第5章

IntheregionofMainztheviceroy，BishopWilhelmvonStrassburg，restoredorderwithoutresistance。Heorderedonlyfourmenexecuted。Rheingau，wherethepeasantshadalsobeenrestless，butwhere，nevertheless，everybodyhadlongbeforegonehome，wassubsequentlyinvadedbyFrowenvonHutten，acousinofUlrich，andfinally\"pacified\"bytheexecutionoftwelveringleaders。

Frankfurt，whichalsohadwitnessedrevolutionarymovementsofaconsiderablesize，washeldincheckfirstbytheconciliatoryattitudeofthecouncil，thenbyrecruitedtroopsintheRhenishPalatinate。EightthousandpeasantshadassembledanewafterthebreachofagreementbytheElector，andhadagainburnedmonasteriesandcastles，buttheArchbishopofTriercametotheaidoftheMarshalofZabern，anddefeatedthemasearlyasMay23atPfedersheim。Aseriesofatrocities（inPfedersheimaloneeighty—twowereexecuted）andthecaptureofWeissenburgonJuly7terminatedtheinsurrectionhere。

Ofallthedivisionsoftroopsthereremainedonlytwotobevanquished，thoseofHegau—BlackForestandofAllgaeu。ArchdukeFerdinandhadtriedintrigueswithboth。InthesamewayasMargraveCasimirandotherprincestriedtoutilisetheinsurrectiontoannexthechurchterritoriesandprincipalities，soFerdinandwishedtoutiliseittostrengthenthepoweroftheHouseofAustria。HehadnegotiatedwiththeAllgaeucommander，WalterBach，andwiththeHegaucommander，HansMueller，withtheaimofinducingthepeasantstodeclaretheiradherencetoAustria，but，bothchiefsbeingvenal，theirinfluencewiththetroopswentonlysofarthattheAllgaeutroopconcludedanarmisticewiththeArchbishopandobservedneutralitytowardsAustria。

RetreatingfromtheWuerttembergregion，thepeasantsofHegaudestroyedanumberofcastles，andreceivedreinforcementsfromtheprovincesoftheMargraviateofBaden。OnMay13theymarchedtowardsFreiburg;onMay18theybombardedit，andonMay23，thecityhavingcapitulated，theyentereditwithflyingcolours。FromtheretheymovedtowardsStockachandRadolfzell，andwagedaprolongedpettywaragainstthegarrisonsofthosecities。Thelatter，togetherwiththenobilityandothersurroundingcities，appealedtotheLakepeasantsforhelpinaccordancewiththeWeingartenagreement。TheformerrebelsoftheLakeTrooprose，5，000strong，againsttheirformerallies。Sopotentwasthenarrow—mindednessofthepeasantswhowereconfinedtotheirlocalhorizon，thatonly600refusedtofightandexpressedadesiretojointheHegaupeasants，forwhichtheywereslaughtered。TheHegaupeasants，themselves，persuadedbyHansMuellerofBulgenbach，whobadsoldhimselftotheenemy，liftedtheirsiege，andHansMuellerhavingrunaway，mostofthemdispersedforthwith。TheremainingonesentrenchedthemselvesontheHilzingenSteep，where，onJuly16，theywerebeatenandannihilatedbythetroopsthathadinthemeantimebecomefreeofotherengagements。TheSwisscitiesnegotiatedanagreementwiththeHegaupeasants，which，however，didnotpreventtheothersidefromcapturingandmurderingHansMueller，hisLaufenburgbetrayalnotwithstanding。

InBreisgau，thecityofFreiburgalsodesertedthepeasantUnion（July17）andsenttroopsagainstit，butbecauseoftheweaknessofthefightingforcesoftheprinces，hereaselsewhere，anagreementwasreached（September18），whichalsoincludedSundgau。TheeightgroupsoftheBlackForestandtheKlettgaupeasants，whowerenotyetdisarmed，wereagaindriventoanuprisingbythetyrannyofCountvonSulz，andwererepulsedinOctober。

OnNovember13，theBlackForestpeasantswereforcedintoanagreement，andonDecember6，Walzhut，thelastbulwarkoftheinsurrectionintheUpperRhine，fell。

TheAllgaeupeasantshad，afterthedepartureofTruchsess，renewedtheircampaignagainstthemonasteriesandcastlesandwereusingrepressivemeasuresinretaliationforthedevastationscausedbytheUnionarmy。

Theywereconfrontedbyfewtroopswhichbravedonlyinsignificantskirmishes，notbeingabletofollowthemintothewoods。InJune，amovementagainstthehonourablesstartedinMemmingenwhichhadhithertoremainedmoreorlessneutral，andonlytheaccidentalnearnessofsomeUniontroopswhichcameintimetotherescueofthenobility，madeitssuppressionpossible。

