Thomas Müntzer

Religious reformer

• Born: c. 1488
• Birthplace: Stolberg, Germany
• Died: May 27, 1525
• Place of death: Mühlhausen, Germany

Also known as: Thomas Münzer

Education: University of Leipzig; University of Frankfurt an der Oder

Significance: Thomas Müntzer was a radical religious reformer who was part of the Protestant Reformation during the sixteenth century. Unlike the Reformation's unofficial founder, Martin Luther, Müntzer believed that religious reform should extend to the larger society. This eventually led to the German Peasants' War (1524–1525), during which soldiers in the German princes' armies captured and executed Müntzer.

Background

Experts believe that Thomas Müntzer was born sometime before 1488 in Stolberg, Germany. Nothing is really known about his parents or his family life during this time. Records suggest that he was attending the University of Leipzig in 1506. By 1512, he was studying at the University of Frankfurt an der Oder. He graduated from that school with a master of arts degree. Müntzer was ordained sometime around 1513. From 1516 to 1517, he served as prior at the Frohse monastery in Aschersleben, Germany.

Historians think that Müntzer may have met German theologian Martin Luther around 1517. That same year, Luther wrote his famous 95 Theses. This list of ideas and questions focused on Luther's central beliefs about Christianity, such as the belief that the Bible had religious authority over church officials. The list included criticism of the Catholic Church's practices, in particular the practice of selling indulgences. Church leaders sold these indulgences to people to forgive them for their sins. The money raised by the selling of these indulgences was then used to build or remodel basilicas or other church facilities. Luther believed that the pope had more than enough money to pay for such expenses himself and should not be preying on the faithful and their fear of sin to raise funds. Luther's work sparked what was later known as the Protestant Reformation, which splintered Christianity and led to the formation of Protestantism. Protestantism eventually became one of the main denominations in Christianity.

Whether or not Müntzer met Luther, experts agree that he was a follower of Luther's ideas. Müntzer also believed that the church and Christianity were in need of reform. Around this time, he also started studying other belief systems. He was particularly interested in humanism and mysticism, which came to shape his beliefs about religion. With these ideas in his mind, he took a post as the pastor in Zwickau, Germany, which was central to the silver trade at the time.

Life's Work

Things did not go well for Müntzer in Zwickau. There, he witnessed the sharp divide between the poor and the rich. Unlike Luther, Müntzer believed that to be faithful to the tenants of Christianity, one had to do something to improve society. In his mind, this meant helping the poor peasants gain more rights so they could live better lives. During his time in Zwickau, Müntzer became acquainted with Nicholas Storch, the leader of the Zwickau Prophets. Storch believed that the end of the world was near, and he convinced Müntzer of this as well. This and other radical ideas—including the idea that God could speak internally to chosen people—caused some concern in the community. Eventually, the city council accused the Zwickau Prophets and Müntzer of plotting a rebellion.

In 1521, Müntzer lost his job, and he moved to Prague in what is now the Czech Republic. While there, he wrote his Prague Manifesto, which he released in three languages: Czech, German, and Latin. His central idea in this document was that it was time for a new type of apostolic church that would focus on the importance of the Holy Spirit. Müntzer encouraged the people of the city to reject the current church and join him in this movement. However, things did not go as he planned. Authorities put Müntzer under arrest and then banned him from the city.

Müntzer then traveled through the German state of Saxony for a time. During this period, he had little money and almost starved to death. Müntzer seemed to land back on his feet in the town of Allstedt, Germany, where he became a pastor in 1523. Here, his reform ideas began to take hold. Also around this time, Müntzer completely broke away from Luther and his teachings. While Luther believed that the church and state should be considered separate entities, Müntzer thought that the reforms in the church should extend to society. Luther did not support Müntzer's radical ideas. In fact, he even referred to Müntzer as the "Satan at Allstedt."

While at Allstedt, Müntzer banned infant baptism in his church and told the faithful that the bread and wine consumed during the Eucharist were symbols of Jesus's sacrifice rather than the presence of Christ. In 1524, Müntzer's followers, many of whom were members of the working class, destroyed a small chapel near Mallerbach, which alarmed officials. Following this, Müntzer was called before the Saxon court, where he preached a radical sermon. Officials then warned him to stop spreading his ideas.

Believing that the end of days was upon him, Müntzer became convinced that it was time for a revolution led by the common people against the German princes and landowners. He left Allstedt for Mühlhausen. Eventually, Müntzer became a leader of a band of peasant rebels in the German Peasants' War, which broke out by late 1524. Luther, for his part, did not agree with Müntzer's decision to fight against the ruling powers. However, Müntzer's focus on the role the commoners would play in the rebellion earned him many followers. He believed that ordinary people were prophesized to overthrow the wealthy with Christ's divine assistance. Nevertheless, in May of 1525, the German princes' armies massacred Müntzer's followers at the Battle of Frankenhausen. The army then captured Müntzer. He was tortured and then beheaded on May 27, 1525.

Impact

Although Müntzer never earned the same place in history as Luther, his role in the early part of the Reformation was an important one. His focus on the common people and their needs took him in a different direction from Luther, and his belief in radical ideas eventually led to his death. During the twentieth century, the Marxists in East Germany particularly recalled all Müntzer had done for the common people.

Personal Life

Müntzer married a former nun named Ottilie von Gersen in 1523. The following year, the couple had a son.

Principal Works

Nonfiction

Prague Manifesto, 1521

Bibliography

Blueme, Helen. "Müntzer, Thomas (ca. 1489–1525)." The International Encyclopedia of Revolution and Protest: 1500 to the Present, edited by Immanuel Ness, vol. 5, Wiley-Blackwell, 2009, pp. 2373–4.

Boyer, Paul. "Apocalypticism Explained: Thomas Muentzer." PBS, www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/apocalypse/explanation/muentzer.html. Accessed 9 Oct. 2017.

Gritsch, Eric W. "Müntzer, Thomas." Encyclopedia of Religion, edited by Lindsay Jones, 2nd ed., vol. 9, Macmillan Reference USA, 2005, pp. 6238–9.

Harper, Steven C. "Thomas Müntzer and the Radical Reformation." Brigham Young University, Religious Studies Center, rsc.byu.edu/archived/prelude-restoration-apostasy-restored-church/thomas-m-ntzer-and-radical-reformation. Accessed 9 Oct. 2017.

"Martin Luther and the 95 Theses." History.com, 2009, www.history.com/topics/martin-luther-and-the-95-theses. Accessed 9 Oct. 2017.

"Martin Luther: Founder of Lutheranism." Renaissance and Reformation Reference Library, edited by Julie L. Carnagie, et al., vol. 1, UXL, 2002, pp. 190–225.