the decline of the Church.

In the recess drafted on 9 February 1523, however, the German princes rejected this appeal. Using Adrian's admissions, they declared that they could not have it appear 'as though they wished to oppress evangelical truth and assist unchristian and evil abuses.'

1524 Diet of Nuremberg

This Diet generally took the same line as the previous Diet. The Estates reiterated their decision from the previous Diet. The Cardinal-legate, Campeggio, who was present, showed his disgust at the behaviour of the Estates. On 18 April, the Estates decided to call 'a general gathering of the German nation', to meet at Speyer the following year, and to decide what would be done until the meeting of the general council of the Church which they demanded.

References

• Karl Brandi, The Emperor Charles V, 1939, pp185-8