,VOLUME #a1 ,P>T #a1 ,*APT] #b 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,MURRAY ,BOOK*9 

,TEXT 3 

,*APT] #b4 ,! ,G]MAN ,PEASANT ,W>S 

,ONE ( ! GREAT CULM9AT+ PO9TS 9 ! PREMOD]N UPRIS+S ( OPPRESS$ PEOPLES HAS BE5 BROADLY DESCRIB$ AS ! 0,G]MAN ,PEASANT ,W>01 A SWEEP+ CONFLICT ?AT EXPLOD$ 9 C5TRAL ,EUROPE E>LY 9 ! SIXTE5? C5TURY4 

,! W> /EMM$ 9 P>T FROM ECONOMIC PROBLEMS ?AT >OSE )9 ! PAT*WORK ( PR9CIPALITIES KN[N AS ! ,HOLY ,ROMAN ,EMPIRE4 ,AS ! EMPIRE BEGAN TO FALL AP>T1 FEUDAL DOM9ATION 9T5SIFI$ 5ORM\SLY1 EV5 AS S]FDOM WAS DECL9+ ELSE:]E 9 ,EUROPE1 & MANY ( ! RUL+ PR9CES1 LAY & ECCLESIA/ICAL1 ATTEMPT$ TO AGGR&IZE !MSELVES 9 !IR SOV]EIGN PR9CIPALITIES AT ! EXP5SE ( ! PEASANTRY4 ,:E!R [+ TO GR[+ ECONOMIC NE$S OR 9 PURSUIT ( GREAT] P[] 7! TWO >E NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE71 LORDS & PR9CES BEGAN TO IMPOSE HEAVI] & HEAVI] BURD5S ON ! PEASANTS BY SEIZ+ !IR TRADITIONAL COMMON L&S1 9CREAS+ VIRTUALLY ALL FEUDAL EXACTIONS1 & TRY+ TO RE/ORE S]FDOM AMONG ?OSE :O W]E ALREADY RELATIVELY FREE4 ,! PETTY BURD5S ?AT ! UPP] CLASSES PLAC$ ON ! L[] CAN BE JUDG$ BY ! SIXTY-TWO ,>TICLES ( ! ,/TIHL+5 PEASANTS1 :OSE GRIEVANCES & ACTIONS SP>K$ ! REBELLION ( #aebe 9 ! ,S\?WE/4 ,BY ADOPT+ ,ROMAN LAW OV] ,G]MAN1 ! NOBILITY W]E ABLE TO CURTAIL FRE$OMS ?AT ! PEASANTS HAD 5JOY$ = C5TURIES1 & EXACT HEAVY P5ALTIES = 9FRACTIONS ?AT W\LD HAVE BE5 CONSID]$ M9OR UND] TRADITIONAL COMMON OR ,G]MANIC PRACTICES4 ,TEMPT$ BY ! NEW W>ES ?AT GR[+ ,EUROPEAN COMM]CE MADE AVAILABLE TO ?OSE :O C\LD AF=D !M1 TEMPORAL & ECCLESIA/ICAL LORDS DEM&$ MORE FROM ! PEASANTRY ?AN !Y HAD 9 E>LI] TIMES--& QUITE (T51 ! FAIRLY WELL-TO-DO PEASANTS *AF$ MORE UND] !SE DEM&S ?AN ! MORE D[NTRODD51 :O HAD BE5 CONDITION$ = G5]ATIONS TO ACCEPT FATALI/ICALLY !IR LOT 9 LIFE4 

,S]FDOM1 = ITS P>T1 HAD BECOME MORE BRUTAL S9CE ! HI< ,MIDDLE ,AGES4 ,! M$IEVAL S]F AT LEA/ HAD A BODY ( RI<TS HE C\LD CLAIM AS WELL AS DUTIES HE HAD TO P]=M1 & HIS LOT WAS (T5 S(T5$ BY MANY G5]ATIONS ( COMPROMISES BETWE5 LORD & UND]L+4 ,! COMMON LAW ( HIS QUASI-TRIBAL SOCIETY & ! RELIGI\S PRECEPTS ( ! ,*UR* HAD S]V$ AS C\NT]VAIL+ =CES TO >BITR>Y MANORIAL RULE4 ,) ! DECL9E ( FEUDALISM & ! DEG5]ATION ( ! ,*UR*1 H[EV]1 S]FDOM BEGAN TO APPROXIMATE \TRI<T SLAV]Y1 & >BITR>Y TEMPORAL P[] BEGAN TO 9VADE ! MO/ GU>D$ REALM ( ! PEASANT'S LIFE4 ,N[ HE WAS NOT ONLY COMPELL$ TO GIVE MORE1 9DE$ MO/1 ( HIS WORK+ TIME TO ! LORD & PAY 9CREAS+ TAXES1 R5TS1 & TI!S1 BUT HE C\LD BE >BITR>ILY IMPRISON$1 TORTUR$1 & 9 SOME CASES EV5 KILL$ AT ! LORD'S BEHE/4 ,TO WORS5 !IR LOT1 ! MANY PEASANTS :O W]E S]FS OR FAC$ ! PROSPECT ( 5S]FM5T SUFF]$ ! LOSS ( ! COMMON MEAD[S ON :I* !Y HAD PA/UR$ !IR DOME/IC ANIMALS & ! COMMON WOODL&S FROM :I* !Y HAD GA!R$ FUEL & TIMB] S9CE TIME IMMEMORIAL4 

,OV]ALL1 TWO V]Y DI/9CT WAYS ( LIFE CONFRONT$ EA* O!R1 & ALMO/ 9EVITABLY W]E DE/9$ TO EXPLODE 9TO OP5 CONFLICT4 ,ON ! ONE SIDE1 !RE WAS ! PEASANT ECONOMY1 :I* WAS /RUCTUR$ >\ND SUBSI/5CE F>M+ ) ALL ITS ATT5DANT UNC]TA9TIES ?AT OBLIG$ ! FOOD CULTIVATOR1 AS ,TOM ,SCOTT & ,BOB ,SCRIBN] OBS]VE1 

TO RELY ON A WIDE RANGE ( ACTIVITIES O!R ?AN M]E >ABLE F>M+ 9 ORD] TO MAKE 5DS MEET4 ,! CREATION ( GAME RES]VES FROM COMMON L& & D5IAL ( ACCESS TO =E/S CUT ! PEASANTS (F FROM :AT !Y REG>D$ AS A NATURAL RES\RCE :I* !Y C\LD JU/LY EXPLOIT TO SUPPLEM5T !IR PURELY AGR>IAN 9COMES4 ,ACCESS TO COMMONS & WA/E L& = GRAZ+ OR ! USE ( ! =E/ TO FATT5 SW9E OR CATTLE ON BEE*MA/ W]E CONSID]$ VITAL = ! MA9T5ANCE ( LIVE/OCK1 FREE+ AS MU* L& AS POSSIBLE = CULTIVATION1 JU/ AS GRASS & HAY W]E 9DISP5SABLE = FODD]4 

,ON ! O!R SIDE1 ! DI/9CTLY RAPACI\S NOBILITY W]E 5AMOR$ ( ! F9E GOODS C>RI$ OV] ! ,ALPS BY ,ITALIAN M]*ANTS1 & FIR$ BY AMBITIONS TO 9CREASE !IR L& HOLD+S4 ,!SE NOBLES S\<T TO EXTRACT :AT !Y C\LD FROM ! PEASANTRY'S LABOR1 ) NO REG>D = !IR ANCE/RAL RESPONSIBILITIES TO ! L[] CLASSES4 ,!Y S\<T TO PLUND] 0?IS SUBSI/5CE ECONOMY 9 MANY WAYS10 OBS]VE ,SCOTT & ,SCRIBN]1 

ESPECIALLY ?R\< !IR DESIRE TO MAXIMIZE !IR [N 9COMES & TO TAKE ADVANTAGE ( EV]Y OPPORTUNITY (F]$ BY AN EXP&+ M>KET4 ,=E/S W]E A RI* NATURAL RES\RCE :I* C\LD BE EXPLOIT$ BY ! SALE OR LEASE ( TIMB] OR *>COAL+ RI<TS1 :ILE /AVES & B>K C\LD BE SOLD RA!R ?AN ALL[$ TO ! PEASANTS AS A TRADITIONAL RI<T4 ,TRADITIONAL FI%+ WAT]S C\LD BE LEAS$ OR EXPLOIT$ = ! LORD'S [N USE1 :ILE COMMON L& C\LD BE 5CLOS$ & CONV]T$ TO >ABLE4 ,WE MAY P]CEIVE 9 SOME >EAS VIRTUALLY A CONFLICT ( TWO ECONOMIC SY/EMS1 A PEASANT SUBSI/5CE ECONOMY ) NECESS>Y L9KS TO LOCAL M>KETS & ?AT ( FEUDAL L&LORDS AW>E ( ! 5TIRE RANGE ( M>KET POSSIBILITIES (F]$ BY ECONOMIC CONJUNCTURE4.<#g.> 

,9 !SE CIRCUM/ANCES1 LITTLE MORE ?AN A M]E EPISODE WAS REQUIR$ TO TURN PEASANT UNRE/ 9TO A G5]AL 9SURRECTION ( REVOLUTION>Y PROPORTIONS4 

,! ,B,U,N,D,S,*,U,H 

,!RE WAS NO LACK ( UNRE/ AMONG ! PEASANTRY4 ,! IMM$IATE PRECURSOR ( ! ,G]MAN ,PEASANT ,W> WAS A L>GELY SUBT]RANEAN PEASANT MOVEM5T KN[N AS ! ,BUNDS*UH1 :OSE NAME & SYMBOL CAME FROM ! PEASANT'S LAC$ BOOT1 9 CONTRA/ TO ! NOBLEMAN'S F9E ,/IEFEL4 ,>IS+ 9 ,G]MAN-SPEAK+ ,ALSACE1 ! ,BUNDS*UH WAS PROBABLY SP>K$ BY A RISE 9 ! CO/ ( LIV+1 BUT OV] TIME ! PEASANTS' BASIC DEM&S W]E WID5$ TO 9CLUDE ECCLESIA/ICAL RE=MS SU* AS R$UCTIONS 9 CL]ICAL 9COME1 A LIMITATION ON ! NUMB] ( PRIE/S 9 A COMMUNITY1 & AN 5D TO CL]ICAL C\RTS4 ,ITS SLOGAN 0,NO?+ BUT ,GOD'S ,JU/ICE0 OR 0,GOD'S ,WORD10 REF]R+ TO BIBLICAL PRECEPTS AS A GUIDE TO ! 9T]ACTIONS BETWE5 LORD & UND]L+1 VOIC$ ! PEASANTS' DESIRE = A RADICALLY NEW SOCIAL ORD]1 ONE BAS$ ON TRADITIONAL COMMON LAW RA!R ?AN ,ROMAN CONTRACT LAW1 & ONE ?AT RECOGNIZ$ ! AU?ORITY ONLY ( ! EMP]OR & ! POPE1 NOT ( LORDS & CL]GY4 ,REGRETTABLY1 ANTI-,SEMITISM WAS UBIQUIT\S2 ,JEWS1 :O W]E OBLIG$ TO BE MONEYL5D]S BECAUSE ( CL]ICAL RE/RICTIONS ON !IR ACTIVITIES1 W]E SE5 AS EXACT+ USUR]S4 ,:ILE SOME ,BUNDS*UH PROGRAMS DEM&$ A FIX$ 9T]E/ RATE ( #e P]C5T1 O!R MEMB]S DEM&$ ! EXT]M9ATION ( ! ,JEWS4 ,:5 ! ,BUNDS*UH CALL$ = ! ABOLITION ( TAXES1 9CLUD+ TI!S1 &1 REM>KABLY1 CLAIM$ ! SOLE RI<T TO LEVY TAXES = ITSELF1 ! MOVEM5T BEGAN TO E/ABLI% ITSELF AS AN 9CIPI5T DUAL P[] 9 OPPOSITION TO EXI/+ PR9CELY AU?ORITY4 ,:5 IT CALL$ = ! ELECTION ( PA/ORS BY CONGREGATIONS1 ITS PROGRAM BEGAN TO RESEMBLE ?AT ( ! RADICAL ,5GLI% ,PURITANS :O1 A C5TURY & A HALF LAT]1 W\LD %AKE ! F\NDATIONS ( E/ABLI%$ REGAL AU?ORITY 7:I* CLAIM$ TO HEAD ! ,ANGLICAN ,*UR*7 ) !IR DEM&S = ! ELECTION ( M9I/]S 9 ,5GL& & ON ! ,NOR? ,AM]ICAN CONT95T4 

,:AT IS REM>KABLE AB\T ! ,BUNDS*UH IS ! HI< DEGREE ( ORGANIZATION IT CREAT$ BETWE5 #adic & #a#e#a#g1 & ! T5ACITY ( ITS MEMB]%IP1 SO UNLIKE :AT IS COMMONLY IMPUT$ TO PEASANT MOVEM5TS4 ,/RICTLY SPEAK+1 ! ,BUNDS*UH WAS A CONSPIRACY3 ILLEGAL1 IT HAD TO BE KEPT HI<LY SECRET1 & ITS MEMB]S W]E BOND$ BY OA?S1 C]EMONIES1 & COMMITM5TS TO PUNI% ANY TREA*]Y4 ,EV5 ,FRI$RI* ,5GELS EXPRESS$ HIS ADMIRATION = ! MOVEM5T1 

:I* OV]CAME ! OB/ACLES TO A MORE C5TRALIZ$ ORGANIZATION 9 SPITE ( ! FACT ?AT !Y W]E SCATT]$ OV] ! C\NTRYSIDE1 & 444 AFT] NUMB]LESS DISP]SIONS1 DEFEATS1 EXECUTIONS ( LEAD]S1 !Y R5EW$ !IR CONSPIRACIES OV] & OV] AGA91 UNTIL AN OPPORTUNITY CAME = A MASS UPHEAVAL4.<#h.> 

