We “know” what happened when Martin Luther wrote the 95 Theses in an effort to question the Catholic religion and specifically indulgences. Martin Luther became enraged when informed of the practices of the church to receive “gifts” in return for forgiveness of one’s sins. Martin Luther’s 95 Theses affected several aspects of history including the Protestant Reformation. However, what would have happened if Martin Luther was assassinated before putting up the 95 Theses? We will never really know how this change could have affected history but this is an idea.

Martin Luther is assassinated in 1519 and unfortunately his complaints were never put forward. One obvious aspect is that the religion Protestant might have never existed although there were many other reformers who were tired of the Catholic ways which is why his theses spread through Europe so quickly. The Catholic Church would have continued to accept indulgences to simply pay for people’s expenses and loans. Martin Luther’s reason for the 95 Theses was not to offend the Pope but to deny him the right to forgive sins. After his Theses, Catholic was reformed and therefore creating Protestant.

Johann Tetzel, a Dominican friar and papal commissioner for indulgences, was sent to Germany by Pope Leo X to sell 'indulgences' to raise money to rebuild St Peter's Basilica in Rome. He knew that the other 50% was to go to Albrecht, who had recently bought his position as archbishop of Mainz - he needed the money to pay off his loan. After collecting all the money, Johann steals it. He flees to the Dominican and donates the money to the government and industrialization. After the Pope heard of what Johann had done he had him immediately exiled. However, it was too late because the money had already been spent.

At the same time in Europe, the Pope sends another man to sell