Schapelar，thepreacherandleaderoftheplebeianmovement，fledtoSt。

Gallen。Thepeasantsappearedbeforethecityandwereabouttostartfiringtobreakagap，whentheylearnedoftheapproachofTruchsessonhiswayfromWuerzburg。OnJune27theystartedagainsthim，intwocolumns，overBabenhausenandOberguenzburg。ArchdukeFerdinandagainattemptedtowinoverthepeasantstotheHouseofAustria。Citingthearmisticeconcludedwiththepeasants，hedemandedofTruchsesstomarchnofurtheragainstthem。TheSuabianUnion，however，orderedTruchsesstoattackthem，buttorefrainfrompillagingandburning。Truchsess，however，wastooclevertorelinquishhisprimaryandmosteffectivemeansofbattle，evenwereheinapositiontokeepinordertheLansquenetswhomhehadledbetweenLakeConstanceandtheMainfromoneexcesstoanother。ThepeasantstookastandbehindtheIllerandtheLuibas，about23，000innumber。Truchsessopposedthemwith11，000。Thepositionsofbotharmieswereformidable。

Thecavalrycouldnotoperateontheterritorythatlayahead，andiftheTruchsessLansquenetsweresuperiortothepeasantsinOrganisation，militaryresourcesanddiscipline，theAllgaeupeasantscountedintheirranksahostofformersoldiersandexperiencedcommandersandpossessednumerouswell—mannedcannon。OnJuly19，thearmiesoftheSuabianUnionopenedacannonadewhichwascontinuedoneverysideonthe20th，butwithoutresult。OnJuly21，GeorgvonFrundsbergjoinedTruchsesswith300Lansquenets。

HeknewmanyofthepeasantcommanderswhobadservedunderhimintheItalianmilitaryexpeditionsandheenteredintonegotiationswiththem。

Wheremilitaryresourceswereinsufficient，treasonsucceeded。WalterBachandseveralothercommandersandartillerymensoldthemselves。Theysetfiretothepowderstoreofthepeasantsandpersuadedthetroopstomakeanenvelopingmovement，butassoonasthepeasantslefttheirstrongpositiontheyfellintotheambushplacedbyTruchsessincollusionwithBachandtheothertraitors。TheywerelesscapableofdefendingthemselvessincetheirtraitorouscommandershadleftthemunderthepretextofreconnoiteringandwerealreadyontheirwaytoSwitzerland。Thustwoofthepeasantcampswereentirelydisrupted。Thethird，underKnopfofLuibas，wasstillinapositiontowithdrawinorder。ItagaintookitspositiononthemountainofKollennearKampten，whereitwassurroundedbyTruchsess。Thelatterdidnotdaretoattackthesepeasants，buthecutthemofffromallsupplies，andtriedtodemoralisethembyburningabout200villagesinthevicinity。

Hunger，andthesightoftheirburninghomes，finallybroughtthepeasantstosurrender（July25）。Morethantwentywereimmediatelyexecuted。KnopfofLuibas，theonlyleaderofthistroopwhodidnotbetrayhisbanner，fledtoBiegenz。Therehewascaptured，however，andhanged，afteralongimprisonment。

Withthis，thePeasantWarinSuabiaandFranconiacametoanend。

[Topart6]

ThePeasantWarinGermany：Chapter6FrederickEngels’

THEPEASANTWARINGERMANYCHAPTER6

ThePeasantWarinThuringia，AlsaceandAustriaImmediatelyaftertheoutbreakofthefirstmovementinSuabia，ThomasMuenzeragainhurriedtoThuringia，andsincetheendofFebruaryandthebeginningofMarch，heestablishedhisquartersinthefreeimperialcityofMuehlhausen，wherehispartywasstrongerthanelsewhere。Heheldthethreadsoftheentiremovementinhishand。HeknewwhatstormwasabouttobreakinSouthernGermany，andheundertooktomakeThuringiathecentreofthemovementforNorthGermany。Hefoundveryfertilesoil。Thuringia，themainarenaoftheReformationmovement，wasinthegripofgreatunrest。Theeconomicmiseryofthedowntroddenpeasants，aswellasthecurrentrevolutionary，religiousandpoliticaldoctrine，hadalsopreparedtheneighbouringprovinces，Hesse，Saxony，andtheregionoftheHarz，forthegeneraluprising。InMuehlhausenitself，wholemassesofthelowermiddle—classhadbeenwonovertotheextremeMuenzerdoctrine，andcouldhardlywaitforthemomentwhentheywouldassertthemselvesbyasuperiorityofnumbersagainstthehaughtyhonourables。Inordernottostartbeforethepropermoment，Muenzerwascompelledtoappearintheroleofmoderator，buthisdisciple，Pfeifer，whoconductedthemovementthere，hadcommittedhimselftosuchanextentthathecouldnotholdbacktheoutbreak，andasearlyasMarch17，1525，beforethegeneraluprisinginSouthernGermany，Muehlhausenhaditsrevolution。Theoldpatriciancouncilwasoverthrown，andthegovernmentwashandedovertothenewly—elected\"eternalcouncil，\"withMuenzeraspresident。

Theworstthingthatcanbefallaleaderofanextremepartyistobecompelledtotakeoveragovernmentinanepochwhenthemovementisnotyetripeforthedominationoftheclasswhichherepresentsandfortherealisationofthemeasureswhichthatdominationwouldimply。

