The name "Protestant" arose from a specific historical event during the Reformation in the 16th century. Here's the breakdown:
* The Reformation: This was a movement within Western Christianity that sought to reform what its participants believed were corrupt practices and false doctrines of the Catholic Church. Key figures included Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Ulrich Zwingli.
* The Diet of Speyer (1529): This was an assembly of the Holy Roman Empire. At this Diet, the Catholic majority rescinded a previous edict that had allowed rulers of territories within the Empire to choose whether to implement the Edict of Worms (which condemned Martin Luther as a heretic). The Diet declared that the Edict of Worms was to be enforced, essentially suppressing the Reformation in those territories that had adopted it.
* The Protest: A group of German princes and cities who supported the Reformation issued a formal protest against this decision. They argued that matters of conscience could not be decided by majority vote and that individuals should have the freedom to follow their beliefs.
* The Name "Protestant": Because of this formal protest, those who adhered to the Reformation and opposed the actions of the Diet of Speyer became known as "Protestants." Initially, it was a term applied to those who protested in Speyer, but it soon became a broader label for anyone who followed the reformers and broke away from the Catholic Church.
In summary, the name "Protestant" originates from the protest issued by reformers at the Diet of Speyer in 1529 against the suppression of the Reformation.