Title: Martin Luther and Peasants Revolt in Germany in 1524-1525 Example | Graduateway
Headings: Martin Luther and Peasants Revolt in Germany in 1524-1525
Martin Luther and Peasants Revolt in Germany in 1524-1525
Prof. Shack
English, History, Political Science, Philosophy, Psychology, Literature
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Content: Firstly, Luther was personally dependent on the princes. In his confrontation with the Catholic Church, he relied upon German rulers and took refuge in their castles. The second reasons were the needs of Protestantism, which took roots between the feudals and in the cities. The latter wanted moderate reforms, while peasants represented and anarchical power, which could sweep away the early modest achievements of Luther’s teaching and likely cause a crusade like the Hussite wars. Support of peasants would make the nobility to stagger back from Luther, making the success of possible crusade inevitable [7]. Therefore, Luther’s choice is logical and was aimed to secure the survival of Protestantism and Luther itself. Seeing that the rebellion cannot be liquidated by calls for peace Luther decided to actively contribute to its forcible suppression. In May 1525, he wrote his famous tractate Against the Murderous, Thieving Hordes of Peasants. Its original name was Against the Rioting Peasants, yet it was harshened by publishers with Luther’s assent. In this work Luther first accused the rebels of “three terrible sins against God and man”, stating that “they are starting a rebellion, and are violently robbing and plundering monasteries and castles which are not theirs…thus they become the worst blasphemers of God and slanderers of his holy name”.