Whathecandodependsnotuponhiswillbutuponthesharpnessoftheclashofinterestsbetweenthevariousclasses，anduponthedegreeofdevelopmentofthematerialmeansofexistence，therelationsofproductionandmeansofcommunicationuponwhichtheclashofinterestsoftheclassesisbasedeverytime。Whatheoughttodo，whathispartydemandsofhim，againdependsnotuponhim，oruponthedegreeofdevelopmentoftheclassstruggleanditsconditions。Heisboundtohisdoctrinesandthedemandshithertopropoundedwhichdonotemanatefromtheinterrelationsofthesocialclassesatagivenmoment，orfromthemoreorlessaccidentallevelofrelationsofproductionandmeansofcommunication，butfromhismoreorlesspenetratinginsightintothegeneralresultofthesocialandpoliticalmovement。Thushenecessarilyfindshimselfinadilemma。

Whathecandoisincontrasttoallhisactionsashithertopractised，toallhisprinciplesandtothepresentinterestsofhisparty;whatheoughttodocannotbeachieved。Inaword，heiscompelledtorepresentnothispartyorhisclass，buttheclassforwhomconditionsareripefordomination。Intheinterestsofthemovementitself，heiscompelledtodefendtheinterestsofanalienclass，andtofeedhisownclasswithphrasesandpromises，withtheassertionthattheinterestsofthatalienclassaretheirowninterests。Whoeverputshimselfinthisawkwardpositionisirrevocablylost。Wehaveseenexamplesofthisinrecenttimes。WeneedonlyberemindedofthepositiontakeninthelastFrenchprovisionalgovernmentbytherepresentativesoftheproletariat，thoughtheyrepresentedonlyaverylowlevelofproletariandevelopment。WhoevercanstilllookforwardtoofficialpositionsafterhavingbecomefamiliarwiththeexperiencesoftheFebruarygovernment——nottospeakofourownnobleGermanprovisionalgovernmentsandimperialregencies——iseitherfoolishbeyondmeasure，oratbestpaysonlylipservicetotheextremerevolutionaryparty。

Muenzer’spositionattheheadofthe\"eternalcouncil\"ofMuehlhausenwasindeedmuchmoreprecariousthanthatofanymodernrevolutionaryregent。

Notonlythemovementofhistime，butthewholecentury，wasnotripefortherealisationoftheideasforwhichhehimselfhadonlybeguntogrope。Theclasswhichherepresentednotonlywasnotdevelopedenoughandincapableofsubduingandtransformingthewholeofsociety，butitwasjustbeginningtocomeintoexistence。Thesocialtransformationthathepicturedinhisfantasywassolittlegroundedinthethenexistingeconomicconditionsthatthelatterwereapreparationforasocialsystemdiametricallyopposedtothatofwhichhedreamt。Nevertheless，hewasboundtohispreachingsofChristianequalityandevangelicalcommunityofpossessions。Hewasatleastcompelledtomakeanattemptattheirrealisation。

Communityofallpossessions，universalandequallabourduty，andtheabolitionofanauthoritywereproclaimed。Inreality，Muehlhausenremainedarepublicanimperialcitywithasomewhatdemocraticconstitution，withasenateelectedbyuniversalsuffrageandunderthecontrolofaforum，andwiththehastilyimprovisedfeedingofthepoor。Thesocialchange，whichsohorrifiedtheProtestantmiddle—classcontemporaries，inrealityneverwentbeyondafeebleandunconsciousattemptprematurelytoestablishthebourgeoissocietyofalaterperiod。

Muenzer，himself，seemstohaverealisedthewideabyssbetweenhistheoriesandsurroundingrealities。Thisabyssmusthavebeenfeltthemorekeenly，themoredistortedtheviewsofthisgeniusofnecessityappeared，reflectedintheheadsofthemassofhisfollowers。Hethrewhimselfintowideningandorganismsthemovementwithazealrareevenforhim。Hewrotelettersandsentoutemissariesinalldirections。Hislettersandsermonsbreathedarevolutionaryfanaticismwhichwasamazingincomparisonwithhisformerwritings。GonecompletelywasthenaiveyouthfulhumourofMuenzer’srevolutionarypamphlets。Thequietinstructivelanguageofthethinker’whichhadbeensocharacteristicofhim，appearednomore。

Muenzerwasnowentirelyaprophetoftherevolution。Incessantlyhefannedtheflameofhatredagainsttherulingclasses。Hespurredthewildestpassions，usingforcefultermsofexpressionthelikeofwhichreligiousandnationalistdeliriumhadputintothemouthsoftheOldTestamentprophets。

Thestyleuptowhichheworkedhimselfrevealsthelevelofeducationofthatpublicwhichhewastoaffect。TheexampleofMuehlhausenandthepropagandaofMuenzerhadaquickandfar—reachingeffect。InThuringia，Eichsfeld，Harz，intheduchiesof—Saxony，inHesseandFulda，inUpperFranconiaandinVogtland，thepeasantsarose，assembledinarmies，andburnedcastlesandmonasteries。Muenzerwasmoreorlessrecognisedastheleaderoftheentiremovement，andMuehlhausenremainedthecentralpoint，whileinErfurtapurelymiddle—classmovementbecamevictorious，andtherulingpartythereconstantlymaintainedanundecidedattitudetowardsthepeasants。

InThuringia，theprinceswereatthebeginningjustashelplessandpowerlessinrelationtothepeasantsastheyhadbeeninFranconiaandSuabia。OnlyinthelastdaysofApril，didtheLandgraveofHessesucceedinassemblingacorps。ItwasthatsameLandgravePhilipp，whosepietyisbeingpraisedsomuchbytheProtestantandbourgeoishistoriesof’theReformation，andofwhoseinfamiestowardsthepeasantswewillpresentlyhaveawordtosay。Byaseriesofquickmovementsandbydecisiveaction，LandgravePhilippsubduedthemajorpartofhisland。Hecallednewcontingents，andthenturnedtowardstheregionoftheAbbotofFulda，whohithertowashislord。OnMay3，hedefeatedtheFuldapeasanttroopatFrauenberg，subduedtheentireland，andseizedtheopportunitynotonlytofreehimselffromthesovereigntyoftheAbbot，buttomaketheAbbeyofFuldaavassalageofHesse，naturallypendingitssubsequentsecularisation。

HethentookEisenachandLangensalza，andjointlywiththeSaxontroops，movedtowardstheheadquartersoftherebelliousMuehlhausen。MuenzerassembledhisforcesatFrankenhausen8，000menandseveralcannons。TheThuringiantroopswerefarfrompossessingthatfightingpowerwhichtheSuabianandFranconiantroopsdevelopedintheirstrugglewithTruchsess。Themenwerepoorlyarmedandbadlydisciplined。Theycountedfewex—soldiersamongthem，andsorelylackedleadership。ItappearsthatMuenzerpossessednomilitaryknowledgewhatsoever。Nevertheless，theprincesfounditpropertouseherethesametacticsthatsooftenhelpedTruchsesstovictory—breachoffaith。OnMay16，theyenterednegotiations，concludedanarmistice，butattackedthepeasantsbeforethetimeofthearmisticehadelapsed。

MuenzerstoodwithhispeopleonthemountainwhichisstillcalledMountBattle（Schlachtberg），entrenchedbehindabarricadeofwagons。Thediscouragementamongthetroopswasrapidlyincreasing。TheprinceshadpromisedthemamnestyshouldtheydeliverMuenzeralive。Muenzerassembledhispeopleinacircle，todebatetheprinces’proposals。Aknightandapriestexpressedthemselvesinfavourofcapitulation。Muenzerhadthembothbroughtinsidethecircle，anddecapitated。Thisactofterroristenergy，jubilantlymetbytheoutspokenrevolutionaries，causedacertainhaltamongthetroops，butmostofthemenwouldhavegoneawaywithoutresistancehaditnotbeennoticedthattheprinces’Lansquenets，whohadencircledtheentiremountain，wereapproachinginclosecolumns，inspiteofthearmistice。Afrontwashurriedlyformedbehindthewagons，butalreadythecannonballsandgunswerepoundingthehalf—defenselesspeasants，unusedtobattle，andtheLansquenetsreachedthebarricade。Afterabriefresistance，thelineofthewagonswasbroken，thepeasants’cannoncaptured，andthepeasantsdispersed。Theyfledinwilddisorder，andfellintothehandsoftheenvelopingcolumnsandthecavalry，whoperpetratedanappallingmassacreamongthem。Outof8，000peasants，over5，000wereslaughtered。

ThesurvivorsarrivedatFrankenhaus，andsimultaneouslywiththem，theprinces’cavalry。Thecitywastaken。Muenzer，woundedinthebead，wasdiscoveredinahouseandcaptured。OnMay25，Muehlhausenalsosurrendered。

Pfeifer，whohadremainedthere，ranaway，butwascapturedintheregionofEisenach。

Muenzerwasputontherackinthepresenceoftheprinces，andthendecapitated。Hewenttohisdeathwiththesamecouragewithwhichhehadlived。Hewasbarelytwenty—eightwhenhewasexecuted。Pfeifer，withmanyothers，wasalsoexecuted。InFulda，thatholyman，PhilippofHesse，hadopenedhisbloodycourt。HeandthePrinceofHesseorderedmanyotherstobekilledbythesword——inEisenach，twenty—four;inLangensalza，forty—one;afterthebattleofFrankenhaus，300;inMuehlhausen，over100;

atGerman，twenty—six;atTungeda，fifty;atSangenhausen，twelve;inLeipzig，eight，nottospeakofmutilationsandthemoremoderatemeasuresofpillagingandburningvillagesandcities。

Muehlhausenwascompelledtogiveupitslibertyundertheempire，andwasincorporatedintotheSaxonlands，justastheAbbeyofFuldawasincorporatedintheLand—graviateofHesse。

TheprincenowmovedthroughtheforestofThuringia，whereFranconianpeasantsoftheBildhauscamphadunitedwiththeThuringians，andburnedmanycastles。AbattletookplacebeforeMeiningen。Thepeasantswerebeatenandwithdrewtowardsthecity，whichcloseditsgatestothem，andthreatenedtoattackthemfromtherear。Thetroops，thusplacedinaquandarybythebetrayaloftheirallies，capitulatedbeforetheprince，anddispersed，whilenegotiationswerestillunderway。ThecampofBildhaushadlongdispersed，andwiththis，theremnantsoftheinsurgentsofSaxony，Hesse，ThuringiaandUpperFranconia，wereannihilated。

InAlsacetherebellionbrokeoutafterthemovementhadstartedontherightsideoftheRhine。ThepeasantsofthebishopricofStrassbourgaroseaslateasthemiddleofApril。Soonafter，therewasanupheavalofthepeasantsofUpperAlsaceandSundgau。OnApril18，acontingentofLowerAlsacepeasantspillagedthemonasteryofAltdorf。OthertroopswereformednearEbersheimandBarr，aswellasintheUrbisvalley。TheseweresoonconcentratedintothelargeLowerAlsacedivisionandproceededinanorganisedwaytotakecitiesandtownsandtodestroymonasteries。

Oneoutofeverythreemenwascalledtothecolours。TheTwelveArticlesofthisgroupwereconsiderablymoreradicalthanthoseoftheSuabianandFranconiangroups。

WhileonecolumnoftheLowerAlsacepeasantsfirstconcentratednearSt。HippoliteearlyinMay，attemptingtotakethecitybutwithoutsuccess，andthen，throughanunderstandingwiththecitizens，cameintopossessionofBarkenonMay10，ofRappoldtsweileronMay13，andReichenweieronMay14，asecondcolumnunderErasmusGerbermarchedtoattackStrassbourgbysurprise。Theattemptwasunsuccessful，andthecolumnnowturnedtowardstheVosges，destroyedthemonasteryofMauersmuenster，andbesiegedZabern，takingitonMay13。FromhereitmovedtowardsthefrontierofLorraineandarousedthesectionoftheduchyadjoiningthefrontier，atthesametimefortifyingthemountainpasses。TwocolumnswereformedatHerbolzheimontheSaar，andatNeuburg，atSaargemund，4，000German—Lorrainepeasantsentrenchedthemselves。Finally，twoadvancedtroops，theKolbenintheVosgesatStuerzelbrunn，andtheKleeburgatWeissenburg，coveredthefrontandtherightflank，whiletheleftflankwasadjoiningthoseofUpperAlsace。

Thelatter，inmotionsinceApril20，hadforcedthecityofSulzintothepeasantfraternityonMay10，Gebweiler，onMay12，andSennheimandvicinity，May15。TheAustriangovernmentandthesurroundingimperialcitiesimmediatelyunitedagainstthem，buttheyweretooweaktoofferseriousresistance，nottospeakofattack。Thus，inthemiddleofMay，thewholeofAlsace，withtheexceptionofonlyafewcities，cameintothehandsoftheinsurgents。

ButalreadythearmywasapproachingwhichwasdestinedtobreaktheungodlyattackoftheAlsacepeasants。ItwastheFrenchwhoeffectedheretherestorationofthenobility。Already，onMay16，DukeAntonofLorrainemarchedoutwithanarmyof30，000，amongthemthefloweroftheFrenchnobility，aswellasSpanish，Piedmontese，Lonibardic，GreekandAlbanianauxiliarytroops。OnMay16hemet4，000peasantsatLuetzelsteinwhomhedefeatedwithouteffort，andonthe17thheforcedZabern，whichwasbesiegedbythepeasants，tosurrender。ButevenwhiletheLorrainerswereenteringthecityandthepeasantswerebeingdisarmed，theconditionsofthesurrenderwerebroken。ThedefenselesspeasantswereattackedbytheLansquenetsandmostofthemwereslaughtered。TheremainingLowerAlsacecolumnsdisbanded，andDukeAntonwenttomeettheUpperAlsatians。

Thelatter，whohadrefusedtojointheLowerAlsatiansatZabern，werenowattackedatScherweilerbytheentireforceoftheLorrainers。Theyresistedwithgreatbravery，buttheenormousnumericalsuperiority——

30，000asagainst7，000——andthebetrayalofanumberofknights，especiallythatofthemagistrateofReichenweier，madealldaringfutile。Theyweretotallybeatenanddispersed。TheDukesubduedthewholeofAlsacewiththeusualatrocities。OnlySundgauwasspared。Bythreateningtocallhimintotheland，theAustriangovernmentforcedthepeasantstoconcludetheEnsisheimagreementearlyinJune。Thegovernmentsoonbroketheagreement，however，orderingnumbersofpreachersandleadersofthemovementtobehanged。ThepeasantsmadeanewinsurrectionwhichendedwiththeinclusionoftheSundgaupeasantsintotheOffenburgagreement（September18）。

TherenowremainsonlythereportofthePeasantWarintheAlpineregionsofAustria。Theseregions，aswellastheadjoiningArchbishopricofSalzburgwereincontinuousoppositiontothegovernmentandthenobilityeversincetheStaraPrawa，andtheReformationdoctrinesfoundthereafertilesoil。Religiouspersecutionsandwilfultaxationbroughttherebelliontoacrisis。

