Description
Book Synopsis'The princes are nothing but tyrants who flay the people; they fritter away our blood and sweat on their pomp and whoring and knavery.' These were the words of Thomas Müntzer at the head of the massed ranks of a peasant army in the year 1525. Ranged against him were the might of the princes of the German Nation. How did Müntzer, the son of a coin maker from central Germany, rise in just a few short years to become one of the most feared revolutionaries in early modern Europe?
In this brilliant work of historical excavation, Andrew Drummond charts the life and times of the man Martin Luther denounced as a 'Ravening Wolf' and 'False Prophet'. Drummond shows us Müntzer as a human being. Far from the bloodthirsty devil of legend, he was a man of considerable learning and principle, deeply sympathetic to the misery of the peasantry and the poor. In his short life - he was beheaded at thirty-five - Müntzer promised to fundamentally upend German society.
Seeking to save Müntzer from the condescension of history, Drummond guides us through the religious and political disputes of the Reformation, placing his life and thought in the context of those turbulent years. The result is a portrait of an often contradictory but always radical figure, one who continues to inspire movements of the poor across the globe.
Trade ReviewAt last - a new account for our times of Thomas Müntzer, theologian and revolutionary. Drummond brings Müntzer and his world vividly to life. He shows us just why Müntzer hated Luther, and how he came to take up arms. What did it mean to be a revolutionary in sixteenth-century Germany? - Drummond shows us. You will be gripped and inspired by this exciting story - I couldn't put it down. -- Lyndal Roper, Regius Professor of History at Oxford, and author of
Martin Luther: Renegade and ProphetPosterity has endorsed not just Luther's victory but also his determined character assassination of his rival. Andrew Drummond's scholarly but eminently readable, thoughtful, thorough and at times witty biography of Müntzer redresses the balance for English-speaking audiences -- Professor Michael Russell, University of Glasgow
Among the famous figures associated with 16th century Germany, that of religious thinker and social revolutionary Thomas Müntzer deserves to be far better known. Andy Drummond's excellent, brilliantly written and entertaining, new biography delves deep into the archival material to draw out the history of a radical whose life is often obscured by propaganda and myth. As we approach the 500th anniversary of Müntzer's execution, this book is the definitive account of his life. -- Martin Empson, author of
'Kill all the Gentlemen': Class Struggle and Change in the English CountrysideA blisteringly good book about personal enmity, and the difference between revolution and reform. -- Daniel Brooks * Telegraph *
Drummond's marvellous romp of a biography - part jolly Simon Winder-like deep dive into 16th-century Germania, part sagacious reflection on the Reformation in the manner of Diarmaid MacCulloch - aims to free Müntzer from his detractors. -- Stuart Jeffries * Spectator *
Table of ContentsWettin Family Tree Map Acknowledgements Notes on the Text and Some Helpful Remarks1. A Most Useful Lesson
An introduction2. The End of the World
Historical and religious background to the German Reformation3. The Devil Sowed His Seed
Müntzer's early years4. Murder and Riot and Bloodshed
Preacher in Zwickau (1520-1521)5. He Ran Away like an Arch-Villain
A visit to Prague (1521)6. Satan Wandered in the Wilderness
Erfurt, Nordhausen and Halle (1522-1523)7. Satan Made Himself a Nest in Allstedt
A fruitful year of activity in Allstedt (1523-1524)8. His Face Was as Yellow as a Corpse's
Rebellion in Allstedt (1524)9. Using God's Name, He Spoke and Acted for the Devil
Müntzer's theology 10. The Devil Never Let Him Rest
Mühlhausen and Nürnberg (1524)11. His Poisonous Seed
In south-west Germany at the time of the peasant uprising (1524-1525)12. The Time Was Come
The Thuringian uprising (1525)13. Thomas Would Catch All the Bullets in His Sleeves
The Battle of Frankenhausen (May 1525)14. How God Punishes Disobedience
The aftermath of defeat at Frankenhausen15. Rebellious Violent Preachers
The early Anabaptists16. The Devil in Person
HistoriographyConclusion Chronology Bibliography Notes Index