,9 #a#d#i#c1 C]TA9 ,BUNDS*UH LEAD]S D>+LY PLANN$ TO TAKE OV] ! CITY ( ,S*LET/ADT & ITS NE>BY MONA/]IES DUR+ ,EA/] WEEK1 EXPROPRIATE ! WEAL? ( ! CITY'S RI*1 & PROCE$ TO DO ! SAME 9 ! RE/ ( ,ALSACE4 ,! PLAN SOMEH[ BECAME KN[N TO ! AU?ORITIES1 & MANY ( ! LEAD]S W]E >RE/$ & TORTUR$4 ,/ILL O!RS W]E DRIV5 \T ( ! >EA ) !IR H&S OR F+]S BRUTALLY AMPUTAT$4 ,YET DESPITE ! FAILURE ( ! ,ALSACE MOVEM5T1 ! ,BUNDS*UH DID NOT DISAPPE>2 IT L+]$ ON 9 ! HIDD5 LIFE ( ! PEASANTRY & RESURFAC$ CONT9UALLY = ! NEXT ?IRTY YE>S 9 V>I\S P>TS ( S\!RN ,G]MANY4 ,BY ! E>LY #a#eS1 ITS MEMB]S 9 ,SPEY] HAD BROAD5$ ITS PROGRAM CONSID]ABLY TO 9CLUDE ! ABOLITION ( S]FDOM1 ! CONFISCATION ( MONA/IC & ,*UR*-[N$ E/ATES & !IR R$IVISION AMONG ! PEOPLE1 & A ,G]MANY UNIT$ UND] ! %AKY IMP]IAL CR[N4 

,AS 9 ,ALSACE1 A PLAN = A MAJOR 9SURRECTION TO TAKE OV] ! T[N ( ,BRU*SAL WAS ABORT$1 ?IS TIME BETRAY$ BY A PRIE/ TO :OM ONE ( ! MEMB]S HAD NAIVELY CONFESS$ ! PLAN4 ,! AL]T$ AU?ORITIES1 ACT+ UND] A H>% DECREE ( ! ,EMP]OR ,MAXIMILIAN1 EXT+UI%$ :AT RESI/ANCE !Y 5C\NT]$4 ,BUT ! MAJORITY ( ! ,BUNDS*UH MEMB]S W]E NEV] DISCOV]$ BY ! AU?ORITIES1 & ! MOVEM5T CONT9U$ TO EXI/ 9 DIFF]5T =MS & UND] DIFF]5T NAMES4 ,9 ,SWABIA1 9 ! ,DU*Y ( ,WURTTEMB]G1 IT *ANG$ ITS NAME FROM ,BUNDS*UH TO ,POOR ,CONRAD1 A NAME BORR[$ FROM ?AT ( AN 9NOCU\S ,CA?OLIC PEASANT FRAT]NITY4 ,9 ! UPP] ,RH9E REGION4 ,JOSS ,FRITZ1 A =M] SOLDI] & VET]AN ( ! ,ALSACE CONSPIRACY SUCCE$$ 9 UNIT+ ! PEASANTS ) KNI<TS1 DISSID5T CL]ICS1 & URBAN PLEBEIANS 9 A COMPLEX CONSPIRACY1 :I* SPREAD BACK TO ,ALSACE & 9TO ,BAD5 & ,W,URTTEMB]G4 ,AL?\< A PLOT TO TAKE ! T[N ( ,FREIBURG WAS BETRAY$ & REPRESS$ ONCE AGA91 MO/ ( ! MOVEM5T MEMB]S ESCAP$4 ,%ORTLY !REAFT]1 A CONGRESS ( ,POOR ,CONRAD 9 ! ,DU*Y ( ,WURTTEMB]G L$ TO AN UPRIS+ 9 #a#e#a#d1 :I* RECEIV$ WIDESPREAD SUPPORT [+ TO ! FAM9E CONDITIONS 9 ! >EA4 ,TOGE!R1 PEASANTS & T[N PLEBEIANS SUCCE$$ 9 TAK+ ?REE ,SWABIAN T[NS2 9DE$1 !Y EV5 MANAG$ TO GET !IR REPRES5TATIVES SEAT$ 9 ! ,WURTTEMB]G DIET1 :I* CONV5$ AT ,/UTTG>T4 ,BUT ! TREA*]\S ,DUKE ,ULRI* ORD]$ ! REPRES5TATIVES ( ! MIDDLE CLASSES TO MEET 9 AN ALT]NATIVE DIET 9 ,TUB+5 )\T ! PEASANTS4 ,! DIET DUTIFULLY PASS$ A LAW AGA9/ ! UPRIS+1 & ! DUKE GA!R$ TROOPS TO DISP]SE ! PEASANT MILITIA4 ,AL?\< /]N1 ! DUKE'S TREATM5T ( ! 0REBELS0 WAS NOT P>TICUL>LY BRUTAL2 BUT HE COMPLETELY IGNOR$ ! PEASANT DEM&S & /R5G!N$ ! LAWS AGA9/ ALL PEASANT GA!R+S 9 ! DU*Y4 ,AL?\< ! MA9 LEAD]S ( ,POOR ,CONRAD AGA9 ESCAP$1 ATTEMPTS TO REVIVE ! ,BUNDS*UH 9 ! ,BLACK ,=E/ REGION W]E EFFECTIVELY SUPPRESS$ BY ! AU?ORITIES4 ,JOSS ,FRITZ1 :O HAD LIV$ A NE>LY *>M$ LIFE ?R\< ?REE ABORTIVE 9SURRECTIONS1 FL$ TO ,SWITZ]L&1 :]E HE APP>5TLY DI$4 

,WELL BE=E ! CLIMACTIC YE>S ( ! PEASANT W> 9 ,G]MANY1 A MASS REBELLION EXPLOD$ 9 ,SWITZ]L&1 ,HUNG>Y1 & ,SLOV5IA BETWE5 #aeac & #a#e#a#e4 ,9 ,HUNG>Y1 A RELATIVELY B5IGN MON>* HAD 9ITIAT$ AGR>IAN RE=MS ?AT ! FEUDAL LORDS BITT]LY RES5T$1 & AS SOON AS !Y REGA9$ !IR AU?ORITY OV] ! ,CR[N1 ! RE=MS W]E FLAGRANTLY ANNULL$4 ,!REUPON1 ,GYORGY ,D#fSZA1 A KNI<T :O HAD E>N$ A DI/+UI%$ REPUTATION AS A MILIT>Y COMM&] & HAD ORGANIZ$ A POPUL>1 MA9LY PEASANT MILITIA TO FI<T ,TURKI% 9VAD]S1 PROCE$$ 9 #aead TO ?R[ !SE WELL-DISCIPL9$ =CES AGA9/ ! NOBILITY1 OP5+ A FULL-SCALE PEASANT W>4 ,D#fSZA PROCLAIM$ A REPUBLIC1 ABOLI%+ ! MON>*Y & ! PRIVILEGES ( ! NOBILITY1 & ONCE AGA91 AS ) ,ETI5NE ,M>CEL 9 ,P>IS TWO C5TURIES E>LI]1 ,HUNG>Y /OOD AT A DECISIVE SOCIAL JUNCTURE 9 :I* HI/ORY SEEM$ TO HOLD ITS BREA?4 

,9 FACT1 ?IS PEASANT UPRIS+ EV5 GA9$ ! WAV]+ SUPPORT ( ! URBAN MIDDLE CLASS4 ,BUT :5 ! PEASANTS BURN$ MANORS & CA/LES1 ! EV]-FE>FUL B\RGEOISIE BECAME AL>M$ &1 FE>+ TOO MILITANT A PEASANT REVOLT1 DES]T$ ! PEASANT CAUSE & ?REW !IR SUPPORT OV] TO ! NOBLES1 ON :OSE BEHALF ,JOHN ,ZAPDLYAI1 ! FUTURE K+ ( ,HUNG>Y1 HAD RAIS$ A SUB/ANTIAL >MY4 ,NOT)/&+ ! P]SI/5T BELIEF ?AT ALL PEASANT 9SURRECTIONS >E *AOTIC1 MOBLIKE AFFAIRS1 ,DDSZA'S WELL-DISCIPL9$1 SUP]BLY ORGANIZ$1 & HI<LY COMMITT$ >MY F\<T VALIANTLY & /UBBORNLY1 BUT ,ZAPOLYAI'S COMB9$ =CE ( URBAN BUR<]S & RURAL NOBLES RU?LESSLY CRU%$ IT AT ,TEMESV>4 ,) ?IS MILIT>Y VICTORY1 ! ,HUNG>IAN NOBILITY ASSEMBL$ 9 A DIET & PROCLAIM$ S]FDOM AS A P]MAN5T CONDITION1 ESS5TIALLY FREEZ+ ! HI/ORY ( !IR C\NTRY = C5TURIES TO COME4 

,! ,R,E,=,M,A,T,I,O,N 

,9 ! ,G]MAN-SPEAK+ >EAS ( ! ,HOLY ,ROMAN ,EMPIRE1 MANY IDEOLOGICAL FACTORS--! ,RE=MATION & ITS RADICAL (FSPR+--CAME 9TO PLAY ?AT SEEM$ TO *ALL5GE ! AU?ORITY ( ! RUL+ ELITES & ?AT GAVE A /RONG CULTURAL $GE TO ! PEASANTS' ECONOMIC DEM&S4 

,! ,RE=MATION WAS GREATLY FUEL$ BY ! COMPLEX 9T]PLAY ( POLITICAL & SOCIAL =CES ?AT EM]G$ 9 ! CLOS+ YE>S ( ! ,MIDDLE ,AGES4 ,BY ! SIXTE5? C5TURY1 A BROAD 9TELLECTUAL & POPUL> MOVEM5T1 SUPPORT$ BY ! EM]G+ ,EUROPEAN MON>*S1 /OOD OPPOS$ TO A ?OR\<LY CORRUPT & DECAD5T ,*UR*4 ,9 ,5GL&1 ,H5RY ,V,I,I,I HAD SEV]$ HIS C\NTRY'S TIES ) ,ROME COMPLETELY1 :ILE ,FRANCE & ,SPA91 = !IR P>T1 HAD GA9$ ! RI<T TO APPO9T !IR [N BI%OPS1 A RI<T ?AT 9ITIALLY BELONG$ TO ! ,VATICAN4 ,UND] !SE CONDITIONS ! ,*UR* SEEM$ LIKE A USELESS1 SELF-P]PETUAT+ >TIFACT ?AT FROZE VA/ L&HOLD+S FROM WID] SOCIAL ACCESSIBILITY1 ACCUMULAT$ AN 9CALCULABLY L>GE TREASURE ?AT ! RIS+ NATIONAL ECONOMIES ( ,EUROPE SORELY NE$$1 & SUPPORT$ A SWOLL5 HI]>*Y ( ECCLESIA/ICAL & BUREAUCRATIC P>ASITES :O MADE NO PRODUCTIVE CONTRIBUTION TO ! MAT]IAL WELL-BE+ ( SOCIETY4 ,AT ! SAME TIME1 ABBOTS & BI%OPS1 MANY ( :OM W]E ALSO PR9CELY L&[N]S1 TRI$ TO EXACT 9CREAS+ REV5UES FROM ! PEASANTS AS ZEAL\SLY AS ! LAY PR9CES4 

,?US1 IT WAS NOT ONLY ! EM]G+ B\RGEOISIE :O OPPOS$ ! ,*UR*1 :OSE SY/EM ( *>ITIES BLOCK$ (F :AT C\LD HAVE BE5 A RES]VE LABOR =CE = CAPITALI/S TO EXPLOIT2 RA!R1 RE=MATION HAD BECOME A PRESS+ NE$ = ALMO/ ALL /RATA ( SOCIETY3 MANORIAL LORDS AS WELL AS PEASANTS1 MON>*S AS WELL AS NOBLES1 URBAN PATRICIANS AS WELL AS PLEBEIANS1 9DE$ EV]YONE EXCEPT ! DESP]ATELY POOR :O LIV$ ON ,*UR* H&\TS4 ,EV5 FEUDAL LORDS VIEW$ ! ,*UR* AS AN IMM5SE DRA9 ON !IR RES\RCES & DREAM$ ( EXPROPRIAT+ MONA/IC L&S & ECCLESIA/ICAL WEAL?4 

,RE=MATION WAS 9 ! AIR--BUT :AT K9D ( RE=MATION W\LD IT BE8 ,! V>I\S DEM&S = RE=M W]E VAGUELY DIVID$ ALONG CONFLICT+ CLASS L9ES UNTIL ! ,GREAT ,PEASANT ,W> SORT$ !M 9TO CLE>LY DEF9ABLE POSITIONS4 ,! RE=M]S ESS5TIALLY DIFF]$ ACCORD+ TO :E!R *ANGES W\LD S]VE NATIONALISM AGA9/ ,CA?OLIC UNIV]SALISM1 ! TEMPORAL P[]S AGA9/ ! ECCLESIA/ICAL ONES1 ! WEAL?Y AGA9/ ! POOR1 ! PR9CES AGA9/ ! PEASANTS--OR ! PEASANTS AGA9/ ! OPPRESSIVE NOBILITY G5]ALLY4 

,L,U,!,R ,& ,! ,S,W,A,B,I,A,N ,L,E,A,G,U,E 

,9 #a#e#a#g1 :ILE ! EV]-ACTIVE ,JOSS ,FRITZ WAS 5GAG+ 9 ! LA/ EPISODE ( HIS REBELLI\S LIFE 9 ! ,BLACK ,=E/ REGION1 ,M>T9 ,LU!R PO/$ HIS FAM\S N9ETY-FIVE !SES ON ! CA/LE *UR* DOOR ( ,WITT5B]G1 *ALL5G+ PAPAL HI]>*Y & MOV+ ,*RI/IAN PRECEPT AWAY FROM A FAI? /RUCTUR$ >\ND ! ,CA?OLIC ,*UR* TO A FAI? BAS$ ON P]SONAL BELIEF4 ,AS A DOCTR9E1 ,LU!RANISM WAS M>K$LY SUBJECTIVE2 IT EMPHASIZ$ ! 9N] LI<T ( FAI? OV] ! \T] REALITY ( DE$S & RITUALS4 ,AL?\< ,LU!R'S CRITICISMS ( 9DULG5CES1 ( PAPAL AU?ORITY OV] TEMPORAL ,G]MAN RUL]S1 & ( ! WIDESPREAD CORRUPTION 9 ,ROME W]E NOT /RIK+LY 9NOVATIVE--!Y HAD1 9 FACT1 ALREADY BE5 VOIC$ BY MANY CL]ICS ?R\<\T ! ,HOLY ,ROMAN ,EMPIRE & ELSE:]E--HIS ATTACK CAME AT A V]Y /RATEGIC TIME1 :5 VIRTUALLY ALL /RATA ( ,G]MAN SOCIETY W]E ALI5AT$ FROM ,ROME = A HO/ ( MAT]IAL1 SPIRITUAL1 & POLITICAL REASONS4 

