False Prophets and Preachers: Henry Gresbeck's Account of the Anabaptist Kingdom of Münster

Early Modern Studies

by Christopher S. Mackay (Translator), Heinrich Gresbeck

In February 1534, a radical group of Anabaptists, gripped with apocalyptic fervor, seized the city of Münster and established an idealistic communal government that quickly deteriorated into extreme inequality and theocratic totalitarianism. In response, troops hired by the city's prince-bishop laid siege to the city. Fifteen months later the besieged inhabitants were starving, and, in the dead of the night, five men slipped out. Separated from his fellow escapees, Henry Gresbeck gambled with his life by approaching enemy troops. Taken prisoner, he collaborated with the enemy to devise a plan to recapture Münster, and later recorded the only eyewitness account of the Anabaptist kingdom of Münster. Gresbeck's account, which attempts to explain his role in the bizarre events, disappeared into the archives and was largely ignored for centuries.

Before now, Gresbeck's account was only available in a heavily edited German copy adapted from inferior manuscripts. Christopher S. Mackay, who previously produced the only modern translation of the main Latin account of these events, has adhered closely to Gresbeck's own words to produce the first complete and accurate English translation of this important primary source.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, European History

400 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1534

Reviews

[Jönathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Münster Anaptists attempt to immanentize the eschaton is made up of equally parts tragedy and comic farce. A warning from history on the dangers of religious extremism.

[Martin Empson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An eyeopening insight into the Münster Anabaptist rebellion and the siege that followed. Gresbeck is keen to portray it in the most adverse way, as he was writing both to justify his actions and in order to win compensation for himself. It is, nonetheless a fascinating account, which broadly agrees with the facts available elsewehere. Mackay's translation, footnotes and introduction form an brilliant work in its own right. Though I would have liked some consideration of the way that the siege distorted Anabaptist ideas, and allowed Münster to become a theocratic terror state. Not that the besieging forces behaved with any less ruthlessness and violence either.