Even though Leo would continue to renew his calls for Crusade until Selim’s death in 1520, European unity against what he termed “the diabolic Mohammedan rage” never materialized. This same political stasis, which prevented Europe from even considering military action against the Ottomans, is what allowed an upstart like Luther to flourish without the vestige of a response to what would become an existential challenge to Europe’s prevailing order. As the scholar Egil Grislis explains the contemporary political scene, “Instead of fearing the Turks, Luther had every reason to be grateful to
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