,) SUPPORT FROM ! PR9CES1 URBAN CLASSES1 & PEASANTS1 ,LU!R'S AIMS EVOLV$ FROM M]E RE=M ( ! EXI/+ ,*UR* 9TO \TRI<T REBELLION AGA9/ IT1 9DE$ T[>D ! E/ABLI%M5T ( A NATIONAL *UR* ?AT WAS AK9 9 MANY RESPECTS TO ! ,*UR* ( ,5GL& ?AT HIS CONTEMPOR>Y1 ,H5RY ,V,I,I,I1 HAD CREAT$4 ,9 HIS #aeb ,ADDRESS TO ! ,*RI/IAN ,NOBILITY ( ! ,G]MAN ,NATION1 ,LU!R /RUCK A BL[ = A TOTAL BREAK ) ,ROME1 DEM&+ ! CREATION ( A UNIQUELY ,G]MAN CL]GY ) ITS [N BI%OPS4 ,SU* WRIT+S :ETT$ ! APPETITE ( ,G]MAN NOBLES ( ALL LEVELS = ,*UR*-[N$ L&S4 ,AT ! SAME TIME ,LU!R'S T5OR HAD C]TA9 REM>KABLY DEMOCRATIC FEATURES1 SU* AS AN APPEAL TO FAI? RA!R ?AN OB$I5CE TO ECCLESIA/ICAL HI]>*IES1 & HIS LANGUAGE WAS R$OL5T ( AN APO/OLIC ,*RI/IANITY ?AT RESONAT$ DEEPLY ) PEASANT & PLEBEIAN ASPIRATIONS = COMMUNAL AUTONOMY4 ,PAMPHLET AFT] PAMPHLET WRITT5 BY ,LU!R & HIS SUPPORT]S F$ ! ASPIRATIONS = A BETT] LIFE ( PEASANTS & S]FS1 :O W]E *AF+ UND] 9CREAS+LY SEV]E FEUDAL EXACTIONS1 ! GR[? ( PR9CELY P[]1 & EXPLOITATION BY WEAL?Y MONA/IC ORD]S & BI%OPS4 

,NOR WAS ! PEASANTRY ! ONLY SOCIAL GR\P TO FEEL ITSELF ?REAT5$ BY ! APPETITES ( ! RUL+ PR9CES & ! ,*UR*2 ! LESS] NOBILITY 9 ! ,HOLY ,ROMAN ,EMPIRE ALSO SUFF]$ A MAJOR ]OSION ( ITS P[] AT ! EXP5SE ( ! DYNA/IC T]RITORIAL PR9CES :O RUL$ ! MAJOR PR9CIPALITIES ( ,G]MANY4 ,AS ! AU?ORITY ( ! PR9CES 9CREAS$1 ! AU?ORITY ( ! NOBILITY DIM9I%$1 PRODUC+ UNRE/ AMONG ! B>ONS & KNI<TS4 ,GIV5 ! OPPORTUNITY1 ! LESS] NOBLES CORRESPOND+LY S\<T TO CREATE A 0DEMOCRACY ( NOBLES0--( ! LESS] NOBILITY--?AT W\LD REUNITE ! EMPIRE L>GELY UND] !IR CONTROL1 & !REBY 5HANCE !IR [N P[] OV] ! AGR>IAN ECONOMY4 ,!SE ASPIRATIONS PR(\NDLY AFFECT$ ! /ATUS ( FREE PEASANTS1 :OM ! NOBLES PLANN$ TO 5S]F1 AS WELL AS S]FS1 :OSE BURD5S W\LD BE 9CREAS$1 & ! RURAL POOR G5]ALLY1 :O W\LD SUFF] ! LOSS ( COMMON L&S ?AT TRADITIONALLY BELONG$ TO PEASANT VILLAGES4 

,P]HAPS MORE SO ?AN ANY O!R /RATUM1 ! NOBLES WANT$ A ,G]MAN ,*UR* ?AT W\LD 5D ! P[] ( ! L&$ MONA/]IES & CL]ICAL PR9CES1 ! SECUL>IZATION ( CL]ICAL /ATES & E/ATES1 & ULTIMATELY ! ELIM9ATION ( PR9CELY P[]4 ,9 #a#e#b#b1 ,ULRI* VON ,HUTT5 TRI$ TO USE AN OLD LEAGUE ( ,RH5I%1 ,SWABIAN1 & ,FRANCONIAN NOBLES--! ,SWABIAN ,LEAGUE--TO PROMOTE !SE AIMS BY =CE ( >MS4 ,HUTT5 AMASS$ A NOBLE >MY ?AT C\LD BE DIRECT$ NOT ONLY AGA9/ ! ,*UR* BUT ALSO AGA9/ ! T]RITORIAL PR9CES1 & ) ,FRANZ VON ,SICK+5 AS ITS MILIT>Y COMM&]1 ! ,LEAGUE'S =CES ATTEMPT$ TO /AGE A C\P AGA9/ ! CL]ICAL /ATES1 P>TICUL>LY ! ELECTOR>*BI%OP ( ,TRI]4 

,! ATTEMPT FAIL$4 ,BY ITSELF1 ! NOBILITY W]E NOT /RONG 5\< TO PREVAIL MILIT>ILY AGA9/ ! PR9CES4 ,NOT ONLY W]E ! PR9CES TOO P[]FUL1 BUT NEI!R ! PEASANTS NOR ! T[NSPEOPLE W]E WILL+ TO MAKE COMMON CAUSE ) ! LESS] NOBLES 9 A PLAN TO 9CREASE !IR P[]2 9DE$1 ! PEASANTS S\<T TO ABOLI% ALL ! PRIVILEGES ( ! NOBILITY1 HI<] OR L[]4 ,9/EAD ( CALL+ = ! ABOLITION ( S]FDOM TO GA9 PEASANT SUPPORT1 ,HUTT5 M]ELY DECLAIM$ AGA9/ ,ROME AS ! S\RCE ( ALL ! ILLS ( ! TIME4 ,! =CES ( ! ,SWABIAN ,LEAGUE W]E DEFEAT$ AT ,TRI]1 :]E ,SICK+5 WAS KILL$4 ,HUTT51 :O FL$1 DI$ %ORTLY AFT]4 ,!REAFT] ! NOBILITY'S P[] WAS DEF9ITIVELY BROK51 & ! NOBLES W]E =C$ TO SUBMIT TO ! PR9CES1 UND] :OSE PROTECTION & LEAD]%IP ! LESS] NOBLES W]E TO REMA9 = C5TURIES4 ,9DE$1 BY ! MID-#a#e#bS1 AS ! EMPIRE FRAGM5T$1 ! PR9CES W]E CLE>LY ASC5DANT4 ,EV5 ! URBAN PATRICIANS BECAME L>GELY DEP5D5T UPON !M1 AS DID ,LU!R1 :O W$D$ HIMSELF TO ?IS REALIGNM5T ( ! ,G]MAN UPP] CLASSES4 ,ACCORD+LY1 ! ,LU!RAN ,*UR* LO/ :ATEV] SOCIAL & POLITICAL 9DEP5D5CE ( ! RUL+ CLASSES IT HAD HAD1 & ! DEMOCRATIC T5OR 9 ,LU!R'S [N WRIT+S WAN$ OM9\SLY1 ! WRIT+S BECOM+ MORE OLIG>*ICAL & COMMITT$ TO ! AU?ORITY ( ! TEMPORAL RUL]S4 

,AL?\< IT IS TEMPT+ TO SEE ,LU!R'S EMPHASIS ON 09W>DNESS0 & HIS [N %>PLY ET*$ P]SONALITY AS EXPRESSIONS ( 0B\RGEOIS 9DIVIDUALITY10 HE WAS H>DLY ! BE>] ( IDEOLOGICAL TRAPP+S = AN EM]G+ 9DIVIDUALI/IC ,G]MAN B\RGEOISIE AGA9/ A CORPORATE FEUDAL SOCIETY4 ,9 FACT1 QUITE ! OPPOSITE IS TRUE4 ,9 CONTRA/ TO ! ,CALV9I/ ASPECT ( ! ,RE=MATION1 ,LU!RANISM DID LITTLE TO FAVOR B\RGEOIS 9T]E/S 9 ,EUROPE2 9DE$1 = ,G]MANY1 IT M>K$ A DECID$ SETBACK4 ,! ,RE=MATION 9 ,G]MANY L>GELY PROVID$ AN IDEOLOGICAL PAT9A = L&LORDISM1 NOT = COMM]CE1 & = ! PR9CES1 NOT = ! BUR<] CLASS1 :I* SUPPORT$ IT MORE \T ( FE> ( ! PEASANTS' W> & ! PEASANTS' PLEBEIAN ALLIES 9 ! T[NS ( C5TRAL ,EUROPE ?AN \T ( ANY PR(\ND RELIGI\S CONVICTIONS ( !IR [N4 

,9 FACT1 ,LU!R1 BY ALLY+ HIMSELF ) ! AGR>IAN PR9CELY & URBAN PATRICIAN ELEM5TS 9 ,G]MAN-SPEAK+ >EAS1 RA!R ?AN ! BUR<]S1 FUR!R$ ! FRAGM5TATION ( ! EMPIRE 9TO MANY K+DOMS1 PR9CEL+S1 DUK$OMS1 & IMP]IAL CITIES1 :I*1 F> FROM FO/]+ A B\RGEOIS DEVELOPM5T1 ESS5TIALLY OB/RUCT$ IT4 ,LU!RAN 09W>DNESS0 ESS5TIALLY BECAME A GOSPEL ( QUIETISM & OB$I5CE ?AT WAS ANY?+ BUT COMPATIBLE ) ! AGGRESSIVE EGOTISM *>ACT]I/IC ( ! B\RGEOIS SPIRIT1 & ITS POLITICAL EFFECTS W]E TO FAVOR ,G]MANY'S DISMEMB]M5T 9 OPPOSITION TO ANY ATTEMPTS TO UNIFY ! EMPIRE OR PRODUCE A NATION-/ATE4 

,9 FAVOR+ SUBMISSION TO TEMPORAL P[]1 ,LU!RAN ,PROTE/ANTISM CON=M$ COMPLETELY ) ! 9T]E/S ( ! ,G]MAN PR9CES & LAT] ) ! ,SC&9AVIAN MON>*S1 :O W]E TO EAG]LY ADOPT IT TO /R5G!N !IR [N SOV]EIGNTY4 ,AL?\< ! ,LU!RAN ,*UR* MADE F> MORE DOCTR9AL & LITURGICAL *ANGES ?AN DID ! ,ANGLICAN ,*UR* E/ABLI%$ BY ,H5RY ,V,I,I,I 7:I* L>GELY SUBORD9AT$ ,ROMAN ,CA?OLIC DOCTR9E TO ! MON>*Y71 ,LU!RAN CL]ICS EV5TUALLY W]E R$UC$ TO M]E BUREAUCRATIC SUPPORTS ( ,G]MAN PR9CES & ,SC&9AVIAN K+S4 ,AS ,D4 ,RIAZANOV OBS]VES1 0,LU!RANISM BECAME ! RELIGION ( ! ECONOMICALLY BACKW>D C\NTRIES4 ,IT SPREAD 9 NOR!RN & WE/]N ,G]MANY1 ,D5M>K & ,SW$51 :]E ! PR9CES1 BI%OPS & ! L&LORDS BECAME ! PROTECTORS ( ! ,LU!RAN ,*UR*40.<#i.> 

,! TRANS=MATION ?AT WAS TAK+ PLACE 9 ,LU!RANISM NOT)/&+1 ! PEASANTS /ILL ID5TIFI$ ) ! E>LY APO/OLIC TONE ( ,LU!R1 :OSE APPEALS TO FAI? & ! ,BIBLE SEEM$ TO LEGITIMATE !IR DEM&S = A MORE EGALIT>IAN SOCIETY4 ,9 REALITY1 !Y W]E FOLL[+ 9 ! WAKE ( ! RADICAL ,RE=MATION CL]ICS :O VOIC$ ! QUASI-MY/ICAL MILL5>IANISM ?AT !Y ]RONE\SLY ASSOCIAT$ ) ,LU!R'S NAME & TEA*+S4 ,*AF+ UND] FEUDAL EXACTIONS1 ! PEASANTS SAW ! ,RE=MATION1 P>TICUL>LY AS VOIC$ BY MY/ICAL CL]ICS SU* AS ,BAL?AS> ,HUBMAI] & ,?OMAS ,MI9Z]1 AS A RETURN TO ! OLD EGALIT>IAN IDEAS ADVANC$ 9 ,ACTS & 9 PREA*+S DIRECTLY ASCRIB$ TO ,JESUS4 ,IT WAS 9 ?IS HI<LY *>G$ IDEOLOGICAL AS WELL AS ECONOMIC & SOCIAL 5VIRONM5T ?AT FROM ! E>LY #a#eS ! V>I\S LOCAL REBELLIONS & G5]AL UNRE/ COLLECT$ 9TO ! CLIMACTIC /RUGGLES ?AT CAME TO BE KN[N AS ! ,PEASANT ,W>1 P>TICUL>LY 9 ! FATEFUL YE>S ( #aebd & #a#e#b#e4 

