From 1524 to 1526 peasant revolts were occurring throughout the German states.
Many causes and responses brewed out of these revolts. One cause is from religion issues, Luther’s idea of equality. Another cause is the peasant gaining power. As a result of these causes came out response, the most common response was riots and chaos. These revolts would end in thousands of rebel deaths and others are also killed. In the early 1500s religious reforms were constant throughout all of Germany, including the ideas of Martin Luther.
Martin Luther brought the idea of equality to the peasants, which in term started the revolts. In document 1 Leonhard van Eck states that the peasants were blinded and led astray into believing these ideas.Eck thinks the peasants used Luther as a rebellion starter, but Eck is a noble. He is very likely to state such things because the revolts are most likely hurting him financially, and he does not want to support the peasants for fear of a major fall if the peasant revolts fail. Document 3 is also a case for equality, it is from the peasants themselves saying they are tired of being treated like this and rebel for equality, and that we are equal in the eyes of the Lord and so we should be in yours.
Although, since the document itself is written by the peasants they could be saying all of that just to gain more supporters for their cause of rebelling. Document 6 is almost a parallel of 3 in that the reason to revolt is for equality.Munstzer is not a peasant but is supporting the peasants’ revolts; he encourages them to take down the towers of the nobles to the ground. His letter is an open and public letter most likely to get more people to see it; also he uses the aspect of religion in it, “God’s will”.
He probably just wants people to follow him and his religion. Throughout the 16th century peasants got the idea and encouragement to revolt though the equality ideas of Luther. With the ideas of Martin Luther the peasants began to gain power throughout Germany. In document 2, Sebastian Lotzer states that the peasants will no longer be oppressed by the landlords and rise up in power, causing the revolt. This document is written by peasants hence the encouragement for the revolt, although Lotzer might be saying this so that we may be the leader of this revolt and he is a craftsman so this might get more people to notice his craft, he then gains more money.
Document 8 is the complete opposite perspective of the peasants gaining power and the revolt. Lorenz Fries is a catholic archbishop and the revolts are driven out of Luther’s doctrines. He said that the peasants are troublesome and the revolt should be stopped, but he most likely said this to get people to turn their backs on Lutheranism and accept Catholicism. Although his report is a secret one so he probably wrote it secretly so that he would not be killed or hurt by the peasant’s rebellion. In document 9, Caspar Nutzel, a noble, says that the peasants were blinded and they have gotten too strong. This document is also a response in that people have allowed the revolts to happen and the peasants have gone too far.
Though this document should be approached with caution because he uses some absolute language in the regard to how the peasants act, and Nutzel might be stating this to keep his job as town councilor.The most common response to the revolts was chaos and rioting. In document 5, a theologian/journalist states what happened at Weinsburg when the peasants arrived there. His statement is unbiased and a report but he does state that it was very chaotic and crazy. The peasants destroyed the counts castle, and that the townspeople supported the peasants letting them into the town. What Martin Luther says in document 7 is a response to Muntzer in 6.
Luther is very much against the rebellion and says Muntzer is devilish and so are the peasants and that they are going against God by rebellion. Again the response to the revolt is chaos in towns. Although this document should be taken into consideration because Luther might be saying this to still be funded by the princes, who are against the rebellion, he is trying to save himself.If the peasants fail and he were to side with them he would be kicked out of Germany with no money. This document also shows some witchcraft accusations against the peasants from Luther. Document 11 also explains the revolt in a journalist way accept it is a noble’s point of view.
He says that the peasants are crazy and that they burned all the noble’s houses. This document could be biased in that it is written by a noble and it is about all that the nobles endured when the peasants came and razed the town. The author is only a count and could want to get higher in ranks or if he is supporting the peasants he is trying to save himself from being discovered. In the early 1520s the peasants revolted in the German states. One cause of these rebellions is Luther’s idea of equality reaching the peasants and then they revolt. Also the peasants gaining power helped to start the revolts, with the causes comes responses.
A response them would be riots and chaos. These revolts would affect the political, social, and economic aspects of Germany.
