Today's piece focuses on Martin Luther, but as I'm drafting it, I just had to do a double take when I saw the age of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. That little punk was 19 when he took office. Turned 21 during one of the most formative events in modern Christendom! No ageism here, but the mind reels at the thought of how different history might've been if someone more experienced had been in his place at that moment.
(More later. Drafting now.)
@MLClark of course, that was in an era when much more was expected of you at a younger age. When I read about the accomplishments of Elizabeth I--the age at which she was expected to learn Latin and Greek...wow.