ThecityofSalzburg，supportedbythepeasantsandthepitmen，hadbeenincontroversywiththeArchbishopsince1522overcityprivilegesandthefreedomofreligiouspractice。Bytheendof1523，theArchbishopattackedthecitywithrecruitedLansquenets，terroriseditbyacannonadefromthecastle，andpersecutedthehereticalpreachers。Atthesametimeheimposednewcrushingtaxes，andtherebyirritatedthepopulationtotheutmost。Inthespringof1525，simultaneouslywiththeSuabian—FranconianandThuringianuprisings，thepeasantsandpitmenoftheentirecountrysuddenlyarose，organisedthemselvesunderthecommandersBrosslerandWeitmoser，freedthecityandbesiegedthecastleofSalzburg。LiketheWestGermanpeasants，theyorganisedaChristianallianceandformulatedtheirdemandsintofourteenarticles。

InStyria，inUpperAustria，inCarinthiaandCarniola，wherenewextortionatetaxes，dutiesandedictshadseverelyinjuredtheinterestsclosesttothepeople，thepeasantsaroseintheSpringof1525。TheytookanumberofcastlesandatGrys，defeatedtheconqueroroftheStaraPrawa，theoldfieldcommanderDietrichstein。Althoughthegovernmentsucceededinplacatingsomeoftheinsurgentswithfalsepromises，thebulkofthemremainedtogetherandunitedwiththeSalzburgpeasants，sothattheentireregionofSalzburgandthemajorpartofUpperAustria，Styria，CarinthiaandCamiolawereinthehandsofthepeasantsandpitmen。

IntheTyrol，theReformationdoctrineshadalsofoundadherence。

HereevenmorethanintheotherAlpineregionsofAustria，Muenzer’semissarieshadbeensuccessfullyactive。ArchbishopFerdinandpersecutedthepreachersofthenewdoctrineshereaselsewhere，andimpingedtherightsofthepopulationbyarbitraryfinancialregulations。Inconsequence，anuprisingtookplaceintheSpringof1525。Theinsurgents，whosecommanderwasaMuenzermannamedGeismaier，theonlynotedmilitarytalentamongallthepeasantchiefs，tookagreatnumberofcastles，andproceededenergeticallyagainstthepriests，particularlyinthesouthandtheregionofEtsch。

TheVorarlbergpeasantsalsoaroseandjoinedtheAllgaeupeasants。

TheArchbishop，pressedfromeveryside，nowbegantomakeconcessionafterconcessiontotherebelswhomashorttimebeforehehadwishedtoannihilatebymeansofburning，scourging，pillagingandmurdering。HesummonedtheDietsofthehereditarylands，andpendingtheirassembling，concludedanarmisticewiththepeasants。Inthemeantimehewasstrenuouslyarming，inorder，assoonaspossible，tobeabletospeaktotheungodlyonesinadifferentlanguage。

Naturally，thearmisticewasnotkeptlong。Dietrichstein，havingrunshortofcash，begantolevycontributionsintheduchies;hisSlavicandMagyartroopsallowedthemselves，besides，themostshamefulatrocitiesagainstthepopulation。ThisbroughttheStyrianstonewrebellion。ThepeasantsattackedDietrichsteinatSchladmingduringthenightofJuly3dandslaughteredeverybodywhodidnotspeakGerman。Dietrichsteinhimselfwascaptured。

OnthemorningofJuly4，thepeasantsorganisedajurytotrythecaptives，andfortyCzechandCroatiannobleprisonersweresentencedtodeath。Thiswaseffective。TheArchbishopimmediatelyconsentedtoallthedemandsoftheestatesofthefiveduchies（UpperandLowerAustria，Styria，CarinthiaandCarniola）。

InTyrol，thedemandsoftheDietwerealsogranted，andtherebytheNorthwasquieted。TheSouth，however）insistingonitsoriginaldemandsasagainstthemuchmoremoderatedecisionsoftheDiet，remainedunderarms。OnlyinDecemberwastheArchbishopinapositiontorestoreorderbyforce。Hedidnotfailtoexecuteagreatnumberofinstigatorsandleadersoftheupheavalwhofellintohishands。

Now10，000BavariansmovedagainstSalzburg，underGeorgofFrundsberg。

Thisimposingmilitarypower，aswellasthequarrelsthathadbrokenoutamongthepeasants，inducedtheSalzburgpeasantstoconcludeanagreementwiththeArchbishop，whichcameintobeingSeptember1，andwasalsoacceptedbytheArchduke。Inspiteofthis，thetwoprinces，whohadmeanwhileconsiderablystrengthenedtheirtroops，soonbroketheagreementandtherebydrovetheSalzburgpeasantstoanewuprising。Theinsurgentsheldtheirownthroughoutthewinter。IntheSpring，Geismaiercametothemtoopenasplendidcampaignagainstthetroopswhichwereapproachingfromeveryside。InaseriesofbrilliantbattlesinMayandJune，1526，hedefeatedtheBavarian，AustrianandSuabianUniontroopsandtheLansquenetsoftheArchbishopofSalzburg，oneafteranother，andforalongtimehepreventedthevariouscorpsfromuniting。HealsofoundtimetobesiegeRadstadt。Finally，surroundedbyoverwhelmingforces，hewascompelledtowithdraw。HebattledhiswaythroughandledtheremnantsofhiscorpsthroughtheAustrianAlpsintoVenetianterritory。TherepublicofVeniceandSwitzerlandofferedtheindefatigablepeasantchiefstartingpointsfornewconspiracies。ForawholeyearhewasstillattemptingtoinvolvetheminawaragainstAustria，whichwouldhaveofferedhimanoccasionforanewpeasantuprising。Thehandofthemurderer，however，reachedhiminthecourseofthesenegotiations。ArchbishopFerdinandandtheArchbishopofSalzburgcouldnotrestaslongasGeismaierwasalive。Theythereforepaidabanditwho，in1527，succeededinremovingthedangerousrebelfromamongtheliving。

