Communism In The Middle Ages? The Story of Münster and Anabaptists

The story of the Protestant Reformation is a complicated and often confusing series of historical events to approach. With the geopolitical and social movements of the time, getting a clear timeline is a difficult task. Along with this, many of the big themes are difficult to comprehend as they deal with medieval metaphysics.

For much of Reformation history, this is the hard truth though, in my opinion, we do get to see a plethora of fascinating groups. One of the most intriguing groups to emerge from the Reformation period were the Anabaptists.

Why are They Special? Without getting into the specifics of the doctrine, Anabaptists were known for two important things: Radical political views and baptism… hence the name.

The term Anabaptist itself has the Greek prefix “ana” meaning “again,” so their name literally meant “re-baptizer.” One of their core beliefs focused on adult baptism, and they claimed that the traditional practice of infant baptism had no use.

Actually, the name Anabaptist was a derogatory nickname given to the group, though it eventually stuck.

The second core Anabaptist belief came in the form of the “Two-Sword Theory”. This theory traditionally stated that the Spiritual Sword, given to the Pope, and the Temporal Sword, given to kings, were the two important seats of power in the world.

Anabaptist leaders such as Hans Hut and Balthazar Hubmaier (awesome name, I know) were quick to hop on the bandwagon to reunite these two swords, effectively turning church and state into one.

These early Anabaptist leaders expanded this sword-unifying theory to its extreme, especially Hut. He took an… apocalyptic approach, and began to claim that we humans could only hope to hold the spiritual sword, while the temporal sword would only return to the earth in the hand of Jesus Christ based on The Book of Revelation.

All of this is a complicated way of saying that the only true Christians were the Anabaptists and, if you wanted to be saved in the upcoming apocalypse, you better get re-baptized and join. Hut was so sure of this that he actually calculated the date of Revelation. He claimed it would happen on May 31, 1528.

Communism? Doomsday prophecy aside, Hut also had some other big ideas that were radical for the time. He believed that as spiritual sword holders, it was the Anabaptist’s job to create the ideal society for Christ to come back and rule.

This society was to be one of “communal aid.” One where all assets, food, money, and more, were to be divided among everyone to create an ideal Christian community. While this was completely revolutionary for the time, it also sounds strikingly similar to another communal theory that would be introduced not 400 years later.

The “Incident” Things stayed relatively silent for a few years. Hut’s doomsday date came and went, and the Anabaptists had general radio silence for about three years. This was until a duo arrived on scene in the city of Münster.

Bernard Rothmann, a local mover and shaker, and Melchior Hoffman, a classic “the end is nigh” preacher, began to spread Anabaptism around in Münster, and it spread… fast. As Anabaptism spread, two more players joined, Jan Beukels and Jan Matthys. The Jan’s only sped up this spreading doctrine, and by 1534 Rothmann was re-baptized.

Now, this in itself is impressive, but within 8 days of Rothmann’s re-baptism 1,400 more Münster citizens were baptized.

Rightfully so, the leaders of Münster began to express their concerns about the rapidly growing Anabaptist force, but it was okay because Rothmann and co. held a new election where he and his subordinates were elected as Münster’s new leaders.

To top that off, as his first new act as ruler, Rothmann ordered all of the previous rulers of Münster publicly executed, if they didn’t immediately convert or leave.

Growing Problems Naturally, the public murder of their leaders was off putting to some, so many fled to both Catholic and Reformation states. This news was so shocking to the rest of northern Europe, that both Reformation and Catholic armies showed up at the walls of Münster.

Meanwhile, events inside of Münster were going just swimmingly. Seven deacons were appointed and all inhabitants of the city were forced to hand over their belongings. So, the Anabaptist commune was established. The “true Christian community” was finally equal. Though, not all conformed to this new doctrine, so Rothmann had them publicly executed if they didn’t leave.

With the two armies stationed outside the wall, the new Münster government decided to close off all the gates… cutting off the food supply. Not only this, but Jan Beukels (a.k.a. John of Leiden) was named the new king declaring himself the “voice of the Lord”, and under him were twelve elders/disciples… I can not make this up.

Quickly after becoming King, Beukels enacted Civic Ordnung (civic order), and this introduced new, stricter, laws. Many of which took more away from the common person while also making polygamy a requirement for all men. The idea was that this was the only way to rapidly grow the Anabaptist community.

A Bloody Conclusion June 25, 1535, both Reformed and Catholic forces stormed the city and slaughtered all who opposed.

It is important to note that everything from Rothmann’s re-baptism to the fall of Münster happened in the span of a year.

Many of Münster’s leaders were captured and on January 22, 1536 they were publicly tortured and executed. After this, their bodies were thrown into cages and hung from the top of St. Lambert’s church for 50 full years.

It was a clear message to any who might have wanted to repeat the Münster experiment.

