On Freedom and Justice
The Peasants' War of 1525
The reformer Martin Luther saw freedom rather as a spiritual good. The preacher Thomas Müntzer was concerned with more. He showed solidarity with the rebellious peasants in 1524 and ultimately became a leading figure in the German Peasants' War. The dramatic events culminated in a major battle near Frankenhausen on May 15, 1525. Around 8,000 peasants armed with scythes and flails faced a well-organised army of lansquenets. They lost the battle, and most of them lost their lives too. This included Müntzer, who was captured, tortured and beheaded a fortnight after the battle outside the gates of Mühlhausen.
Places steeped in history
Where did Thomas Müntzer actually come from? He was born around 1489 in Stolberg in the Harz Mountains. The little town is dominated by half-timbered houses and Stolberg Castle, which sits enthroned on a hill. Incidentally, it was here in 1506 that the ancestress of the House of Orange was born: Juliana of Stolberg and Wernigerode. She is the mother of William of Orange. Müntzer’s birthplace in Niedergasse was destroyed by fire in 1851. A commemorative plaque on the façade of the building that replaced it commemorates the former peasant leader and theologian.
Allstedt, in the Mansfeld-Südharz region, was another key place in Müntzer’s life. In 1524, he delivered his famous “Prince’s Sermon” here, in which he denounced the arbitrariness of the authorities and asserted that all people have a right to resist. The multimedia exhibition “Sein und Schein” (Being and Seeming) at Allstedt Castle brings these historical events back to life. Maybe of interest to Goethe fans: the poet often visited Allstedt on official business and wrote several acts of his “Iphigenia” here.
The former Free Imperial City of Mühlhausen was Müntzer’s final place of work. The old town is marked by imposing churches, including St Mary’s, where Müntzer held his last parish post. Today, the church serves as a museum with exhibitions on Thomas Müntzer, medieval art and the architectural history of the building. Kornmarktkirche church houses the Peasants’ War Museum with the permanent exhibition ‘Luther’s Unloved Brothers’. Among the special exhibits is an original rainbow flag belonging to the rebellious peasants. At Divi Blasii church, young Sebastian Bach worked as an organist and employee of the city.
A glimpse into the early 16th century
Frankenhausen was the site of the decisive battle in May 1525. Today, the Bad Frankenhausen Panorama Museum stands on the former battle hill. The centrepiece of the exhibition is a monumental 360-degree painting by Werner Tübke, 14 metres high and 123 metres in circumference. Like a gigantic hidden object picture, it depicts what moved people at the beginning of the 16th century. There are over 3,000 figures and 75 key scenes to discover, and of course the Peasants’ War and Thomas Müntzer play a part in this.
