Protestantism

===Pre-Reformation===
{{See also|Proto-Protestantism|Girolamo Savonarola}}
[[File:lollardmap.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Spread of [[Lollardy]] in [[Medieval England]] and [[Medieval Scotland]]]]
[[File:Muttich, Kamil Vladislav - Mistr Jan Hus na hranici v Kostnici 1415.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|The execution of [[Jan Hus]] in 1415]]
[[File:Girolamo-Savonarola----w.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Girolamo Savonarola]]]]
[[File:Portret van Johan Wessel Gansfort, RP-P-1906-1520.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Wessel Gansfort]]]]
One of the earliest persons to be praised as a Protestant forerunner is [[Jovinian]], who lived in the fourth century AD. He attacked [[monasticism]], [[Asceticism|ascetism]] and believed that a saved believer can never be overcome by Satan.<ref>{{cite web|title=Philip Schaff: History of the Christian Church, Volume III: Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity. A.D. 311–600 – Christian Classics Ethereal Library|url=https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/hcc3.iii.vii.xix.html|access-date=2021-12-21|website=www.ccel.org|archive-date=21 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221094001/https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/hcc3.iii.vii.xix.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the 9th century, the theologian [[Gottschalk of Orbais]] was condemned for heresy by the Catholic Church. Gottschalk believed that the salvation of Jesus was limited and that his redemption was only for the elect.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gottschalk Of Orbais {{!}} Roman Catholic theologian {{!}} Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gottschalk-of-Orbais|access-date=2021-12-13|website=www.britannica.com|language=en|archive-date=21 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121161752/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gottschalk-of-Orbais|url-status=live}}</ref> The theology of Gottschalk anticipated the Protestant reformation.<ref>{{cite web|last=caryslmbrown|date=2017-07-18|title=Reformation parallels: the case of Gottschalk of Orbais|url=https://doinghistoryinpublic.org/2017/07/18/reformation-parallels-the-case-of-gottschalk-of-orbais/|access-date=2021-10-27|website=Doing History in Public|language=en|archive-date=28 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028215011/https://doinghistoryinpublic.org/2017/07/18/reformation-parallels-the-case-of-gottschalk-of-orbais/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Lockridge|first=Kenneth R.|title=Gottschalk "Fulgentius" of Orbais|url=https://www.academia.edu/11213309|access-date=13 December 2021|archive-date=14 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114133600/https://www.academia.edu/11213309|url-status=live}}</ref>{{self-published inline|date=August 2023}} [[Ratramnus]] also defended the theology of Gottschalk and denied the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist; his writings also influenced the later Protestant reformation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ratramnus {{!}} Benedictine theologian {{!}} Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ratramnus|access-date=2021-12-14|website=www.britannica.com|language=en|archive-date=21 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121090330/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ratramnus|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Claudius of Turin]] in the 9th century also held Protestant ideas, such as [[Sola fide|faith alone]] and rejection of the supremacy of Peter.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Milner|first=Joseph|title=The History of the Church of Christ Volume 3|quote=A comment on the epistle to the Galatians, is his only work which was committed to the press. In it he every where asserts the equality of all the apostles with St. Peter. And, indeed, he always owns Jesus Christ to be the only proper head of the church. He is severe against the doctrine of human merits, and of the exaltation of traditions to a height of credibility equal to that of the divine word. He maintains that we are to be saved by faith alone; holds the fallibility of the church, exposes the futility of praying for the dead, and the sinfulness of the idolatrous practices then supported by the Roman see. Such are the sentiments found in his commentary on the epistle to the Galatians.}}</ref>

In the late 1130s, [[Arnold of Brescia]], an Italian [[canon regular]] became one of the first theologians to attempt to reform the Catholic Church. After his death, his teachings on [[apostolic poverty]] gained currency among [[Arnoldists]], and later more widely among [[Waldensians]] and the [[Spiritual Franciscans]], though no written word of his has survived the official condemnation. In the early 1170s, [[Peter Waldo]] founded the Waldensians. He advocated an interpretation of the Gospel that led to conflicts with the Catholic Church. By 1215, the Waldensians were declared heretical and subject to persecution. Despite that, the movement continues to exist to this day in Italy, as [[Waldensian Evangelical Church|a part of the wider Reformed tradition]].

In the 1370s, Oxford theologian and priest [[John Wycliffe]]—later dubbed the "Morning Star of Reformation"—started his activity as an English reformer. He rejected papal authority over secular power, [[Wycliffe's Bible|translated the Bible]] into [[vernacular]] [[English language|English]], and preached anticlerical and biblically centred reforms. His rejection of a real divine presence in the elements of the Eucharist foreshadowed Huldrych Zwingli's similar ideas in the 16th century. Wycliffe's admirers came to be known as "[[Lollardy|Lollards]]".<ref>{{Cite book |author=MacCulloch, Diarmaid |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1303898228 |title=A history of Christianity : the first three thousand years |oclc=1303898228 |access-date=29 June 2022 |archive-date=31 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220831153624/http://worldcat.org/title/1303898228 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Beginning in the first decade of the 15th century, [[Jan Hus]]—a Catholic priest, Czech reformist and professor—influenced by John Wycliffe's writings, founded the [[Hussite]] movement. He strongly advocated his reformist [[Bohemia]]n religious denomination. He was [[excommunication|excommunicated]] and [[burned at the stake]] in [[Konstanz|Constance]], [[Bishopric of Constance]], in 1415 by secular authorities for unrepentant and persistent heresy. After his execution, a revolt erupted. Hussites defeated five continuous crusades proclaimed against them by the [[Pope]].