[Topart7]

ThePeasantWarinGermany：Chapter7FrederickEngels’

THEPEASANTWARINGERMANYCHAPTER7

SignificanceofthePeasantWarAfterGeismaier’swithdrawalintoVenetianterritory，theepilogueofthePeasantWarwasended。Thepeasantswereeverywherebroughtagainundertheswayoftheirecclesiastical，nobleorpatricianmasters。Theagreementsthatwereconcludedwiththemhereandtherewerebroken，andheavyburdenswereaugmentedbytheenormousindemnitiesimposedbythevictorsonthevanquished。ThemagnificentattemptoftheGermanpeopleendedinignominiousdefeatand，foratime，ingreateroppression。

Inthelongrun，however，thesituationofthepeasantsdidnotbecomeworse。Whateverthenobility，princesandpriestscouldwringoutofthepeasantshadbeenwrungoutevenbeforethewar。TheGermanpeasantofthattimehadthisincommonwiththemodernproletarian，thathisshareintheproductsoftheworkwaslimitedtoasubsistenceminimumnecessaryforhismaintenanceandforthepropagationoftherace。Itistruethatpeasantsofsomelittlewealthwereruined。Hostsofbondsmenwereforcedintoserfdom;wholestretchesofcommunitylandswereconfiscated;agreatnumberofpeasantsweredrivenintovagabondageorforcedtobecomecityplebeiansbythedestructionoftheirdomicilesandthedevastationoftheirfieldsinadditiontothegeneraldisorder。Warsanddevastations，however，wereevery—dayphenomenaatthattime，andingeneral，thepeasantclasswasontoolowaleveltohaveitssituationmadeworseforalongtimethroughincreasedtaxes。ThesubsequentreligiouswarsandfinallytheThirtyYears’WarwithitsconstantlyrepeatedmassdevastationsanddepopulationspoundedthepeasantsmuchmorepainfullythandidthePeasantWar。ItwasnotablytheThirtyYears’Warwhichannihilatedthemostimportantpartsoftheproductiveforcesinagriculture，throughwhich，aswellasthroughthesimultaneousdestructionofmanycities，itloweredthelivingstandardsofthepeasants，plebeiansandtheruinedcityinhabitantstothelevelofIrishmiseryinitsworstform。

TheclassthatsufferedmostfromthePeasantWarwastheclergy。Itsmonasteriesandendowmentswereburneddown;itsvaluablesplundered，soldintoforeigncountries，ormelted;itsstoresofgoodsconsumed。Theyhadbeen，leastofallcapableofofferingresistance，andatthesametimetheweightofthepeople’soldhatredfellheaviestuponthem。Theotherestates，princes，nobilityandthemiddle—class，evenexperiencedasecretjoyatthesufferingsofthehatedprelates。ThePeasantWarhadmadepopularthesecularisationofthechurchestatesinfavourofthepeasants。Thelayprinces，andtoacertaindegreethecities，determinedtobringaboutsecularisationintheirowninterests，andsoonthepossessionsoftheprelatesinProtestantcountrieswereinthehandsofeithertheprincesorthehonourables。Thepowerandauthorityoftheecclesiasticalprinceswerealsoinfringedupon，andthelayprincesunderstoodhowtoexploitthepeople’shatredalsointhisdirection。ThuswehaveseenhowtheAbbotofFuldawasrelegatedfromafeudallordofPhilippofHessetothepositionofhisvassal。ThusthecityofKemptenforcedtheecclesiasticalprincetoselltoitforatrifleaseriesofpreciousprivilegeswhichheenjoyedinthecity。

Thenobilitybadalsosufferedconsiderably。Mostofitscastlesweredestroyed，andanumberofitsmostrespectedfamilieswereruinedandcouldfindmeansofsubsistenceonlyintheserviceoftheprinces。

Itspowerlessnessinrelationtothepeasantswasproven。Ithadbeenbeateneverywhereandforcedtosurrender。Onlythearmiesoftheprinceshadsavedit。Thenobilitywasboundmoreandmoretoloseitssignificanceasafreeestateundertheempireandtofallunderthedominionoftheprinces。

NordidthecitiesgenerallygainanyadvantagesfromthePeasantWar。Theruleofthehonourableswasalmosteverywherereestablishedwithnewforce，andtheoppositionofthemiddle—classremainedbrokenforalongtime。Oldpatricianroutinethusdraggedon，hamperingcommerceandindustryineveryway，uptotheFrenchRevolution。Moreover，thecitiesweremaderesponsiblebytheprincesforthemomentarysuccesseswhichthemiddle—classorplebeianpartieshadachievedwithintheirconfinesduringthestruggle。Citieswhichhadpreviouslybelongedtotheprinceswereforcedtopayheavyindemnities，robbedoftheirprivileges，andmadesubjecttotheavariciouswilfulnessoftheprinces（Frankenhausen，Arnstadt，Schmalkalden，Wurzburg，etc。），citiesoftheempirewereincorporatedintoterritoriesoftheprinces（Muehlhausen），ortheywereatleastplacedundermoraldependenceontheprincesoftheadjoiningterritory，aswasthecasewithmanyimperialcitiesinFranconia。

