Was Martin Luther's wife suffering from Stockholm syndrome?

Question

I saw a summary on an independent film being released that is supposed to cover the full spectrum of the life of Martin Luther, from the good which he accomplished to the rather negative aspects of him, such as his 1543 speech in which he encouraged the burning of synagogues and killing of rabbis. As a history geek, I am familiar with most of this, but the film apparently also makes the claim that his wife, Katharina von Bora, was a nun kidnapped from a convent in a raid, who he locked up until she developed stockholm syndrome. I had never heard the stockholm syndrome story before and was wondering if there was any truth to it.

Well, she was one of the nuns that they kidnapped and not one of the ones released right away. That is documented quite well. The question is really whether or not it was Luther himself who kept her, the length of time she was locked up, and if she developed Stockholm syndrome. I think that the actual Stockholm syndrome thing is going to be speculation, since we didn't have that diagnosis at the time, but were the conditions present to cause this syndrome?

Answer 1

It never ceases to amaze me the extent of which people will go to in order to character assassinate Martin Luther. I wish people (not necessarily the Questioner) would understand that you don't take down a church (Lutheran) by maligning one of their church fathers.

Seriously, you honestly think Katherine was kidnapped, locked up to develop Stockholm syndrome so that she would fall in love with Martin Luther? That sounds ridiculous. What is the name of this film, I am sure it will be discredited by historians.

*****************Update*************
Seriously, I have not seen one citation for any of the accusations you have made. And you refer to a movie that apparently has no name or does not exist.
Now, if I remember correctly, the nuns were smuggled out of the convent in Herring barrels, because they were dissatisfied. Martin Luther suggested that she marry one of the other (younger) priests and she refused. She wanted to marry Martin Luther.