,! ,S,C,O,P,E ,( ,! ,P,E,A,S,A,N,T ,W,> 

,! ,PEASANT ,W> 0PROP]0 7AS IT HAS BE5 CALL$ BY SOME HI/ORIANS7 ( #aebd & #aebe WAS NOT AN EASILY DEL9EABLE CONFLICT4 ,IT BEGAN 9 DIFF]5T PLACES MU* E>LI] ?AN #aebd & EXT5D$ WELL BEYOND #a#e#b#e--REA*+ 9TO ,ALSACE & ! ,PALAT9ATE--& IT CAN BE SAID TO M>K ! CULM9ATION ( *RONIC UPRIS+S & UNRE/ ?AT DATE BACK C5TURIES BE=E ! #a#eS4 ,NO ONE REGION F\<T ! UPP] CLASSES EXCLUSIVELY ON ITS [N2 V>I\S TROOPS TRI$ TO AID EA* O!R :5 !Y C\LD1 & AS ONE WAS SUPPRESS$ IT PROVID$ RECRUITS TO PEASANT TROOPS ?AT W]E /ILL 9 ! FIELD ELSE:]E4 ,ASIDE FROM ! *RONIC /RUGGLES 9 ! LATE ,MIDDLE ,AGES BETWE5 PEASANTS1 URBAN PLEBEIANS1 & !IR OV]LORDS1 ! W> HAS A DI/9CTIVE PLACE 9 ANY *RONICLE ( ,EUROPEAN REVOLUTION>Y MOVEM5TS OV] ! PA/ FIVE C5TURIES4 

,BUT WE CAN S+LE \T ?REE DI/9CT BUT 9T]RELAT$ CONFLICTS1 EA* ( :I* DIFF]$ REGIONALLY & TEMPORALLY OV] A SPAN ( A YE>--:I* IS NOT TO D5Y ! W>'S LONG PRELUDE & EXT5D$ SEQUELAE4 ,! FIR/ ( ! W>S C5T]$ 9 S\?WE/]N ,G]MANY1 NOTABLY ! ,BLACK ,=E/ & ,UPP] ,SWABIA1 DIRECTLY ADJAC5T TO NOR!RN ,SWITZ]L& & OV]LAPP+ NOR!A/]N ,AU/RIA4 ,?IS CONFLICT BEGAN 9 ! LATE SPR+ & E>LY SUMM] ( #aebd & LA/$ WELL 9TO ! FIR/ HALF ( #a#e#b#e4 ,9 ?IS >EA1 AS ,SCOTT & ,SCRIBN] OBS]VE1 ! 0BALANCE %EET ( ! REBELLION 444 WAS RA!R UNTIDY10 BECAUSE1 ITS MANY 9NOVATIONS NOT)/&+1 0IT WAS LACK+ 9 POLITICAL /AM9A OR DET]M9ATION1 & TOO EASILY DREW BACK FROM REALIZ+ ! IMPLICATIONS ( ! POLITICAL =MS IT HAD CREAT$40.<#a.> 

,! SECOND ( ! W>S BROKE \T 9 ,WLLRTTEMBURG & ,FRANCONIA1 9 S\?C5TRAL ,G]MANY1 & GOT UND] WAY 9 MID-,APRIL #a#e#b#e4 ,9 ?IS REGION1 URBAN COMMUNITIES PLAY$ A MAJOR ROLE1 & ! REBELS W]E MORE RADICAL 9 !IR GOALS & RESOLUTE 9 !IR S5SE ( PURPOSE4 ,BUT ?IS W> DID NOT LA/ LONG4 ,AFT] A S]IES ( EASY VICTORIES1 IT CONT9U$ 9TO ! E>LY SUMM]1 BUT BEGAN TO DECL9E RAPIDLY :5 PEASANT TROOPS FAIL$ TO TAKE ! ,M>I5B]G =TRESS AFT] A TW[EEK SIEGE 9 LATE ,MAY & E>LY ,JUNE4 

,! ?IRD ( ! W>S HAD ITS LOCUS 9 EA/-C5TRAL ,G]MANY1 MO/ FAM\SLY 9 ,?UR+IA 7:]E ,?OMAS ,ML9Z] CREAT$ HIS CELEBRAT$ ,ET]NAL ,LEAGUE ( ,GOD AT ,M,UHLHAUS571 REA*+ ,HESSE & EXT5D+ 9TO ,SAXONY TO ! EA/1 9DE$ AS F> AS ,BOHEMIA4 ,9 ?IS REGION ! W> BEGAN >\ND ! SAME TIME AS ! ,WURTTEMB]G-,FRANCONIAN CONFLICT & WAS ESS5TIALLY SUPPRESS$ BE=E ! 5D ( ,MAY #a#e#b#e4 

,:AT 9ITIALLY IGNIT$ ! FIR/ ( ! SWEEP+ 9SURRECTIONS ( PEASANTS AGA9/ LORDS SEEMS ALMO/ A TRIVIAL PROVOCATION4 ,ON ,JUNE #b#c1#a#e#b#d1 ! ,C\NTESS ( ,LUPF5-,/UHL+5 9 ,HEGAU1 9 S\?WE/]N ,WURTTEMB]G1 ORD]$ H] PEASANTS TO COLLECT SNAILS & /RAWB]RIES = A BANQUET4 ,9 ITSELF1 ! ORD] WAS NOT UNUSUAL2 BUT %E ISSU$ IT AT A TIME ( ! YE> :5 ! PEASANTS W]E HA/5+ TO GA!R !IR HAY4 ,! ,LAKE ,CON/ANCE >EA1 9 :I* ,HEGAU WAS LOCAT$1 HAD ALREADY BE5 HI<LY RADICALIZ$1 & H] >ROGANT DEM& 9FURIAT$ ! PEASANTS1 :O ASSEMBL$ TOGE!R & DREW UP A LI/ ( SIXTY-TWO GRIEVANCES ?AT PROTE/$ EXCESSIVE TAXES1 =C$ LABOR1 ! SEIZURE ( COMMON L&S1 ! LOSS ( TRADITIONAL LEGAL PR9CIPLES1 & ! >BITR>Y RULE ( ! NOBILITY4 ,A ?\S& ,/UHL+5 T5ANTS1 BE>+ SU* >MS AS !Y C\LD GET1 ELECT$ AN EXTRAORD9>ILY GIFT$ LEAD]1 ! PR(ESSIONAL SOLDI] OR ,L&SKNE*T ,HANS ,MULL]1 AS !IR CAPTA91 :O ORGANIZ$ !M 9TO A HI<LY DISCIPL9$ & EFFECTIVE =CE4 

,9 ,AUGU/1 ?IS =CE M>*$ S\?WE/ TO ,WALD%UT1 A T[N ON ! ,RH9E AB\T =TY MILES FROM ,ZURI*4 ,A WELL-*OS5 URBAN BASE = AN 9SURRECTION1 ,WALD%UT HAD ALREADY BE5 /IRR$ UP BY RADICAL RE=M]S :O HAD ALL BUT WON OV] ! CITIZ5RY AGA9/ ! TEMPORAL & CL]ICAL P[]S4 ,! ,RH5I% T[N'S PATRICIANS W]E ,LU!RANS1 BUT ITS PA/OR WAS A RADICAL ,ZW+LIAN & ITS PLEBEIANS HAD BE5 9FLU5C$ BY ! FI]Y PREA*+S ( ,&REAS ,BOD5/E9 ( ,C>L/ADT & BY ! 9C5DI>Y CL]IC ,?OMAS ,MILNZ]1 :O WAS LAT] TO FIGURE SO PROM95TLY 9 ! PEASANT UPRIS+ 9 ,?UR+IA4 ,! T[NSPEOPLE W]E SYMPA!TIC TO ! PEASANT =CES & =M$ AN ALLIANCE ) !M--9 FACT1 EV5 NE>BY ,ZURI* GAVE !M ACTIVE ASSI/ANCE1 9CLUD+ VOLUNTE]S4 ,AT ?IS TIME ,WALD%UT WAS ITSELF 9 REVOLT AGA9/ ITS ,AU/RIAN RUL]S1 DEM&+ ! /ATUS ( A FREE CITY1 BUT ! ,AU/RIANS W]E MU* TOO OCCUPI$ ) IMP]IAL AFFAIRS 9 ,ITALY TO GIVE ANY S]I\S ATT5TION TO A LOCAL REVOLT4 ,AS A RESULT1 ,MULL]'S PEASANT =CES SUCCE$$ 9 FULLY OCCUPY+ ,WALD%UT 9 ,OCTOB] #a#e#b#d1 MAK+ IT ONE ( ! C5T]S ( ! PEASANT UPRIS+S 9 S\?WE/ ,G]MANY4 

,! REMNANTS ( ! ,SWABIAN ,LEAGUE =M$ ! SOLE MILIT>Y BODY 9 S\!RN ,G]MANY ON :I* ! PR9CES & NOBILITY C\LD RELY1 BUT ) ONLY #a1#g TROOPS IT LACK$ SUFFICI5T /R5G? TO OV]COME ,MULL]'S PEASANT =CES1 :I* NUMB]$ #c1#e BY ,OCTOB] #a#e#b#d4 ,ACCORD+LY1 ! NOBLES1 AS !Y HAD SO (T5 HAD DONE 9 ! PA/ & W\LD CONT9UE TO DO 9 ! FUTURE1 (F]$ TRUCE NEGOTIATIONS TO /ALL ! PEASANTS1 :ILE 5L>G+ & >M+ !IR [N =CES4 ,BY CONC$+ = A TIME TO MANY ( ! PEASANTS' DEM&S1 !Y =E/ALL$ ! POSSIBILITY ( A DECISIVE PEASANT VICTORY1 :I* WAS CLE>LY 9 ! (F+ HAD ! REBELS ATTACK$4 ,! UPRIS+ 9 !SE E>LY /AGES WAS /ILL RELATIVELY PEACEFUL4 ,OLD HABITS ( S]VILITY HELD ! PEASANTS 9 T[3 >M$ ?\< !Y W]E1 !Y BEHAV$ MORE LIKE PETITION]S ?AN ! =MIDABLE 9SURRECTION>IES !Y C\LD HAVE BE54 

,NONE!LESS1 ! REVOLT SUBSEQU5TLY SWEPT ?R\< ! RE/ ( ! ,HEGAU REGION1 MU* ( ! ,G]MAN-,SWISS FRONTI] >EA1 & EA/W>D 9TO ! ,ALLGAU REGION 79 :AT IS N[ S\?WE/]N ,BAV>IA74 ,E>LI] ,G]MAN PEASANT REVOLTS HAD ALWAYS BE5 FRAGM5T>Y & LIMIT$1 L>GELY CONF9$ TO RECLAIM+ TRADITIONAL RI<TS = !IR P>TICUL> >EA1 :I* (T5 W]E QUITE DIFF]5T FROM ?OSE ( A NE>BY REGION4 ,:AT GAVE ! ,PEASANT ,W> A NEW COHESION WAS ! PEASANTS' %>$ BELIEF ?AT !Y W]E SUPPORT$ BY DIV9E LAW AGA9/ GRASP+ BI%OPS & ABBOTS EV]Y:]E1 & BY !IR DREAM ( A GODLY1 EGALIT>IAN SOCIETY4 ,FROM ! ,BLACK ,=E/ REGION1 ! W> RAC$ T[>D ! NOR!A/ LIKE A HUGE TIDE1 REA*+ ,UPP] ,SWABIA BY ! SPR+ ( #a#e#b#e4 

,! ,>,T,I,C,L,E,S ,( ,M,E,M,M,+,5 

,9 ,M>* #aebe REPRES5TATIVES ( ! PEASANT B&S 9 ! S\?WE/ ASSEMBL$ 9 A G5]AL P>LIAM5T AT ,MEMM+51 ! PR9CIPAL T[N 9 ,UPP] ,SWABIA1 TO =MULATE A COMMON PROGRAM4 ,! DOCUM5T !Y PRODUC$1 0,! ,TWELVE ,>TICLES ( ! ,PEASANTS10 WAS P]MEAT$ ) ,*RI/IAN PIETY & S\<T TO REFUTE ! IDEA1 HELD BY ! HORRIFI$ ELITES1 ?AT ! PEASANTS W]E TEA*+ 

?AT NO ONE %\LD OBEY BUT ALL %\LD EV]Y:]E RISE 9 REVOLT & RU% TOGE!R TO RE=M OR P]HAPS DE/ROY ALTOGE!R ! AU?ORITIES1 BO? ECCLESIA/IC & LAY4444 ,! >TICLES BEL[ %ALL ANSW] !SE GODLESS & CRIM9AL FAULTF9D]S1 & S]VE 9 ! FIR/ PLACE TO REMOVE ! REPROA* FROM ! WORD ( ,GOD1 & 9 ! SECOND PLACE TO GIVE A ,*RI/IAN EXCUSE = ! DISOB$I5CE OR EV5 ! REVOLT ( ! 5TIRE ,PEASANTRY4.<#a#a.> 

,BUT 9 ! FIR/ ( ! TWELVE >TICLES1 ! PEASANTS CLAIM$ = !MSELVES ! RI<T TO 0*OOSE & APPO9T A PA/OR0 & 0! RI<T TO DEPOSE HIM %\LD HE CONDUCT HIMSELF IMPROP]LY40 ,?IS *OS5 PA/OR WAS TO TEA* ! PEASANTS 0! ,GOSPEL PURE & SIMPLE1 )\T ANY ADDITION1 DOCTR9E OR ORD9ANCE ( MAN40 ,! DEM& WAS BY NO MEANS A FRIVOL\S ONE4 ,! RI<T ( A COMMUNITY TO *OOSE ITS PA/OR 9 A WORLD :]E ONLY ! ELITE CLAIM$ ?IS 9ITIATIVE WAS 9 ITSELF A SUBV]SION ( ! E/ABLI%$ ORD] ( ?+S3 9 FRET1 BY IMPLICATION1 IT NOT ONLY *ALL5G$ ! PR(ESSIONAL CL]GY BY /R5G!N+ ! P[]S ( ! VILLAGE COMMUNE1 BUT ?REAT5$ ! CIVIL HI]>*Y ITSELF4 

,! SECOND >TICLE DULY ACKN[L$G$ ?AT ,SCRIPTURE OBLIG$ ! PEASANTS TO PAY A 0JU/ TI!0 9 GRA9 TO ,*UR* AU?ORITIES1 BUT ?IS TI!1 ! PEASANTS 9SI/$1 WAS N[ TO BE COLLECT$ BY AN ELECT$ PROVO/--0:OMSOEV] ! COMMUNITY MAY APPO9T0--!REBY *ALL5G+ A FUNDAM5TAL P[] ( ! NOBLES TO *OOSE VILLAGE CL]ICS4 ,! PROCE$S W]E TO BE US$ TO PROVIDE ! *OS5 PA/OR & HIS FAMILY ) 0A DEC5T & SUFFICI5T MA9T5ANCE01 & NO?+ MORE4 ,BEYOND ! AM\NT NE$$ = ?IS MA9T5ANCE1 ALL FUNDS COLLECT$ FROM ! TI! W]E TO BE DI/RIBUT$ AMONG ! POOR & US$ TO 0AVOID LAY+ ANY L& TAX ON ! POOR40 ,! PEASANTS REFUS$ TO PAY ANY ADDITIONAL 0UNSEEMLY TI! ?AT IS ( MAN'S 9V5TION10 :E!R IT BE 0ECCLESIA/ICAL OR LAY0--ANO!R GANTLET ?AT WAS ?R[N D[N TO EXI/+ TEMPORAL & SPIRITUAL P[]S ALIKE4 

,! ?IRD ,MEMM+5 >TICLE DEF9$ ALL OBLIGATIONS 9 PURELY P]SONAL T]MS & BLUNTLY CALL$ = AN 5D TO S]FDOM1 DECL>+3 

,IT HAS BE5 ! CU/OM HI!RTO = M5 TO HOLD US AS !IR [N PROP]TY1 :I* IS PITIABLE 5\<1 CONSID]+ ?AT ,*RI/ HAS DELIV]$ & R$EEM$ US ALL1 )\T EXCEPTION1 BY ! %$D+ ( ,HIS PRECI\S BLOOD1 ! L[LY AS WELL AS ! GREAT4 ,ACCORD+LY1 IT IS CONSI/5T ) ,SCRIPTURE ?AT WE %\LD BE FREE & WI% TO BE SO4 ,NOT ?AT WE W\LD WI% TO BE ABSOLUTELY FREE & UND] NO AU?ORITY4 ,GOD DOES NOT TEA* US ?AT WE %\LD LEAD A DISORD]LY LIFE 9 ! LU/S ( ! FLE%1 BUT ?AT WE %\LD LOVE ! ,LORD \R ,GOD & \R NEI<BOR4 ,WE W\LD GLADLY OBS]VE ALL ?IS AS ,GOD HAS COMM&$ US 9 ! CELEBRATION ( ! COMMUNION4 ,HE HAS NOT COMM&$ US NOT TO OBEY ! AU?ORITIES1 BUT RA!R ?AT WE %\LD BE HUMBLE1 NOT ONLY T[>DS ?OSE 9 AU?ORITY1 BUT T[>DS EV]YONE4 ,WE >E ?US READY TO YIELD OB$I5CE ACCORD+ TO ,GOD'S LAW TO \R ELECT$ & REGUL> AU?ORITIES 9 ALL PROP] ?+S BECOM+ TO A ,*RI/IAN4 ,WE1 !RE=E1 TAKE IT = GRANT$ ?AT Y\ WILL RELEASE US FROM S]FDOM AS TRUE ,*RI/IANS1 UNLESS IT %\LD BE %[N US FROM ! ,GOSPEL ?AT WE >E S]FS4 

,BY RADICALLY 9VOK+ ,SCRIPTURE--0! ,WORD ( ,GOD0--AGA9/ TEMPORAL AU?ORITY ?IS REM>KABLE >TICLE WAS 5ORM\SLY PROVOCATIVE4 ,NOT ONLY DID IT IMPLICITLY CALL ! 5TIRE SOCIAL ORD] 9TO DISPUTE1 IT /AK$ \T A NEW CLAIM = FRE$OM ( ! 9DIVIDUAL1 9VOK+ ,*RI/IAN HUMILITY 0T[>D EV]YONE0--NOT M]ELY T[>D ONE'S SOCIAL SUP]IORS4 

,9 ! F\R? ?R\< SEV5? >TICLES ! PEASANTS W5T ON TO CLAIM ! RI<T TO HUNT GAME1 FI%1 GA!R WOOD1 & POSSESS !IR L&1 & ! RI<T TO COMMUNAL L&S 0)\T RE/RICTION10 :I* W]E TO BE ADM9I/]$ 09 A BRO!RLY & ,*RI/IAN MANN]40 ,!SE DEM&S W]E CRUCIAL2 NOT ONLY WAS !IR FULFILLM5T ECONOMICALLY NECESS>Y TO SU/A9 ! VILLAGE WAY ( LIFE BUT !Y PRESUPPOS$ A DEMOCRATIC RI<T ( ALL /RATA1 P>TICUL>LY ! PEASANTS1 TO 5JOY FULL ACCESS TO ! B\NTY ( ! NATURAL WORLD4 ,!Y DEM&$ FRE$OM FROM ! 0EXCESSIVE S]VICES0 ?AT W]E 9CREAS+LY IMPOS$ UPON !M1 & !Y ASS]T$ ?AT ! NOBILITY 0%\LD NO LONG] TRY TO =CE MORE S]VICES OR O!R DUES FROM ! PEASANT )\T PAYM5T1 BUT P]MIT ! PEASANT TO 5JOY HIS HOLD+ 9 PEACE & QUIET40 ,! EI<? >TICLE CALL$ = R5TS TO BE FIX$ ACCORD+ TO ! CAPACITY ( ! PEASANTS TO PAY--A REM>KABLE DEM& AT ANY TIME1 9 :I* NE$ RA!R ?AN GA9 DICTAT$ ECONOMIC BEHAVIOR--& ! N9?1 ?AT JU/ICE BE R5D]$ ACCORD+ TO TRADITIONAL COMMON LAW RA!R ?AN 9DIVIDUALI/IC ,ROMAN LAW4 ,! T5? >TICLE REIT]AT$ ! DEM& = ! RETURN ( COMMON L&S TO ! VILLAGE COMMUNITIES3 

WE >E AGGRIEV$ BY ! APPROPRIATION BY 9DIVIDUALS ( MEAD[S & FIELDS :I* AT ONE TIME BELONG$ TO A COMMUNITY4 ,!SE WE WILL TAKE AGA9 9TO \R [N H&S4 ,IT MAY1 H[EV]1 HAPP5 ?AT ! L& WAS RI<TFULLY PUR*AS$4 ,:51 H[EV]1 ! L& HAS UN=TUNATELY BE5 PUR*AS$ 9 ?IS WAY1 SOME BRO!RLY >RANGEM5T %\LD BE MADE ACCORD+ TO CIRCUM/ANCES4 

,! ELEV5? >TICLE DEM&$ ! ABOLITION ( ! 9H]ITANCE TAXES ?AT BURD5$ WID[S & ORPHANS ( DECEAS$ PEASANTS--A P>TICUL>LY (F5SIVE LEVY BY ! NOBLES ?AT (T5 /RIPP$ PEASANT FAMILIES ( ALL !IR BELONG+S-- :ILE ! F9AL ONE AV[$ ?AT ,SCRIPTURE WAS ! SOLE CRIT]ION BY :I* ! LEGITIMACY ( ! CLAIMS 9 ! DOCUM5T WAS TO BE JUDG$4 

,! ,TWELVE ,>TICLES ( ,MEMM+5 ?US ESS5TIALLY PLAC$ !MSELVES UND] ! PROTECTION ( ,*RI/IAN PRECEPT1 0! ,WORD ( ,GOD0 OR HOLY WRIT1 9DE$ ,GOD HIMSELF4 0,! ,WORD ( ,GOD0 BECAME A MAJOR PEASANT SLOGAN1 *ALL5G+ ALL TEMPORAL AU?ORITY ) ?AT ( ,SCRIPTURE4 ,! PEASANTS1 9 EFFECT1 W]E APPEAL+ TO A P[] ?AT !Y REG>D$ AS HI<] ?AN ?AT ( !IR LORDS & PR9CES-- H5CE ! REVOLUTION>Y CONT5T ( ! PHRASE4 ,SOCIAL LIFE WAS TO BE LIV$ ACCORD+ TO T5ETS E/ABLI%$ BY ! ,BIBLE1 NOT BY ECCLESIA/ICAL OR LAY AU?ORITIES4 ,M5 W]E TO HOLD P[] BY ELECTION1 NOT BY BIR?1 & DEAL ) O!RS ACCORD+ TO LAW1 NOT >BITR>Y JUDGM5T4 ,MO/ ( ! P]SONAL & 9/ITUTIONAL 9T]M$I>IES BETWE5 ,GOD & MAN1 EV5 BETWE5 SOCIETY & COMMUNITY1 W]E TO BE ABOLI%$1 & PEOPLE W]E TO BE REG>D$ AS NEI<BORS1 NOT AS LORD & L[LY1 OR NOBLE & S]F4 ,! AU?ORS ( ! >TICLES ?US VIEW$ SOCIETY ESS5TIALLY AS A ,*RI/IAN FRAT]NITY1 NOT AS A SOCIAL ORD] BAS$ ON RANK & PRIVILEGE4 ,9 CLOS+ ! ,>TICLES1 ! PEASANTS W>N$ ?AT !Y W\LD EXP& ! >TICLES IF IT BECAME NECESS>Y3 0IF MORE COMPLA9TS >E DISCOV]$ :I* >E BAS$ UPON TRU? & ! ,SCRIPTURES & RELATE TO (F5SES AGA9/ ,GOD & \R NEI<BOR10 !Y W]E 0DET]M9$ TO RES]VE ! RI<T TO PRES5T !SE ALSO40 

,MORE >TICLES 9 V>Y+ NUMB] EM]G$ ?R\<\T ! ,PEASANT ,W>1 SOME EV5 GO+ BEYOND ?OSE ADOPT$ AT ,MEMM+51 9CLUD+ RADICAL VISIONS ?AT /RUCK AT ! V]Y HE>T ( HI]>*ICAL SOCIETY4 ,9 ,UPP] ,SWABIA 9 ,FEBRU>Y #a#e#b#e1 :5 T5ANTS GA!R$ AT ,SON?(51 !Y DEM&$ ! ABOLITION ( ALL FEUDAL LORDS--A REVOLUTION>Y DEM& ?AT SPREAD ) ! REVOLT4 ,! 0,TWELVE ,>TICLES0 ( ! ,ALSACE PEASANTS CALL$ = ! ELECTION NOT ONLY ( PA/ORS BUT ( ALL PUBLIC (FICIALS1 & COMPLETELY REPUDIAT$ ! AU?ORITY ( ! PR9CES4 ,9 ! ,TYROL1 A PEASANT P>LIAM5T AT ,M]ANO DEM&$ ?AT ALL AU?ORITIES BE *OS5 BY ! COMMUNITIES !Y ADM9I/]$4 ,! PEASANTS CIT$ EQUALITY AS A VITAL RI<T & REPEAT$ A MAXIM ( ! ,5GLI% PEASANTS A C5TURY & A HALF E>LI]1 ASK+ BY :AT RI<T ! FIR/ NOBLE HAD HELD ! ORD9>Y PEOPLE 9 ?RALL4 

,O!R >TICLES RAIS$ DUR+ ! W> EMBODI$ IDEALS NOT ONLY ( SOCIAL BUT ( ECONOMIC EQUALITY--EQUALITY ?AT W\LD BE A*IEV$ BY RAIS+ ! CONDITION ( ! PEASANT RA!R ?AN DIM9I%+ ?AT ( ! UPP] CLASSES4 ,A DEM& WAS RAIS$ ?AT NO ONE %\LD POSSESS MORE ?AN TWO ?\S& CR[NS 9 WEAL?3 A FAIRLY SIZABLE COMPET5CE1 TO BE SURE1 BUT AN EXPLICIT RE/RICTION ?AT FL\T$ :AT ! NOBLES REG>D$ AS A MAJOR RI<T ( ANY PROP]TY [N]4 ,UTOPI/IC VISIONS CALL$ = ! ABOLITION ( ALL CAPITALI/IC 5T]PRISES & = REPUBLICAN =MS ( GOV]NM5T 9 :I* PEASANTS & NOBLES W\LD CONJO9TLY MANAGE CIVIL AFFAIRS1 & DEM&$ ?AT ! PRODUCTION ( LUXURIES BE SUPPRESS$ 9 FAVOR ( GOODS ?AT W]E MEANT TO SATISFY BASIC HUMAN NE$S4 

,! ,PEASANT ,W>1 9 EFFECT1 WAS AS ANTIB\RGEOIS AS IT WAS ANTI>I/OCRATIC4 ,PROPOSALS W]E ADVANC$ DUR+ ! C\RSE ( ! CONFLICT NOT ONLY TO ABOLI% TOLLS1 DUES1 9DIRECT TAXES1 & S]FDOM1 BUT EV5 TO LIMIT TO SOME T5 ?\S& CR[NS ! AM\NT ( CAPITAL ?AT M]*ANTS C\LD MAKE4.<#a#b.> ,?AT SU* RADICAL1 9DE$ VISION>Y1 DEM&S C\LD HAVE BE5 MADE AT PEASANT CONGRESSES & MEET+S--NOT ONLY BY RADICAL CL]ICS BUT BY PEASANT LEAD]S !MSELVES--ATTE/S TO ! UNUSUAL NATURE ( ! 9SURG5CIES ?AT SWEPT OV] C5TRAL ,EUROPE E>LY 9 ! SIXTE5? C5TURY4 

,A,L,L,I,E,S ,& ,5,E,M,I,E,S ,( ,! ,P,E,A,S,A,N,T,S 

,TO *>ACT]IZE ! ,PEASANT ,W> EXCLUSIVELY AS AN AGR>IAN MOVEM5T W\LD BE A GRAVE ]ROR1 AL?\< ! PEASANTRY CLE>LY PROVID$ ! PR9CIPAL =CE & 9SPIRATION BEH9D ! UPHEAVAL4 ,! PEASANT 9SURG5TS GA9$ SUPPORT FROM CL]ICS1 BUREAUCRATS1 (FICIALS ( ALL K9DS1 KNI<TS1 BUR<]S1 & EV5 NOBLES1 EA* /RATUM OCCUPI$ ) A*IEV+ ! REALIZATION ( ITS [N P>TICUL> 9T]E/S4 ,9 NE>LY ALL ! CITIES & T[NS ?AT W]E 9 ONE WAY OR ANO!R SWEPT 9TO ! MOVEM5T1 ! ,PEASANT ,W> PRODUC$ A G5]AL SOCIAL F]M5T1 9DUC+ RIOTS 9 CITIES SU* AS ,/RASB\RG & POPUL> ATTACKS ON ! ELITE C\NCILS ( ,MA9Z1 ,COLOGNE1 & ,RATISBON1 & ON CL]ICAL RUL]S 9 ,BAMB]G & ,SPEY]4 ,DESPITE ! PEASANTS' 9ITIALLY PEACEABLE & ,*RI/IAN APPROA*1 ! NOBILITY1 CL]ICS1 & MANY WELL-TO-DO BUR<]S W]E H>DLY SOO!D BY ! REBELS' CALL = BRO!RL9ESS BUT (T5 PANICK$ & TOOK FLI<T :5 ! PEASANTS ASSEMBL$ & M>*$ UPON !IR CA/LES1 CONV5TS & T[NS4 

,! DECL9E ( FEUDALISM1 MOREOV]1 HAD CREAT$ A SIZABLE PLEBEIAN ELEM5T ( RELATIVELY UNSKILL$ PEOPLE :O LIV$ AT ! M]CY ( ! PATRICIANS & LOCAL B\RGEOIS4 ,!SE URBAN PLEBEIANS1 F> FROM FE>+ ! PEASANTS1 (T5 SAW !MSELVES AS !IR NATURAL ALLIES & GAVE ! REBELS !IR E>NE/ SUPPORT4 ,AL?\< BEGG>S W]E EASILY B\<T (F BY ! E/ABLI%$ AU?ORITIES ) FOOD & DR9K1 !Y TOO ORGANIZ$ 9TO B&S OR 0K+DOMS0 & PLAY$ A V]Y HELPFUL ROLE AS !Y ROAM$ ! ROADS1 =M+ A COMMUNICATION SY/EM = ! PEASANTS4 ,! MIDDL+ BUR<]S1 = !IR P>T1 :O W]E (T5 5SN>$ 9 BATTLES ) URBAN PATRICIANS1 DEALT ) ! PEASANTS OPPORTUNI/ICALLY1 (T5 SUPPORT+ !M 9 ORD] TO 9TIMIDATE ! PATRICIANS1 A SUPPORT :I* ! BUR<]S EASILY )DREW1 BETRAY+ ! PEASANTS AFT] !Y A*IEV$ !IR [N 5DS--OR :5 !Y FE>$ PLEBEIAN UPRIS+S 9 !IR [N T[NS4 

,G5]ALLY1 H[EV]1 ! PEASANT DEM&S RESONAT$ ) ! POOR] CLASSES 9 ! T[NS & CITIES1 ! UNSKILL$ WORK]S & POOR >TISANS4 ,9DE$1 AS ! ,PEASANT ,W> SWEPT ACROSS ,G]MANY1 ! PEASANTRY BR\<T MANY SMOLD]+ URBAN GRIEVANCES TO ! SURFACE & VIRTUALLY TURN$ !IR MOVEM5T 9TO A NATIONAL REVOLUTION4 ,?R\<\T S\?WE/]N & C5TRAL ,G]MANY1 T[NS & CITIES T5D$ TO DIVIDE 9TO TWO GR\P+S 9 RESPONSE TO ! UPHEAVAL3 ?OSE ?AT SPOKE = ! POOR1 OR ! 0COMMUNE10 & ! RUL+ C\NCILS & WELL-TODO4 ,9 ANY GIV5 T[N1 SYMPA?Y = ! PEASANT CAUSE DEP5D$ UPON :I* HELD ! UPP] H&4 ,! M]*ANT CLASS WAS G5]ALLY WEAKE/ 9 ! SMALL] T[NS & /RONGE/ 9 ! L>G] ONES1 & IT WAS 9 !SE SMALL T[NS P]IPH]AL TO ! C5T]S ( ! EM]G+ B\RGEOISIE ?AT 0COMMUNES0 W]E ORGANIZ$1 EI!R AS CITIZ5S' ASSEMBLIES OR AS CR[DS1 EXHIBIT+ GREAT SYMPA?Y = ! PEASANT CAUSE4 ,AID CAME TO ! PEASANTS FROM ,HEILBRONN1 ,WURZBURG1 & ,RO!NBURG1 :ILE 9 ,FRANKFURT ! 0COMMUNE0 TOOK OV] ! ELITE C\NCIL & SWORE A COV5ANT ( ALLEGIANCE TO SUPPORT ! PEASANTS4 ,! ,FRANKFURT MOVEM5T DREW UP >TICLES AFFIRM+ !IR TRADITIONAL RI<TS1 :I* ! CITY'S C\NCIL ACCEPT$ & :I* CITIES AS F> TO ! NOR? AS ,MUN/] & ,OSNABRUCK US$ AS A MODEL = !IR [N 0SOCIAL CONTRACT40 

,DESPITE ITS SEEM+LY FRAGM5T>Y *>ACT]1 ! ,PEASANT ,W> DID NOT LACK WELL-ORGANIZ$ POLITICAL 9/ITUTIONS4 0,A P>LIAM5T>Y CON/ITUTION WAS DEVELOP$ 9 L>G] T]RITORIES BY E/ATES ( PEASANTS1 BUR<]S1 & M9]S10 OBS]VES ,PET] ,BLICLDE4 

,:ILE RETA9+ ! 9/ITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK444 T]RITORIAL E/ATES W]E REPLAC$ BY C\NTRYSIDES 7 ,L&S*AFT5 71 :I* 9 #aebe MEANT BO? ! REPRES5TATIVE ASSEMBLY & ALL ! REBELS 9 EA* T]RITORY4 ,AUTONOM\S VILLAGE1 M9+1 M>KET & URBAN COMMUNES *OSE REPRES5TATIVES BY ELECTION = ! PROV9CIAL DIET1 :I* 9 TURN APPO9T$ A REPRES5TATIVE GOV]NM5T 7COMMITTEE71 :I* C>RI$ \T ! BUS9ESS ( GOV]NM5T ) ! T]RITORIAL LORD4.<#a#c.> 

,MORE TRADITIONALLY1 ! VILLAG]S MADE !IR DECISION BY =M+ 0A R+0 OR HOLD+ 0A COMMUNE0 ?AT CONGREGAT$ UND] AN OAK TREE1 

9 A *UR*Y>D1 SOMETIMES 9 A FIELD1 OR EV5 AT AN ANCI5T SITE = ! ADM9I/RATION ( JU/ICE 7 ,MAL/ATT 71 & WAS USUALLY SUMMON$ BY R++ ! /ORM-BELLS TO 9DICATE ?AT A COMMUNAL ASSEMBLY HAD BE5 CALL$4 ,9 !ORY ! VILLAGE COMMUNE WAS AN ASSEMBLY ( EQUALS 5GAG$ 9 NONHI]>*ICAL POLITICAL ACTIVITY1 SIGNIFY+ ?AT ALL ITS MEMB]S W]E MUTUALLY DEP5D5T ON ! SUPPORT & ASSI/ANCE ( !IR FELL[ VILLAG]S4 ,DEM&S = ! RE/ORATION ( VILLAGE AUTONOMY & ! PROTECTION ( COMMUNAL RI<TS & PRIVILEGES REFLECT$ ?IS FUNDAM5TAL PEASANT POLITICAL CONSCI\SNESS1 :I* SUPPLI$ ! LIFEBLOOD ( ! PEASANT REBELLION4.<#a#d.> 

,! ,PEASANT ,W> WAS ACTUALLY A 0REVOLUTION ( ! COMMON MAN10 ,BLICKLE >GUES4 0,GODLY LAW & ! ,GOSPEL .<W]E.> C>RI$ FROM ! T[NS 9TO ! C\NTRYSIDE BY ! PREA*]S10 HE AV]S1 AL?\< RELIGION CANNOT BE SEP>AT$ FROM ! ECONOMIC T9D] ?AT F$ ! CONFLAGRATION ?AT SWEPT OV] ! REVOLUTION>Y >EAS4 

,! LIMIT$ CO9CID5CE ( 9T]E/S BETWE5 PEASANTS & BUR<]S1 9 ! %APE ( SIMIL> AGR>IAN PROBLEMS 7F>M+ T[NS71 TAX BURD5S 7MILIT>Y LEVY1 PALLIUM71 OR 5CROA*M5TS ON COMMUNAL AUTONOMY BY T]RITORIAL LORDS 7!RE WAS AN ID5TITY ( 9T]E/S ) ! M9]S71 WAS /R5G!N$ BY A COMMON YE>N+ = A MORE JU/1 MORE ,*RI/IAN WORLD4.<#a#e.> 

,RELIGI\S ZEALOTRY GAVE A DEEP IDEOLOGICAL DIM5SION TO CLASS ANTAGONISMS 9 COMBAT+ ! LONG-HAT$ PRIVILEG$ RUL]S & !IR IDEOLOGUES4 ,9 C5TRAL ,G]MANY ALONE1 AN E/IMAT$ =TY MONA/]IES & CA/LES W]E DE/ROY$1 & MANY CITIES1 :E!R \T ( COMPLICITY OR FE>1 OP5$ !IR GATES TO ! PEASANT >MIES4 0,! ,WORD ( ,GOD0 BECAME A RALLY+ CRY = V>I\S HET]OG5E\S ELEM5TS--PR(ESSIONAL SOLDI]S1 >TISANS1 & PLEBEIANS--:O ROSE ) ! PEASANTS1 9 P>T AS A RELIGI\S EXPRESSION ( ! REBELS' CAUSE4 ,SOME SYMPA!TIC WELL-TO-DO BUR<] ELEM5TS F\ND ! V>I\S ,PROTE/ANT T5D5CIES USEFUL AS BANN]S UND] :I* TO UNITE PEASANTS & PLEBEIANS :O %>$ !IR HATR$ ( ! HI< CL]ICS & NOBLES--AT LEA/1 BE=E BETRAY+ !M4 ,SO EFFECTIVE WAS RADICAL ,PROTE/ANTISM AS A BANN] ?AT SOME CANNY LEAD]S ( ! PR9CES' CAUSE1 SU* AS ! KNI<T ,GOTZ VON ,SICK+51 A VET]AN ( ! E>LI] NOBLES' REVOLT1 DID NOT HESITATE TO USE IT AS A MEANS TO DRAW ]/:ILE ALLIES ( ! PEASANTS TO ! PR9CES' SIDE4 

,SOME PR9CES US$ ! W> = OPPORTUNI/IC 5DS AS WELL4 ,! SAME ,DUKE ( ,WURTTEMB]G :OM ! ,POOR ,CONRAD MOVEM5T HAD F\<T SO BITT]LY SEV]AL YE>S BE=E ADOPT$ ! NAME 0,UTZ ! ,PEASANT0 & TRI$ TO 5LI/ PEASANTS 9 ORD] TO REGA9 CONTROL ( HIS DU*Y4 ,KNI<TS :O HAD BE5 DISPLAC$ BY WEAL?Y L&$ NOBLES & W]E N[ FOOTLOOSE W]E ONLY TOO EAG] TO JO9 CONFLICTS ?AT HELD \T ! PROMISE ( REAL E/ATE & A MANORIAL WAY ( LIFE4 ,=M+ !IR [N LEAGUES OR FREEBOOT+ COMPANIES1 !Y ROAM$ ! C\NTRYSIDE SEEK+ !IR =TUNES & FREELY LOOT+ BO? SIDES ALIKE = :ATEV] WEAL? !Y C\LD ACQUIRE4 ,AL?\< ! KNI<TS W]E NOTORI\SLY UNRELIABLE1 AS 9DIVIDUALS & 9 GR\PS !Y FITFULLY ALLI$ ) ! PEASANTS1 TAU<T !M ! >TS ( W>1 & LEFT BEH9D A MEMORY ( SOCIAL *IVALRY ?AT ,G]MAN POETS W]E TO ROMANTICIZE C5TURIES LAT]4 

,! ,P,E,A,S,A,N,T ,T,R,O,O,P,S 

,FAC$ ) ! RIS+ PEASANT TIDE1 ! ,SWABIAN ,LEAGUE1 N[ L$ BY ,TRU*SESS ,GEORG VON ,WALDBURG1 CONT9U$ ITS POLICY ( DELAY4 ,IT /ILL LACK$ SUFFICI5T TROOPS TO SUPPRESS ! PEASANTS4 ,9 ONE GREAT DELAY+ TACTIC1 ! 0,TWELVE ,>TICLES0 W]E ACTUALLY SUBMITT$ = >BITRATION TO A COMMISSION ?AT 9CLUD$ ,LU!R1 HIS ACOLYTE ,PHILIP ,MELANC?ON1 & A REPRES5TATIVE ( ! PR9CES & ! EMP]OR4 ,EV5 ?\< NONE ( ! COMMISSION'S MEMB]S W]E PEASANTS1 BASIC 9T]E/S W]E CLE>LY AT W> BETWE5 ! NOBLES & PEASANTS1 & NO APPEALS TO BRO!RLY LOVE C\LD POSSIBLY RECONCILE !M4 

,BETWE5 ,FEBRU>Y1 :5 NEGOTIATIONS BEGAN1 & ! 5D ( ,APRIL #a#e#b#e1 ! REVOLT SPREAD UNTIL IT IGNIT$ NE>LY ALL ( S\?WE/]N ,G]MANY1 NOTABLY ! ,BLACK ,=E/ & ,UPP] ,SWABIA4 ,IF ONLY BECAUSE ( ! P]FIDY & >ROGANCE ( ! NOBILITY1 VIOL5CE WAS 9EVITABLE BETWE5 ! PEASANTRY & !IR RUL]S4 ,9DE$1 ONCE ! PEASANTS DECID$ TO AB&ON ! PEACEFUL APPROA* !Y 9ITIALLY HAD ADOPT$1 !Y ORGANIZ$ !MSELVES 9TO =MIDABLE >MIES 7BUND]I7 OR 0TROOPS10 AS !Y HAVE BE5 CALL$1 ?AT W]E MORE ?AN 0MOBS0 ( F>M]S POORLY >M$ ) SCY!S & BLUDGEONS2 9 QUITE A FEW CASES1 !Y W]E EQUIPP$ ) FIRE>MS1 CANNON1 & EV5 SOME CAVALRY4 ,AL?\< !SE MILIT>Y =CES W]E USUALLY AID$ BY PR(ESSIONAL MILIT>Y M51 ! ,L&SKNE*T51 !Y W]E HI<LY DEMOCRATIC 9 *>ACT]1 AS WAS (T5 ! CASE ) ! MILITIAS ( ! ]A4 ,(FIC]S W]E ELECT$ BY !IR UNITS1 & MILIT>Y PLANS W]E (T5 MADE BY ! >M$ COMMUNITY1 P]HAPS AS 0R+S10 AS A :OLE4 

,! C\RSE ( ! SOCIAL REVOLUTION OV] SU* A WIDE EXPANSE1 ! MOBILIZ+ ( PEASANT TROOPS AT V>I\S C5T]S1 !IR CRISSCROSS+ & M]G+ OV] L>GE T]RITORIES1 !IR VICTORIES1 & F9ALLY !IR DEFEATS--ALL IS TOO COMPLEX A /ORY TO TELL BRIEFLY4 ,NE>LY TWO-?IRDS ( PRES5T-DAY ,G]MANY WAS DIRECTLY 9VOLV$ 9 ?IS SWEEP+ CONFLICT AT SOME TIME OR ANO!R1 & ITS EFFECTS W]E FELT AS F> NOR? AS ,GDANSK1 ON ! ,BALTIC1 & MAY HAVE REV]B]AT$ 9TO ! ,SLAVIC ,EA/4 ,AT LEA/ A DOZ5 9DIVIDUAL PEASANT TROOPS GA9$ PROM95CE AS ! CONFLICT UNFOLD$--:I* %\LD NOT DIM9I% ! IMPORTANCE ( ! MANY O!R TROOPS ?AT OP]AT$ ON A SMALL] SCALE 9 !IR LOCALITIES4 ,! REVOLUTION'S IMPACT--ITS MI/AKES AS WELL AS ITS POSSIBILITIES--CAN BE/ BE UND]/OOD BY S+L+ \T ! ACTIVITIES ( ! MAJOR TROOPS :5 ! REVOLT WAS AT ITS HEI<T4 

,AS PREVI\SLY 9DICAT$1 ! E>LIE/ WAS ! ,HEGAU ,TROOP1 :I* HAD OCCUPI$ ,WALD%UT 9 ,OCTOB] #aebd UND] ! COMM& ( ! ,L&SKNE*T ,HANS ,MULL]1 AFT] ! ,/IIHL+5 AFFAIR4 ,9 ,FEBRU>Y1 A PEASANT 9SURRECTION 9 ,UPP] ,SWABIA PRODUC$ ! ,BALTR+5 ,TROOP1 :I* RAIS$ A REVOLUTION>Y R$ FLAG & REA*$ T5 TO TWELVE ?\S& M51 MAK+ IT ONE ( ! L>GE/ ( ! PEASANT =CES 9 ! FIELD4 ,DUR+ ! SAME MON?1 ! ,UPP] ,ALLGAU ,TROOP ( AB\T SEV5 ?\S& WAS =M$ AT ,S*USS]1 & AT ,B]MAT+51 NE> ,LAKE ,CON/ANCE1 ,EITEL ,HANS =M$ ! ,LAKE ,TROOP4 ,E>LY 9 ,M>*1 A ,L[] ,ALLGAU ,TROOP ( SOME SEV5 ?\S& PEASANTS E/ABLI%$ A CAMP NE> ,WURZA*4 ,! ,LAKE1 ,ALLGAU1 & ,BALTR+] ,TROOPS TOGE!R =M$ A ,*RI/IAN ,UNION1 :OSE COMMON BASIS WAS ! ,TWELVE ,>TICLES1 SPREAD+ ! REVOLT ACROSS MO/ ( S\!RN ,G]MANY4 ,! ,LEIPHEIM ,TROOP WAS =M$ 9 ! ,DANUBE >EA1 SO ?AT AT ! BEG9N+ ( ,M>* R\<LY SIX PEASANT >MIES W]E OP]AT+ 9 ,SWABIA1 CONSI/+ ( ?IRTY TO =TY ?\S& >M$ 9SURG5TS--AN OV]:ELM+ =CE BY COMP>ISON ) ! MU* FEW] NUMB]S COMM&$ BY ! RU?LESS ,TRU*SESS4 

,9DIVIDUALLY1 ! PEASANT >MIES R>ELY EXCE$$ SEV5 ?\S& M51 & !Y W]E (T5 ON ! MOVE1 G5]ALLY FI<T+ 9DEP5D5TLY ( ONE ANO!R AS !Y CRISSCROSS$ S\!RN ,G]MANY4 ,ALTOGE!R1 !Y CREAT$ AN IMPRESSIVE RECORD ( DE/ROY+ MONA/]IES & CA/LES4 ,9 MAJOR BATTLES1 ! TROOPS (T5 CAME TO EA* O!R'S ASSI/ANCE1 & FROM TIME TO TIME !Y HELD PEASANT CONGRESSES OR CONVOCATIONS1 USUALLY AT ,HEILBRONN1 ON ! ,NECK> ,RIV]4 ,LIKE ,WALD%UT1 ,HEILBRONN BECAME ! POLITICAL C5T] = ! PEASANT >MIES 9 ,SWABIA & LAT] ,FRANCONIA4 

,9 >EA AFT] >EA & T[N AFT] T[N1 ! W> EXP&$4 ,IT SWEPT NOR?W>D TO ! UPP] REA*ES ( ,COBURG 9 MID-,APRIL1 REA*+ ,SAXONY BY ! 5D ( ! MON?1 & BROAD5$ \T 9 ! S\!A/ TO SWEEP 9TO ! ,TYROL1 ,ATT]GAU1 & P>TS ( ,AU/RIA BY ! BEG9N+ ( ,MAY4 ,9 ,SALZBURG ! >*BI%OP HOL$ HIMSELF UP 9 HIS CA/LE 9 FE> ( HIS P>I%ION]S1 & AT ,9NSBRUCK1 ! ,>*DUKE ,F]D9& REFUS$ TO LEAVE ! CITY LE/ HE BE ATTACK$ BY ! PEASANTS & !IR SYMPA?IZ]S 9 ! CITY'S 5VIRONS4 ,FREIBURG1 TOO1 CAPITULAT$ TO ! PEASANTS :5 ! CITY OP5$ ITS GATES TO !M ON ,MAY #bd #a#e#b#e4 

,MANY CL]ICS PLAY$ A MAJOR ROLE 9 ! ,PEASANT ,W>S1 BUT NOT EV5 A CURSORY SUMM>Y ( !M CAN IGNORE ! FIGURE ( ,?OMAS ,MI9Z]1 :O LOOMS L>GE 9 NE>LY ALL HI/ORIES ( ! CONFLICT1 ESPECIALLY 9 ,?UR+IA4 ,AN ICONOCLA/IC ANTAGONI/ ( ,LU!R :O S\<T TO OV]?R[ ! SOCIAL ORD] & E/ABLI% A GODLY SOCIETY 9 ITS /EAD1 ,MI9Z] ACQUIR$ AN HONOR$ PLACE 9 ,M>XI/ ICONOGRAPHY [+ P>TICUL>LY TO ! TRIBUTE ?AT ,FRI$RI* ,5GELS PAID HIM AS AN ,ANABAPTI/ ADVOCATE ( COMMUNISM--A VIEW1 9 FACT1 ?AT MAY HAVE BE5 EXTRACT$ FROM HIM BY TORTURE4 ,P]HAPS F> MORE 9FLU5TIAL 9 ,?UR+IA1 H[EV]1 WAS ! RADICAL PA/OR ( ,MTLHLHAUS51 ,HE9RI* ,PFEIFF]1 :O TOGE!R ) ,MI9Z] DISLODG$ ! ,MIIHLHAUS5 T[N C\NCIL 9 E>LY #a#e#b#e1 REPLAC+ IT ) AN 0ET]NAL C\NCIL0 ?AT WAS TO BE A H>B+] ( ! IMM95T COM+ ( ,*RI/ & ! E>?LY ,K+DOM ( ,GOD4 ,9 ,MAY1 ! L&GRAVE1 ,PHILIP ( ,HESSE1 AFT] A BRIEF ATTACK ON ,MIIHLHAUS51 (F]$ TO NEGOTIATE ) ! CITY & AGA9 US$ ! TIME :5 PEASANTS W]E CONSID]+ HIS PEACE (F] TO R$EPLOY HIS >TILL]Y EFFECTIVELY1 SLAU<T]+ ! HAPLESS PEASANTS 9 DROVES4 ,RA!R ?AN DIE 9 BATTLE1 ,MI9Z] TRI$ TO ESCAPE 9 DISGUISE BUT WAS CAU<T2 AT !IR HE>+ ,PFEIFF] REMA9$ /ALW>T1 BUT ,MI9Z] RECANT$ HIS MILL5>IAN BELIEFS & TOOK ,CA?OLIC COMMUNION1 :I* DID NOT PREV5T BO? M5 FROM BE+ BEHEAD$4 

,AT >\ND ! SAME TIME ,M>T9 ,LU!R REPLI$ TO ! ,TWELVE ,>TICLES ( ,MEMM+5 9 ,AN ,ADMONITION TO ,PEACE3 ,A ,REPLY TO ! ,TWELVE ,>TICLES ( ! ,PEASANTS ( ,SWABIA1 :I* URG$ ! PEASANTS TO BE PEACEFUL4 ,A FEW WEEKS LAT]1 H[EV]1 AFT] ! PEASANTS' 0S$ITION0 AGA9/ ! PR9CES BECAME 0CLE>0 TO HIM--:I* WAS ALL ! MORE IRRITAT+ TO HIM BECAUSE !Y W]E 0S$ITI\S0 9 ! NAME ( IDEALS ?AT HAD AN AFF9ITY ) HIS [N--,LU!R ISSU$ HIS 9FAM\S TIRADE ,AGA9/ ! ,ROBB+ & ,MURD]+ ,HORDES ( ,PEASANTS1 SAVAGELY D5\NC+ !IR MOVEM5T & ALIGN+ HIMSELF ) ! PR9CES4 

,M,I,L,I,T,>,Y ,E,V,5,T,S 

,HAD ! PEASANT >MIES 9 S\?WE/]N ,G]MANY ATTACK$ ! ,SWABIAN ,LEAGUE AT ! \TSET ( ! W>1 !Y W\LD C]TA9LY HAVE 9FLICT$ A DEVA/AT+ DEFEAT ON ! PR9CES & NOBLES & ?RA%$ ,TRU*SESS ,GEORG1 ! 9FAM\S HANGMAN ( ! ,PEASANT ,W>4 ,BUT ! OV]LY TRU/+ & *>ITABLE ,BALTR+51 ,ALLGAU1 & ,LAKE ,TROOPS CONCLUD$ AN >MI/ICE ) ! ,TRU*SESS1 :O CONT9U$ ALL ! :ILE TO GA!R NEW =CES TO ?R[ AGA9/ ! PEASANTS4 ,! NOBILITY1 = !IR P>T1 ) >ROGANT DISREG>D = ! PEASANTS' CONC]NS1 W]E TEMP]AM5TALLY 9CAPABLE ( A*IEV+ EV5 A SEMBLANCE ( ! ,*RI/IAN BRO!RHOOD ?AT ! PEASANT >TICLES SO E>NE/LY VOIC$4 

,IRRESPECTIVE ( ! TRUCE >RANGEM5TS1 ! REVOLT SPREAD 9TO ,FRANCONIA & TO ! BORD] ( ,?UR+IA1 :]E ! PEASANTS =M$ A SEV5? MAJOR =CE1 ! ,BILDHAUS5 ,TROOP1 :I* DEM&$ ?AT ! ,EMPIRE BE RE/RUCTUR$ TO BE RUN BY A PEASANTS' P>LIAM5T4 ,ADDITIONALLY1 V>I\S PEASANT COLUMNS COLLECT$ AT ,S*O5?AL TO =M AN EI<? MAJOR PEASANT >MY1 ! ,GAY ,TROOP1 A WELLEQUIPP$ =CE ( SOME EI<T ?\S& M5 ) CANNONS & ?REE ?\S& GUNS4 ,IT WAS FROM ?IS =CE ?AT ! ,FRANCONIAN KNI<T ,FLORIAN ,GEY] GA!R$ HIS ,BLACK ,HO/1 A HI<LY TRA9$1 WELL-DISCIPL9$1 & SELECT TROOP RECRUIT$ MA9LY FROM PEASANT 9FANTRIES & ONE ?AT ACT$ MORE RESOLUTELY & BRAVELY ?AN MO/ ( ! O!R DETA*M5TS4 ,AL?\< FROM A /RICTLY MILIT>Y VIEWPO9T ,GEY] WAS ONE ( ! MO/ A/UTE ( ! PEASANT LEAD]S1 HE WAS ALSO A WELL$UCAT$ MAN :O HAD JO9$ ) ! PEASANTS \T ( A G5U9E BELIEF 9 ! RI<TNESS ( !IR CAUSE4 ,HONORABLE & C\RAGE\S1 DEVOT$ TO ! MOVEM5T1 ?IS REM>KABLE MAN W\LD DIE ) HIS WEAPONS 9 H&4 

,/ILL ANO!R N9? ,FRANCONIAN >MY1 ! ,GAY ,BRI<T ,TROOP1 WAS =M$ UND] ! COMM& ( ! KNI<T ,G#fTZ VON ,B]LI*+51 :ILE 9 ,LIMPURG1 ! T5?1 ! ,GAILDORF OR ,COMMON ,GAY ,TROOP1 A VIOL5T & V]Y UNRELIABLE =CE1 ULTIMATELY DISB&$ AFT] ALI5AT+ MU* ( ! POPULATION4 ,! ,WUNN5/E9 ,TROOP1 COMM&$ BY ,MAT]N ,FEU]BA*]1 =M$ AN ELEV5? MAJOR PEASANT >MY4 ,FEU]BA*]1 AN 9NKEEP]1 WAS NOT$ = ! MOD]AT5ESS ( HIS POLITICAL VIEWS1 BUT HE GA9$ CONSID]ABLE RESPECT = HIS MILIT>Y & ORGANIZATIONAL ABILITIES4 ,! TWELF? TROOP1 ! ,GAY ,*RI/IAN ,TROOP1 WAS =M$ AT ,/UTTG>T4 ,ADDITIONALLY1 MANY LOCAL GR\PS W]E =M$ ?R\<\T S\!RN ,G]MANY & (T5 JO9$ ! L>G] TROOPS OR )DREW FROM !M AS OCCASION >OSE4 

