1370 DBQ German Peasants' War

Document 1 Source: Sebastian Lotzer, craftsperson and lay preacher, and Christoph Schappeler, preacher from Memmingen, Twelve Articles of the Swabian Peasants, March 1, 1525.

We will not allow ourselves hereafter to be oppressed by our lords but will let them demand only what is just and proper according to the agreement between lords and peasants. Lords should no longer try to force more services or other dues from peasants without compensation. Peasants should, however, help lords when it is necessary and at proper times when it does not disadvantage the peasant and for a suitable compensation.

Document 2 Source: Peasant Parliament of Swabia to the Memmingen Town Council, from Articles of the Peasants of Memmingen, March 3, 1525.

Hitherto we have been held as your poor serfs, which is pitiable, given that Christ has purchased and redeemed us with His precious blood, just as He has the Emperor. But it is not our intention to reject all authority. We will be obedient to all authority appointed by God in all fair and reasonable matters, and we do not doubt that as Christian lords you will release us from serfdom.

Document 3 Source: Reply of the Memmingen Town Council to the Articles of the Peasants of Memmingen, March 15, 1525.

On the article concerning serfdom: we, your lords, purchased this right for a considerable sum of money, and the serfdom of a Christian is no hindrance to the salvation of his soul. However, so that you, the subjects, may see and recognize the council’s good will, the council will release and absolve its subjects from such serfdom that the council controls. In return the peasants shall pay us a reasonable amount of money.

Document 4 Source: Thomas Müntzer, preacher and theologian, open letter to the people of Allstedt, April 27, 1525. How long are you going to resist God’s will? The whole of Germany, France, and Italy are awake. Four abbeys were laid waste during Easter week. More peasants in the Black Forest have risen, 3,000 strong! Hammer away on the anvils of the princes and lords, cast down their towers to the ground!

Document 5 Source: Martin Luther, theologian, Against the Murdering, Thieving Hordes of Peasants, Wittenberg, May 1525.

The peasants forgot their place, violently took matters into their own hands, and are robbing and raging like mad dogs. It is clear that the assertions they made in their Twelve Articles were nothing but lies presented under the name of the Gospel. This is particularly the work of that devil, Thomas Müntzer, who rules at Mühlhausen. The peasants are not content with belonging to the devil themselves; they force and compel many good people to join their devilish league. Anyone who consorts with them goes to the devil with them and is guilty of all the evil deeds that they commit.

Document 6 Source: Caspar Nützel, Nürnberg town councilor, letter to Duke Albert of Prussia, August 5, 1525.

May God grant that the peace be preserved. It is indeed true that the poor, blind,
and ignorant peasants have overstepped the mark with their unseemly behavior. No reasonable person could deny how unreasonably, unchristian, indeed, how excessively the authorities have torn out the hair of their subjects, whom they should aid, defend, and rule rather than fleece.

Document 7 Source: Count Wilhelm von Henneberg, letter to Duke Albert of Prussia, February 2, 1526.

At first the nobility looked on, unawares that misfortune was creeping up on us, for it pleased them well that the rebellion attacked the priests and the monks. Now, when the peasants had eaten all that was in the monasteries and drunk up and consumed all that was available, they fell upon the nobility’s houses, took all that they found in them, and burnt them down.