Question

As a result of Luther's ideas and actions, Northern Europe embraced the Protestant Faith which fractured into numerous religious denominations (Lutherans, Baptists, Anglicans, Quakers, etc....). However, Southern Europe remained Catholic with what great power leading the effort to stop the spread of Luther's Movement?

1) The Pope
2) The King of Spain
3) The Holy Roman Emperor
4) The Archbishop of Canterbury

Answer 1

The Catholic Holy Roman Emperor Charles V was the great power leading the effort to stop the spread of Luther's movement in Southern Europe. The correct option is 3).

Step-by-step explanation:

As a result of Martin Luther's actions and ideas, Northern Europe embraced the Protestant Faith and various new denominations emerged. However, in Southern Europe, the Roman Catholic Church maintained its dominance against the spread of Luther's movement.

The great power leading the effort to stop the spread of Lutheranism in Southern Europe was the Catholic Holy Roman emperor Charles V (who was also Charles I of Spain). Charles V, alongside the religious and political weight of the Vatican, played a significant role in opposing the Protestant Reformation.

Despite the Peace of Augsburg in 1555, which allowed rulers in the empire who were Lutheran the right to establish Lutheranism, the Catholic Church retained its power in Southern Europe, particularly in the southern German-speaking lands of the Holy Roman Empire. Option 3) is the correct one.