Title: Against the Murderous, Thieving Hordes of Peasants - Wikipedia
Headings: Against the Murderous, Thieving Hordes of Peasants
Against the Murderous, Thieving Hordes of Peasants
Contents
Context
The Peasants' War
Luther and the Peasants: Reluctant Inspiration
Luther and Müntzer: contrasts in leadership
The Twelve Articles of the Christian Union of Upper Swabia
Luther's writings
Admonition to Peace
Against the Murderous, Thieving Hordes of Peasants
Open Letter on the Harsh Book Against the Peasants
Aftermath: Luther and Protestantism
References
Further reading
Primary sources
Secondary sources

Content: Reluctant Inspiration
The relationship between the Protestant Reformation and the Peasants' War has long been a subject of debate. A traditional understanding in this matter is that the Peasants' Revolt stemmed from Martin Luther's doctrine of spiritual freedom and the application of his ideas as religious justification for social and political upheaval. It is true that Luther offered useful tools to the peasants: his focus on Sola Scriptura put emphasis upon the priesthood of all believers. This strengthened the idea of 'Godly law', that social constructs counter to Godly law could not command the allegiance of the people and justified rebellion. Perhaps also influential to the revolt was the example of Luther, as his work was a rebellion against the two most significant authorities of the era when he opposed both the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor. It is likely that Luther's views simply coincided with the desires of the peasants, and were used for that reason. Other religious personalities such as Huldrych Zwingli and Thomas Müntzer also influenced the peasants. Zwingli taught from 1523 onwards that in order for the gospel to be successful, secular laws needed to be transformed according to the law of God, something which corresponded neatly with what the peasants wanted. Müntzer, who would lead a peasants' army until its defeat at Frankenhausen (15 May 1525) by Imperial troops, was able to encourage them by citing scriptural passages that seemed to support rebellion against lawful authority: