Europe in the Age of the Reformation

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The Anabaptists

Münster

The Low Countries became a stronghold of Anabaptist faithful, but they suffered severe persecutions. In the early 1530s, some began to look for safe havens. One of the points of attraction was the city of Münster in Germany. Some were caught and killed before they made their escape, but others joined the Anabaptists of the city, and Münster became the most notorious of all the centers of Anabaptism.

The local leaders of the Anabaptists were Bernhard Knipperdolling and Bernhard Rothmann. Early in 1533 they were joined by Jan Matthys and other Dutch refugees, and Matthys (a follower of Hoffman) soon emerged as the leading figure. Münster was in Catholic territory, and a Catholic army was soon formed to be sent against the city. Matthys ordered that no un-baptized adults should remain in the city, and many were baptized rather than leave the city and risk falling into Catholic hands. There began a movement toward a community of goods that later, in both Catholic and Lutheran propaganda, was presented as complete communalism.