Later theological disputes caused a split within the Hussite movement. [[Utraquism|Utraquists]] maintained that both the bread and the wine should be administered to the people during the Eucharist. Another major faction were the [[Taborites]], who opposed the Utraquists in the [[Battle of Lipany]] during the [[Hussite Wars]]. There were two separate parties among the Hussites: moderate and radical movements. Other smaller regional Hussite branches in [[Bohemia]] included [[Adamites]], [[Orebites]], [[Sirotci|Orphans]], and Praguers.

The Hussite Wars concluded with the victory of [[Holy Roman Emperor]] [[Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor|Sigismund]], his Catholic allies and moderate Hussites and the defeat of the radical Hussites. Tensions arose as the [[Thirty Years' War]] reached Bohemia in 1620. Both moderate and radical Hussitism was increasingly persecuted by Catholics and Holy Roman Emperor's armies.

In the 14th century, a German mysticist group called the [[Friends of God|Gottesfreunde]] criticized the Catholic church and its corruption. Many of their leaders were executed for attacking the Catholic church and they believed that God's judgement would soon come upon the church. The Gottesfreunde were a democratic lay movement and forerunner of the Reformation and put heavy stress of holiness and piety,<ref>{{cite web|title=Friends of God {{!}} religious group {{!}} Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/event/Friends-of-God|access-date=2021-12-13|website=www.britannica.com|language=en|archive-date=25 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125125434/https://www.britannica.com/event/Friends-of-God|url-status=live}}</ref>

Starting in 1475, an Italian Dominican friar [[Girolamo Savonarola]] was calling for a Christian renewal. Later on, Martin Luther himself read some of the friar's writings and praised him as a martyr and forerunner whose ideas on faith and grace anticipated Luther's own doctrine of justification by faith alone.<ref name=":02">{{cite web|title=Philip Schaff: History of the Christian Church, Volume VI: The Middle Ages. A.D. 1294–1517 |via=Christian Classics Ethereal Library|url=https://ccel.org/ccel/schaff/hcc6/hcc6.iii.x.v.html|access-date=2021-11-17|website=ccel.org|archive-date=17 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117065912/https://ccel.org/ccel/schaff/hcc6/hcc6.iii.x.v.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Some of Hus' followers founded the [[Unitas Fratrum]]—"Unity of the Brethren"—which was renewed under the leadership of [[Zinzendorf|Count Nicolaus von Zinzendorf]] in [[Herrnhut]], [[Saxony]], in 1722 after its almost total destruction in the [[Thirty Years' War]] and the [[Counter-Reformation#Politics|Counterreformation ("Catholic Reformation")]]. Today, it is usually referred to in English as the [[Moravian Church]] and in German as the [[Moravian Church|Herrnhuter Brüdergemeine]].

In the 15th century, three German theologians anticipated the reformation: [[Wessel Gansfort]], [[Johann Ruchrat von Wesel|Johann Ruchat von Wesel]], and [[Johannes von Goch]]. They held ideas such as [[predestination]], [[sola scriptura]], and the [[church invisible]], and denied the Roman Catholic view on justification and the authority of the Pope, also questioning [[Christian monasticism|monasticism]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Philip Schaff: History of the Christian Church, Volume VI: The Middle Ages. A.D. 1294–1517 |via= Christian Classics Ethereal Library|url=https://ccel.org/ccel/schaff/hcc6/hcc6.iii.x.iv.html|access-date=2021-11-14|website=ccel.org|archive-date=14 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114121627/https://ccel.org/ccel/schaff/hcc6/hcc6.iii.x.iv.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Wessel Gansfort also denied [[transubstantiation]] and anticipated the Lutheran view of justification by faith alone.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2016|title=The forms of communication employed by the Protestant Reformers and especially Luther and Calvin|url=http://www.pharosjot.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/article_25_vol_98_2017.pdf|journal=Pharos Journal of Theology|volume=98|quote=John of Wessel was one member in the group who attacked indulgences (Reddy 2004:115). The doctrine of justification by faith alone was the teaching of John of Wessel (Kuiper 1982:151). He rejected the doctrine of transubstantiation where it is believed when the priest pronounces the sacraments then the wine and bread is turned into the real body and blood of Christ|access-date=14 December 2021|archive-date=5 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105230957/http://www.pharosjot.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/article_25_vol_98_2017.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>