Protestant Reformers were theologians whose careers, works and actions brought about the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. In the context of the Reformation, Martin Luther was the first reformer, sharing his views publicly in 1517, followed by Andreas Karlstadt and Philip Melanchthon at Wittenberg, who promptly joined the new movement. In 1519, Huldrych Zwingli became the first reformer to express a form of the Reformed tradition. Listed are the most influential reformers only. They are listed by movement, although some reformers influenced multiple movements and are included in each respective section.

Notable precursors

Throughout the Middle Ages, according to Edmund Hamer Broadbent, there were a number of Christian movements that sought a return to what they perceived as the purity of the Apostolic church and whose teachings foreshadowed Protestant ideas.

Magisterial Reformers

There were a number of key reformers within the Magisterial Reformation, including:

Lutheran

Reformed

Anglican

Arminian

Radical Reformers

Important reformers of the Radical Reformation included:

Anabaptist

Schwenkfelder

Unitarian

Second Front Reformers

There were also a number of people who initially cooperated with the Radical Reformers, but separated from them to form a "Second Front", principally in objection to sacralism. Among these were:

Anabaptist

Counter-Reformers

Catholics who actively opposed the Reformation and partook in the Counter-Reformation include: