The influence of religion during the Reformation was a manifestation of the conflict of criticism toward the Catholic Church that shaped the events of the age. Although the peasants were primarily motivated towards economic and political justice, the Reformation introduced the German peasants to independent ideas and generated a movement against the nobility, as well as tying into the countermovement of the German peasant revolts of 1524 and 1525. Instead of seeking refuge in feudal authority, the peasants of Germany reflected religious ideas in their revolution by appealing to God’s authority. As the hold of the church's influence over society declined from the conflict of the Reformation, the leaders of the revolts optimized the growing animosity to generate support for the revolts. Correspondingly, religion expressed the …show more content…
One of the main contributors of the peasant riots, Thomas Müntzer, wrote to the peasants of Allstedt encouraging them to unite with the rebels and God’s will, by demolishing the princes’ towers (Doc 4). Müntzer was notoriously known for his violent onslaughts in the name of God and his theologian ideas, akin to Luther’s. He sustained the peasant resistance by declaring and modeling the revolt after the Protestant Reformation. Initially, the nobility ignored the peasant rebellion, as it only challenged the clergy; however, after the peasants ravaged the Church, they proceeded to barrage the nobility (Doc 7). Count Wilhelm wrote to the Duke of Prussia to criticize the nobility for downplaying and failing to control the revolts. However, Count Wilhelm reveals that the nobility were pleased with the revolts against the clergy and that they, in turn, supported the reformation. Since the peasants had revolted under the name of the Reformation, the revolts were
In German nobleman Christoffel von Lichtenstein’s legal plea for leniency to Count Wilhelm von Henneberg on August 24, 1525, German peasants’ cruelty and estranged behavior is apparent. From Lichtenstein’s perspective and being a nobleman most anything the peasants did came out as evil and rebellious. He goes to say that even though he had grown up with peasants’ parents, and was a very old age, this held nothing with the peasants and that they went on to force him into signing an allegiance to them. In the last year that would experience the terrible rebellions committed by the peasants, most of them in southern Germany, Emperor Charles V and the formal assembly of imperial councilors and officials advising Emperor Charles V came to the
The peasants disliked quite a few things and in 1524-1526 they expressed the ideas of them being equal with their lords (masters), and to be led and taught about the Lutheran religion. Document One states, “The peasants are blinded, led astray, and made witless.” meaning that they had no guide or source of the Lutheran teachings. The peasants wanted to be with the lords in church to get a proper knowledge of Lutheranism,. However, the lords did not want them to cause trouble in their church
“This rebellion has been undertaken to repress the princes and the nobility and has its ultimate source in Lutheran teaching, for the peasants relate the majority of their demands to the Word of God, the Gospel, and brotherly love.” (Doc. 1) This article sourced from the Chancellor of Bavaria shows how the peasant's view of lutheranism has sparked the revolt. Even in document 3 the Peasant Parliament of Swabia says that christ is the emperor, meaning that he controls everything and the actions they are committing is in is name again reveals a source for their outrage against the wealthy. “It is clear that the assertions they made in their Twelve Articles were nothing but lies presented under the name of the Gospel.”
The peasant revolts in the German states from 1524-1526 were caused primarily by the extended manipulation of many Lutheran ideals, as well as grievances toward their lords and superiors, while the responses of this revolt were solely condemning of those participating. The compassionate doctrines of the recently introduced lutheran doctrines provided much justification for the Peasant revolts of the 1520’s. Documents one and three demonstrate this idea of Lutheranism. Document one is of Leonhard von Eck, the Chancellor of Bavaria as he reports to the Duke of Bavaria.
1. What were the sources of religious discontent that preceded the Reformation? The religious discontent was because of first and foremost, the sale of indulgences. Priests believed that if they sold pieces of paper to the peasants that the peasants would be cleared of their sins and have a step forwards towards an afterlife in heaven, instead of purgatory.
There was were positive responses from laypeople as well as negative responses, and condemnation from government officials who tried to find a resolution. One significantly interesting response came from Martin Luther, one of the cited sources for the cause of the revolts. The peasants had been inspired by his ideas to revolt, however Luther gave a negative response in document 5. He called the main supporter and leader of the revolts, Thomas Müntzer, a “devil.” and concluded “Anyone who consorts with them goes to the devil with them and is guilty of all the evil deeds that they commit” (5).
