Part 16 (1/2)

| The rebels of Franconia and Thuringia.

In Franconia, amidst violent excesses, we find the demands for social reform connected with a scheme of political reconst.i.tution of the Empire on a democratic basis--a scheme which betrays the hand of a more educated mind. But it was in Thuringia and the district round the Harz mountains that the extravagance reached its climax. The leader, Thomas Munzer, taught doctrines which were subversive of all authority in Church and State, and of the existing conditions of society. Received at Mulhausen in Thuringia as a prophet, he proposed to make that town the seat of his authority, whence he should rule his kingdom according to revelation.

| Social Anarchy threatened.

For a moment the social fabric of Germany was imperilled. On all sides the peasants triumphed. The n.o.bles were either driven from their strongholds or forced to join the leagues as 'brothers.' The smaller towns, many of which suffered from the same oppressions as the peasants--even some of the lesser imperial cities--joined the movement. Ulrich of Wurtemberg seized the opportunity to attempt a recovery of the dominions which he had forfeited by misrule (cf. p.

131), and called the rebels to his aid.

| Causes of failure of the Revolt.

Germany was indeed threatened with anarchy; yet it is doubtful whether the peasants had any chance of permanent success. The leaders were for the most part visionary and ignorant fanatics. Munzer was neither a prophet, nor a general, and the rebels had no effective organisation.

Moreover, the middle cla.s.ses, led by Luther, declared against them.

Luther at first had preached moderation and reconciliation. While condemning the revolts against authority as contrary to divine law, he had rebuked the Princes and the lords for their oppression, and urged them to redress the grievances of their villeins. The extravagance of the peasants, however, shortly disgusted and frightened him. He disliked their views, and feared lest his own position and work might be compromised. He pointed out that the spiritual principles of Christianity might not without peril be transferred to the sphere of society and politics; and that, if the gospel demands the freedom of the soul, it does not thereby emanc.i.p.ate the body from the control of law. He denounced the rebels with his usual violence of language, and bade the authorities cast away all scruple, and 'stab and kill and strangle' without mercy.

| The defeat of Leipheim. April 4.

At this moment the news of the victory of Pavia strengthened the cause of order. The Suabian League took up arms against Duke Ulrich. The Swiss, who had at first shown some sympathy with the peasants, and had supported the Duke, now withdrew their contingent, partly on account of disturbances at home, partly from fear of Charles' vengeance, and Ulrich was forced to beat a hasty retreat. On April 4, the army of the League inflicted a decisive defeat on the peasants at Leipheim, near Ulm. On the 15th of May, the Princes, once more led by Philip of Hesse, crushed the army of Munzer near Frankenhausen. Munzer was taken prisoner and was executed at Mulhausen. The Duke of Lorraine took Zabern in Alsace, and restored order in the Vosges. The reduction of the city of Wurzburg by the united forces of the Suabian League, of the Elector of Treves, and of the Elector Palatine on June 7, decided the fortunes of Franconia; and shortly after, the peasants of the Upper Rhine and the Black Forest either came to terms, or were crushed. The Princes and the n.o.bles, once more masters, rivalled the cruelties of the rebels. Numbers of unfortunate peasants were cut down without mercy, and the grievances of the survivors remained, with a few exceptions, unredressed.

| Effect of the Peasants' Revolt on the Reformation.

But although the peasants failed in their attempt, the effect of the revolt upon the course of the Reformation was profound. The utter incapacity of the Council had been once more displayed, while the defeat of the peasants had saved Germany from religious and social anarchy. Of the four possible results of the Lutheran movement which we have indicated above (p. 165), two alone now remained. The question was whether Charles would succeed in completely re-establis.h.i.+ng his authority, or whether the spirit of territorialism would be too strong for him. The cause of the Princes had indeed been strengthened. Once more, as in the case of the Knights' War, they had a.s.serted their power, and, with the Suabian League, had shown themselves the real masters of the country. Luther had lost to some extent the support of the lower cla.s.ses, and was forced to lean still more upon the Princes. Yet the position of the Emperor was most threatening. The opponents of Luther, with scant justice, laid the responsibility of the disturbances to his charge, and many of the more timid and refined were alienated from his cause. Charles himself became still more convinced that heresy and rebellion were synonymous. He was determined therefore to crush out heresy, and the victory of Pavia seemed to offer him a brilliant opportunity. All depended upon what the issue of that victory should be.

FOOTNOTES:

[42] Cf. _Cambridge Modern History_, ii. 416.

[43] On this point cf. Armstrong, _Charles V._, II. c. iii.

[44] To understand the future course of the Reformation in Germany, it is necessary to study the map, and note--

_a._ The extraordinary number of princ.i.p.alities into which Germany was divided.

_b._ The division of the dominions of the greater princes among branches of the same family, many of whom took opposite sides. This will be best seen from the following table:--

PROTESTANT. CATHOLIC.

House of Wettin, in Saxony.

Ernestine, Electoral Branch Albertine, at Meissen.

at Wittenberg.

| Ernest, 1464-1468. | Albert, 1485-1500.

| | | _Frederick the Wise_, 1486-1525. | Duke George, 1500-1535.

John, his brother, 1525-1532. | Henry, his brother, 1535-1541, | | becomes Protestant.

John Frederick. 1532-1554. | Maurice, 1541-1553, secures the Electorate.

Hohenzollern.

Younger Branches. Electoral Branch.

| (1) Albert of Prussia, Grand Master | Albert Achilles, 1470-1486.