,DESPITE ! (T5 EXTREME DEM&S ADVANC$ BY V>I\S PEASANT >TICLES & RADICAL CL]ICS1 ! MILIT>Y AIMS ( ! PEASANTS W]E V]Y DIFFUSE4 ,!Y LACK$ A COMPET5T1 ACC\NTABLE LEAD]%IP1 MAK+ DO PRIM>ILY ) RADICAL CL]ICS & DISAFFECT$ KNI<TS AS MILIT>Y /RATEGI/S4 ,TO HAVE A*IEV$ EV5 !IR MORE MODE/ DEM&S1 !Y W\LD HAVE HAD TO CRU% ! ,SWABIAN ,LEAGUE & ITS SUPPORT]S COMPLETELY4 ,9DE$1 !Y W\LD HAVE HAD TO BEHAVE ) A H>%NESS COMP>ABLE TO ?AT :I* ! ,LEAGUE 9FLICT$ UPON !M DUR+ & AFT] !IR DEFEAT4 ,BUT 9 ! ABS5CE ( ANY COORD9AT+1 MU* LESS GOV]N+1 P[]1 EA* ( ! PEASANT >MIES (T5 FUNCTION$ V]Y MU* ON ITS [N1 ) A DEGREE ( DEC5TRALIZATION & (T5 A WAV]+ MORALE ?AT IMP>T$ A DECISIVE ADVANTAGE TO ! GA!R+ =CES ( ! ,SWABIAN ,LEAGUE4 

,9 E>LY ,APRIL #a#e#b#e1 :5 ! ,LEIPHEIM ,TROOP1 UND] ! LEAD]%IP ( ! RADICAL CL]IC ,JACOB ,WEHE1 ATTACK$ ! CITY ( ,LEIPHEIM1 ! ,TRU*SESS W5T 9TO ACTION4 ,HE CRU%$ ! TROOP & BEHEAD$ ,WEHE--A H>B+] ( DEFEATS ?AT ! PEASANT >MIES W]E TO SUFF] 9 ,MAY & ,JUNE4 ,ON ,APRIL #a#e1 ! ,TRU*SESS CAME FACE TO FACE ) A =MIDABLE PEASANT =CE1 ! ,LAKE ,CON/ANCE >MY1 BE=E ,WE+>T51 :I* C\LD EASILY HAVE R\T$ HIM & DECISIVELY CRU%$ ! ,SWABIAN ,LEAGUE2 BUT HE PRUD5TLY NEGOTIAT$ A PEACE TREATY ) HIS PLA9LY SUP]IOR OPPON5TS1 AFT] :I* ! REBELS DISB&$4 ,?IS CRUCIAL1 9DE$ DECISIVE FAILURE BY ! PEASANTS W\LD LEAD TO !IR ULTIMATE DEFEAT4 ,/ILL ANO!R MAJOR FAILURE BY ! PEASANTS OCCURR$ AT ,BOBL+5 9 ,MAY1 :5 ,FEU]BA*] ABLY DEPLOY$ HIS UNIT$ PEASANTS & HIS CANNON 9 A WAY ?AT LEFT ! ,TRU*SESS CONFUS$ & 9CAPABLE ( ACTION4 ,BUT ONCE AGA9 ! PEASANTS W]E S$UC$ 9TO A TRUCE1 :ILE ! ,TRU*SESS %REWDLY R$EPLOY$ HIS =CES TO HIS [N ADVANTAGE4 ,ON ,MAY #a#b1 :ILE ! TRUCE WAS /ILL 9 EFFECT1 ! ,LEAGUE SUDD5LY ATTACK$ ! PEASANTS1 :O W]E GUILELESSLY AT !IR EASE1 & COMPLETELY %ATT]$ !M1 RU?LESSLY HUNT+ D[N & SLAU<T]+ ?OSE :O W]E FLEE+ FROM HIS CAVALRY4 

,NOT ONLY DID ! ,WE+>T5 TREATY & ,BDBL+5 DEFEAT ELIM9ATE ! 5TIRE ,WURTTEMB]G 9SURRECTION1 IT DEMORALIZ$ ALL ! 9SURG5T =CES1 ?R[+ !M ON ! DEF5SIVE & 9/ILL+ NEW VIGOR 9 ! NOBILITY4 ,! ,SWABIAN ,LEAGUE'S CAVALRY1 :I* WAS RI<TLY REG>D$ AFT] ITS VICTORIES AS A T]RIFY+ KILL+ MA*9E1 WAS ABSOLUTELY M]CILESS 9 ITS TREATM5T ( W\ND$ & CAPTIVE PEASANTS4 ,! WELL-TO-DO CITIZ5S ( ,HEILBRONN SURR5D]$ ! CITY TO ! ,TRU*SESS1 :ILE ,GEY]'S ,BLACK ,HO/ WAS DECIMAT$ 9 A VA9 ATTACK ON ,FRAU5B]G1 ! NE>LY 9V9CIBLE CA/LE ( ! ,DUKE ( ,FRANCONIA1 :O WAS ALSO ! ,BI%OP ( ,W,URZBURG & HAD BECOME ! PRIM>Y T>GET ( ! 9SURG5TS' (F5SIVE 9 ?AT >EA4 ,AS SUMM] DREW NE>1 ! DLAN ( ! PEASANT >MIES GAVE WAY TO DEMORALIZATION4 ,! ,GAY ,BRI<T ,TROOP1 DUR+ NEGOTIATIONS ) ! ,TRU*SESS1 GRADUALLY MELT$ AWAY1 & ITS TREA*]\S COMM&]1 ,G#eTZ VON ,B]LI*+5 7LAT] IMMORTALIZ$ 9 ,GOE!'S EPONYM\S DRAMA71 SEE+ ?AT ! =TUNES ( ! PEASANT CAUSE HAD TAK5 A TURN = ! WORSE1 W5T OV] TO ! ,SWABIAN ,LEAGUE1 CLAIM+ TO HAVE ALWAYS BE5 A CAPTIVE ( ! PEASANTS4 ,9 A MANEUV] AT ,KRAU!IM1 ! ,TRU*SESS 5VELOP$ EI<T ?\S& PEASANTS :O W]E EQUIPP$ ) ?IRTY-TWO CANNON & BLOODILY 0DISP]S$0 !M--MORE PROP]LY1 SLAU<T]$ !M4 ,9 ,JUNE #aebe AT ! VILLAGE ( ,SULZDORF1 ,LEAGUE =CES MOV$ AGA9/ ,FLORIAN ,GEY]1 :O HAD COMB9$ ! REMA9+ SIX HUNDR$ M5 ( HIS ,BLACK ,HO/ ) O!R PEASANT =CES4 ,! ,TRU*SESS EASILY DEFEAT$ ?IS SMALL PEASANT >MY4 ,AFT] AN UNREL5T+ FIVE-DAY PURSUIT BY ! ,LEAGUE'S CAVALRY1 ,GEY] & HIS FEW M5 W]E CORN]$ & P]I%$ 9 BATTLE4 

,! REMA9+ PEASANT >MIES W]E DEFEAT$ ONE AFT] ANO!R4 ,ROTT5BURG FELL TO A PATRICIAN C\NT]REVOLUTION1 AS DID ,/RASB\RG & ,FRANKFURT4 ,9 ! ,PALAT9ATE1 A MASSACRE ( ! PEASANTS AT ,PF$D]%EIM ON ,MAY #bc & ! CAPTURE ( ,WEIFI5BURG ON ,JULY #g LEFT ONLY TWO PEASANT >MIES 9TACT 9 S\!RN ,G]MANY3 ! ,HEGAU-,BLACK ,=E/ & ,ALLGAU ,TROOPS4 ,! ,PEASANT ,W> N[ TURN$ ON ITSELF4 ,! ,LAKE ,TROOP1 :I* HAD E>LI] COME TO T]MS ) ITS NOBILITY ) ! ,TREATY ( ,WE+>T51 WAS N[ BR\<T 9TO S]VICE AGA9/ ITS [N BRE?R5 9 ! ,HEGAU ,TROOP4 ,! SAME ,HANS ,MULL] :O HAD PLAY$ SO IMPORTANT A ROLE AT ! \TSET ( ! W> N[ 5C\RAG$ ! ,HEGAU ,TROOP TO DISP]SE4 ,MULL] HIMSELF HAD JO9$ ! NOBLES & LAT] 5D$ HIS DAYS 9 ,SWITZ]L&4 ,5GAGEM5TS N[ W]E M>K$ BY FUR!R TREASONABLE DEFECTIONS1 & BY AGREEM5TS TO HONOR PEASANT DEM&S ?AT W]E FOLL[$ BY BETRAYALS ( TRUCES4 ,ON ,DECEMB] #f1 AFT] SEV]AL 5GAGEM5TS1 AGREEM5TS1 & BETRAYALS1 ! LA/ 9SURG5T ,BLACK ,=E/ TROOPS & !IR ALLIES SURR5D]$ ! LA/ PEASANT /RON<OLD1 ,WALD%UT1 TO ! NOBLES4 

,! FAILURE ( ! PEASANT TROOPS TO ATTACK ! ,TRU*SESS AT ,WE+>T5 CO/ !M AN EXTRAORD9>Y NUMB] ( LIVES 9 ! MON?S ?AT FOLL[$1 BO? 9 ,FRANCONIA & 9 ,?UR+IA4 ,= EV]Y NOBLE'S LIFE ?AT WAS LO/1 T5 TO FIFTY PEASANTS W]E KILL$1 A T]RIBLE RATIO ?AT ! RUL+ CLASSES W]E ONLY TOO EAG] TO 9FLICT ON ! PEASANTRY BUT ?AT ! LONG-S]VILE PEASANTRY W]E NOT PREP>$ TO CLAIM FROM ! NOBILITY4 ,AFT] EA* DEFEAT NOT ONLY W]E ! PEASANTS BRUTALLY HUNT$ D[N1 BUT !IR VILLAGES W]E RAZ$1 !IR LIVE/OCK SLAU<T]$1 !IR WOM5 & *ILDR5 DRIV5 HOMELESS 9TO ! OP51 & !IR LEAD]S BRUTALLY TORTUR$4 ,! NUMB] ( REBELS KILL$ DUR+ ! CONFLICT 9 ,SWABIA & ,FRANCONIA REA*$ SU* APPALL+ PROPORTIONS ?AT ! NOBILITY ULTIMATELY HAD TO DESI/ LE/ !Y LOSE !IR WORK=CE4 

,! \TCOME ( ! CONFLICT OV] ! LONG RUN WAS DISA/R\S4 ,POLITICAL LIFE ( S\!RN & C5TRAL ,G]MANY WAS SET BACK = C5TURIES1 NOT ONLY BECAUSE ( ! RU?LESS DET]M9ATION ( ! RUL+ CLASSES BUT ALSO 9 NO SMALL MEASURE AS A RESULT ( ! PEASANTS' [N NAIVETE & ,*RI/IAN HUMILITY4 ,! PR9CES A*IEV$ ! ABSOLUTE P[] !Y S\<T1 :ILE NONE ( ! PEASANTS' DEM&S W]E MET4 ,TO BE SURE1 ! PEASANT W> CONT9U$ 9 ,G]MANY = A C5TURY 9 ! =M ( LIMIT$ & SPORADIC UPRIS+S1 BUT ! ,?IRTY ,YE>S ,W> ( #a#f#a#h-#d#h R$UC$ ! C\NTRY TO RU9S & WIP$ \T AN E/IMAT$ ONE-?IRD ( ITS POPULATION1 5D+ ALL HOPE ( A NEW SOCIAL DISP5SATION = G5]ATIONS4 

,9 ASSESS+ :Y ! ,PEASANT ,W> FAIL$1 AT LEA/ MILIT>ILY1 ,SCOTT & ,SCRIBN] PI?ILY OBS]VE ?AT :ILE !RE 

W]E DISP>ITIES 9 MILIT>Y EXP]I5CE & EQUIPM5T .<:I* FAVOR$ ! NOBLES.>1 !SE W]E (T5 COMP5SAT$ = .<BY ! PEASANTS.> BY %REWD TACTICS4 ,POLITICAL FAILURE1 MISCALCULATION1 LOSS ( N]VE1 & DIVID$ OR 9ADEQUATE LEAD]%IP COMPLICAT$ ! MILIT>Y EQUATION1 SO ?AT IT CANNOT BE CLAIM$ ?AT ! PEASANTS W]E DEFEAT$ SIMPLY BECAUSE ( !IR MILIT>Y 9ADEQUACY4 ,! MIS*IEF ( HI/ORICAL ACCID5T PLAY$ MORE ?AN A PASS+ ROLE1 9 ?AT ! CONDITIONS = SUCCESS NEV] RIP5$ SIMULTANE\SLY ?R\<\T ! V>I\S >EAS ( REVOLT1 OR DID NOT DO SO 9 WAYS ?AT IMPELL$ ANY LA/+ DOM9O EFFECT1 SO VITAL = SUCCESS4 ,JU/ AS ! ,FRANCONIAN REBELLION BEGAN TO PICK UP IMPETUS1 ! ,UPP] ,SWABIAN REBELLION RAN \T ( /EAM & ONLY REVIV$ AFT] ! *ALL5GE ( ! C5TRAL ,G]MAN & ,FRANCONIAN MOVEM5TS WAS DECISIVELY BLUNT$4.<#a#f.> 

,9 ANY CASE1 ! DEFEAT ( ! PEASANTS & ! /EADY ]OSION ( !IR DEMOCRATIC VILLAGE COMMUNES =ECLOS$ ! POSSIBILITY ( A POPULI/ CONF$]AL ,G]MAN NATION4 ,IT WAS NOT UNTIL ! N9ETE5? C5TURY ?AT ! ,G]MAN /ATES1 DU*IES1 & CITIES W]E TO BE UNIFI$ 9TO A S+LE NATION--& !N MA9LY BY ,PRUSSIAN MILIT>I/S & ! ,HOH5ZOLL]N DYNA/Y1 :O CREAT$ ! AU?ORIT>IAN TRADITION ?AT ! ,G]MAN PEOPLE W]E TO 9H]IT 9TO ! C5TURY ?AT FOLL[$4 

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