The peasants viewed this ignorance of their rights as people unacceptable, given their new found of idea of worth, which they interpreted from Luther’s teachings. Such a response from the lords was yet another step towards a revolt, indirectly having been started by Luther inspiring the peasants to want more. The upheaval of peasants against their oppressing social structure is also seen in the French Revolution of the late 18th century. The feudal system had been gradually disappearing in parts of Europe, replaced with early capitalist structures. The peasants living in these parts of Europe had attained a higher
Thomas Muntzer supported the rebellions, he believed countries had finally stopped resisting God’s Will, and he supported the peasants taking down the unethical upper class (Doc 4). As a protestant preacher, Muntzer strived to kindle rebellions because he yearned for a drastic religious reform of the corrupt Catholic church (POV). Being the man that started the Reformation, Martin Luther supported the development of a new religion, but he did not support the violent process the peasants were using to further the reform (Doc 5). Luther was a man of strong faith and he understood that killing nobles, even if it was for God, was unchristian, therefore he didn’t endorse the German peasant revolts even though they were in his name (POV). Caspar Nutzel, similar to Luther, responded to the uprisings by saying that the authorities had been very suppressive, but the peasants did cross a line with their improper conduct (Doc 6).
A sense of identification that comes with being a part of a religious factions along with socioeconomic reasons lead to the spreading of the Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre. Johann-Wilhelm paints a picture of rampant thievery, barbary, and murder toward Huguenots. One specific point he mentions is, "more than four hundred peasants and farmers came into the city so as to pillage and steal, in recompense for the losses they had suffered during previous troubles. They butchered and massacred the unfortunate Huguenots without mercy" (120). This description appears to be focused less on religious furvert against the Protestants, but rather peasants were searching for a form of societal reparations.
In 1520, Luther was excommunicated from the Catholic Church, and he and his followers – the majority of whom were peasants - became known as Protestants. Inspired by Luther and his ideas, the peasants revolted against their lords. Initially arising as a call for change and justice, the peasant revolt took a violent turn and brought to light the contrasting views and values of Christianity, which ultimately led to the destruction of a unified Catholic Church and Europe. Clergy supporting
The Protestant Reformation had a huge impact in all Europe in the sixteen century, but which ones were the factors that lead to it? It is very important to highlight that the European Christianity was falling into a noticeable corruption of its popes and some other high position members. Robbery, and even warriors were among of some factors that took the Cristian Church to a declining path. One of these examples was the Pope Julius II, which one won the nickname “the warrior pope” because he led armies against people. Furthermore, the church was not the only factor promoting this reformation, some other social changes were occurring with the masses in Europe; many of the peasants were being free especially in the western Europe.
Reformation In our religious history people have made many sacrifices which led to death,war,and hardships that resulted in the reformation. For example, it took one man who was a part of the catholic church to stand up against all the wrongdoings of the catholic church and led to the reformation movement. A simple man who stood up for what he believed in inspired another and expanded his discoveries. These guys made sacrifices for the greater good, but like always there was one who did things for selfish reasons. The three individuals who contributed to the reformation were Martin Luther in Germany, John Calvin in Switzerland, and King Henry in Britain.
The peasant revolts with an economical result because during the sixteenth century, the amount of people becoming peasants grew rapidly due to crop failures in 1523 and 1524. As a result to these situations, Swabian peasants created the Twelve Articles expressing their issues with the lay and ecclestial lords. These nobles had stolen public lands in villages, adding new rents of properties, expanded the amount of work a peasant would need to perform of the nobleman’s land, and forced the insolvent peasants to pay them in the deaths of their best cattle. These unjust actions led to Luther’s An Admonition to Peace, that stated “We have no one on earth to thank for this mischievous rebellion, except you lords and princes, especially you blind bishops and mad priests and monks… In your government you do nothing but flay and rob your subjects in order that you may lead a life of splendor and pride, until the poor common folk can bear it no longer“ (461).
Reformation Propaganda The Reformation in the early 16th century started with Martin Luther questioning the authority of the Catholic Church by condemning the Pope for selling religious offices, letting religious leaders go against their vows, and selling indulgences; indulgences were contracts sold by the church to the people, to reduce people’s punishment for their sins. Luther proceeded to publicly confront and challenge the church and started his religion, Lutheranism, which only followed the Bible, not the Pope. At the time, people couldn’t read the Bible for themselves so they did not question the Catholic church’s supremacy and saw the clergy as delivering the word of God (Iordache 64). However, Martin Luther wanted people to read the
Martin Luther was very angry about this, he believed that they forgot their place in the society, and how they are just peasants, nothing more (Document 5). Luther believed they were liars, and their Articles were not inspired by God. Lastly, Caspar Nützel hoped that God would grant peace throughout the society. As said by him in document 6, “It is indeed true that the poor, blind, and ignorant peasants have overstepped the mark with their unseemly behavior.” Caspar’s perspective of religion, along with the others, caused the uprising of peasants in