History of the Crusades

We wrap up the narrative and take a look at the city of Münster today.

King Jan receives his punishment for his role in the rebellion along with Bernard Knipperdolling and Bernard Krechting

Following the fall of the city, the Anabaptists are rounded up by the Bishop Prince's men.

The siege of Münster comes to an end.

After yet another attempt to get King Jan to surrender fails, the Bishop Prince orders an attack on Münster to commence - following the plan suggested by Henry Gresbeck.

The carpenter Henry Gresbeck stages a break out from Münster along with a small group of guards - an action which will have major implications for the siege. 

The letter penned by Henry Graes and growing levels of starvation inside Münster see discontent grow, causing King Jan to crack down heavily on dissenters.

As the year clicks over into 1535, Henry Graes fulfils his duties as the Bishop Prince's man - with devastating outcomes for King Jan. 

Towards the end of 1534, the Bishop Prince adopts a new strategy to defeat Münster.

Henry Graes, the schoolmaster of Münster, was the only apostle to return alive from his mission.  This is his story.

King Jan orders 27 Apostles from Münster to embark on missionary expeditions to the outside world, to prepare everyone for the Second Coming.

The reign of King Jan commences inside Münster.  In the pre-dawn hours of 23rd October 1534, the people of Münster gather to witness the Second Coming.

In a move which surprises just about everyone inside Münster, Jan van Leyden is crowned as king - not just of Münster, but of the entire world. 

The implementation of the polygamy policy causes chaos inside Münster, while the Bishop Prince prepares to launch another assault on the city.

The introduction of polygamy into Münster prompts an uprising inside the city - led by its chief blacksmith.

The Bishop Prince's foolproof plan for defeating Münster results in one of the funniest ever battle-fails.

Jan van Leyden begins his rule of Münster by instituting some new policies which alter the physical and political structures of the city.

Jan Matthias (aka The Prophet) attempts to lift the siege of Münster and fails spectacularly. 

Cracks begin to appear inside the besieged Anabaptist city of Münster due to some radical policies implemented by The Prophet.

The siege of Münster commences, with both sides settling in to their new roles.

The arrival in Münster of the new leader of the Anabaptist church, a man known as The Prophet, sees the city transform into the first exclusively Anabaptist town.

An invasion of Münster by the Bishop Prince's forces seems to be inevitable, but it is prevented by some impressive subterfuge on the part of the Anabaptists.

It's February in the year 1534 and the Anabaptists of Münster are preparing their town for the upcoming apocalypse.

As the influx of new residents changes the political profile of Münster, a new radical council is elected.  However, the new co-mayors find themselves struggling to prevent Münster from spiraling out of control.

The new Bishop Prince of Münster attempts to bring it to heel via a blockade of the city.  Eventually, a compromise is reached between the parties and the blockade is lifted, but the influx of new residents sees storm clouds brewing on the horizon.

Contrary to the expectations of many Anabaptists, the apocalypse fails to take place at Strasbourg in 1534.  So - apocalypse is reset to occur in Münster during 1525.

To promote my Patreon page, I am posting one of my recent Patreon series as a bonus for History of the Crusades subscribers.  In this first episode of a 27 part series, we take a look at the German city of Münster and at the emergence of the Anabaptist religion. To join Patreon - click here https://www.patreon.com/c/crusadespod

The new podcast series "Reconquista" which carries on from the History of the Crusades Podcast is now available.

The Lithuanian Conflict XXVI - The End

The Lithuanian Conflict XXV - The decline of the Teutonic Order

The Lithuanian Conflict XXIV - Many endings

The Lithuanian Conflict XXIII - Coronation crisis

The Lithuanian Conflict XXII - The Great Conference of 1427

The Lithuanian Conflict XXI - War and peace

The Lithuanian Conflict XX - Catching up on news from home

The Lithuanian Conflict XIX - The Council of Constance Part 3

The Lithuanian Conflict XVIII - The Council of Constance Part 2

The Lithuanian Conflict XVII - The Council of Constance Part 1

The Lithuanian Conflict XVI - The Hunger War

The Lithuanian Conflict XV - A new Grandmaster

The Lithuanian Conflict XIV - Michael and the Emperor

The Lithuanian Conflict XIII - Tales of intrigue and suspicion

The Lithuanian Conflict XII - The First Peace of Thorn

The Lithuanian Conflict XI - The siege of Marienburg

The Lithuanian Conflict X - To Marienburg

The Lithuanian Conflict IX - The Battle of Tannenberg Part 3

The Lithuanian Conflict VIII - The Battle of Tannenberg Part 2

The Lithuanian Conflict VII - The Battle of Tannenberg Part 1

The Lithuanian Conflict VI - A troubled peace

The Lithuanian Conflict V - Samogitia erupts