The reaction of the authorities was heavily shaped by
The rebels had not merely practiced adult baptism; they had instituted a violent, apocalyptic dictatorship.

They expelled all Catholics and Lutherans who refused re-baptism - This expulsion took place during a bitter winter storm. Elderly people, pregnant women, and young children were forced into the freezing countryside-

, Anyone who remained in the city had to accept adult baptism or face immediate execution as an infidel

instituted forced polygamy (executing women who resisted), declared Jan of Leyden "King of the New Jerusalem," and .

The allied forces viewed the leaders not as misguided Christians, but as literal agents of Satan who had brought bloodshed and chaos to the region

And going back to the communist part of the title. That if course ticked off the secular authorities!!

Matthys and his council abolished all private ownership of money and goods, arguing that true Christians must hold everything in common.

To prevent intellectual dissent and eliminate the past, the rebels gathered all non-biblical books, manuscripts, and archives from the city’s libraries and burned them in massive public bonfires

Jan of Leyden declared himself king of new Jerusalem (Munster), The death penalty was instituted for an exhaustive list of offenses, including swearing, gossiping, complaining about food shortages, insulting the king, or disobeying parents.Public executions became a frequent tool of terror. Jan of Leyden personally beheaded several citizens in the marketplace to enforce compliance and strike fear into the starving population

Women who refused to enter polygamous marriages, or who resisted their forced husbands, were imprisoned or publicly executed. One of Jan's own sixteen wives, Elisabeth Wandscherer, spoke out against his opulence while the public was starving; Jan personally beheaded her in the marketplace and stomped on her corpse while his other wives sang hymns

While the general populace was reduced to eating grass, leather, and horses, Jan of Leyden and his royal court lived in luxury, dressing in expensive silk robes stolen from the exiled nobility and hosting lavish royal feasts

Your comment is non sequitur.

You said “múnster crazies don’t represent Anabaptists” which is historically false as the surviving Melchiorite Anabaptists—including many who had been sympathetic to or involved with the Münster movement became the Mennonites. Therefore, modern peaceful Anabaptists are literally the direct theological and historical descendants of the exact group that produced Münster

They learnt as did the Japanese post world war 2

Again your comment is non sequitur.

Therefore, modern peaceful Anabaptists are literally the direct theological and historical descendants of the exact group that produced Münster

They learnt as did the Japanese post world war 2

LOL! A Roman Catholic, whose original Emperor (Constantine) militarized Christianity into a war religion, is going to lecture Anabaptists on Christian Conscientious Objection and pacifism. How’s it working for Europe? Getting ready to fight Russia?

Never forget your motto! Chi Rho: “By this you shall conquer!”

Your comment has nothing to do with the article.

Your statements have been proven false and instead of acknowledging your errors you jump topic.

Therefore, modern peaceful Anabaptists are literally the direct theological and historical descendants of the exact group that produced Münster

Do you deny this historical fact and admit that your statement was false?

What happened to people who disagreed with Rome’s Biblical interpretations? What about those who believed Eucharist bread and wine were not the ACTUAL body and blood of Christ? Have you ever read Fox’s Book of Martyrs? Or Martyrs Mirror? Rome killed millions of Christians between 400AD through the 1800s. Why did Rome kill so many for disagreement?

And your historical knowledge us as flawed and error filled as your false theology.

Constantine wasn’t even baptized until he was on his deathbed in 337 AD—and he was baptized by Eusebius of Nicomedia, who was an Arian heretic, not a Catholic.

Your claim that Constantine “militarized Christianity into a war religion” hinges on the idea that he legally combined the Roman state apparatus with the Church. He did the exact opposite.

In 313 AD, Constantine and his co-emperor Licinius issued the Edict of Milan. Go read the text. It did not make Christianity the state religion. It did not ban paganism. It was a declaration of absolute, universal religious pluralism and liberty.

The Bishop of Rome (the Pope) during the Council of Nicaea (325 AD) was Pope Sylvester I. Sylvester didn’t attend Nicaea; he sent legates to represent the established, pre-existing Catholic hierarchy.

Your claims about Constantine sgiw you haven’t read a single history book covering the 4th century.

Your historical facts are almost as false as your theology

Again, Your comment has nothing to do with the article.

Your statements have been proven false and instead of acknowledging your errors you jump topic.

You said “múnster crazies don’t represent Anabaptists” which is historically false as the surviving Melchiorite Anabaptists—including many who had been sympathetic to or involved with the Münster movement became the Mennonites.

Therefore, modern peaceful Anabaptists are literally the direct theological and historical descendants of the exact group that produced Münster

Notice what you just did: the moment I cornered you with the documented historical reality that modern peaceful Anabaptists are the direct descendants of the radical Münster movement, you completely abandoned the topic and fled into emotional deflections.

By refusing to answer, you have tacitly admitted that your previous statement about the Anabaptists was historically false.

Do you deny this historical fact and admit that your statement was false?

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