Thesolegainersundertheseconditionsweretheprinces。Wehaveseenatthebeginningofourexpositionthatlowdevelopmentofindustry，commerceandagriculturemadethecentralisationoftheGermansintoanationimpossible，thatitallowedonlylocalandprovincialcentralisation，andthattheprinces，representingcentralisationwithindisruption，weretheonlyclasstoprofitfromeverychangeintheexistingsocialandpoliticalconditions。ThestateofdevelopmentofGermanyinthosedayswassolowandatthesametimesodifferentinvariousprovinces，thatalongwithlayprincipalitiestherecouldstillexistecclesiasticalsovereignties，cityrepublics，andsovereigncountsandbarons。Simultaneously，however，thisdevelopmentwascontinually，thoughslowlyandfeebly，pressingtowardsprovincialcentralisation，towardssubjugatingallimperialestatesundertheprinces。ItisduetothisthatonlytheprincescouldgainbytheendingofthePeasantWar。Thishappenedinreality。Theygainednotonlyrelatively，throughtheweakeningoftheiropponents，theclergy，thenobilityandthecities，butalsoabsolutelythroughtheprizesofwarwhichtheycollected。Thechurchestatesweresecularisedintheirfavour;partofthenobility，fullyorpartlyruined，wasobligedgraduallytoplaceitselfintheirvassalage;theindemnitiesofthecitiesandpeasantryswelledtheirtreasuries，which，withtheabolitionofsomanycityprivileges，hadnowobtainedamuchmoreextendedfieldforfinancialoperations。

ThedecentralisationofGermany，thewideningandstrengtheningofwhichwasthechiefresultofthewar，wasatthesametimethecauseofitsfailure。

WehaveseenthatGermanywassplitnotonlyintonumberlessindependentprovincesalmosttotallyforeigntoeachother，butthatineveryoneoftheseprovincesthenationwasdividedintovariousstrataofestatesandpartsofestates。Besidesprincesandpriestswefindnobilityandpeasantsinthecountryside;patricians，middle—classandplebeiansinthecities。

Atbest，theseclasseswereindifferenttoeachother’sinterestsifnotinactualconflict。Aboveallthesecomplicatedintereststherestillweretheinterestsoftheempireandthepope。Wehaveseenthat，withgreatdifficulty，imperfectly，anddifferinginvariouslocalities，thesevariousinterestsfinallyformedthreegreatgroups。Wehaveseenthatinspiteofthisgrouping，achievedwithsomuchlabour，everyestateopposedthelineindicatedbycircumstancesforthenationaldevelopment，everyestateconductingthemovementofitsownaccord，comingintoconflictnotonlywiththeconservativesbutalsowiththeresto—Itheoppositionestates。

Failurewas，therefore，inevitable。ThiswasthefateofthenobilityinSickingen’suprising，thefateofthepeasantsinthePeasantWar，ofthemiddle—classintheirtameReformation。ThiswasthefateevenofthepeasantsandplebeianswhoinmostlocalitiesofGermanycouldnotuniteforcommonactionandstoodineachother’sway。Wehavealsoseenthecausesofthissplitintheclassstruggleandtheresultantdefeatofthemiddle—classmovement。

Howlocalandprovincialdecentralisationandtheresultantlocalandprovincialnarrow—mindednessruinedthewholemovement，howneithermiddle—classnorpeasantrynorplebeianscoulduniteforconcertednationalaction;howthepeasantsofeveryprovinceactedonlyforthemselves，asarulerefusingaidtotheinsurgentpeasantsoftheneighboringregion，andthereforebeingannihilatedinindividualbattlesoneafteranotherbyarmieswhichinmostcasescountedhardlyone—tenthofthetotalnumberoftheinsurgentmasses—allthismustbequitecleartothereaderfromthispresentation。Thearmisticesandtheagreementsconcludedbyindividualgroupswiththeirenemiesalsoconstitutedactsofbetrayalofthecommoncause，andthegroupingofthevarioustroopsnotaccordingtothegreaterorsmallercommunityoftheirownactions，theonlypossiblegrouping，butaccordingtothecommunityofthespecialadversarytowhomtheysuccumbed，isstrikingproofofthedegreeofthemutualalienationofthepeasantsinvariousprovinces。

Theanalogywiththemovementof1848—50isherealsoapparent。

In1848asinthePeasantWar，theinterestsoftheoppositionclassesclashedwitheachotherandeachactedofitsownaccord。Thebourgeoisie，developedsufficientlynottotolerateanylongerthefeudalandbureaucraticabsolutism，wasnotpowerfulenoughtosubordinatetheclaimsofotherclassestoitsowninterests。Theproletariat，tooweaktobeabletocountonskippingthebourgeoisperiodandimmediatelyconqueringpowerforitself，had，stillunderabsolutism，tastedtoowellthesweetnessofbourgeoisgovernment，andwasgenerallyfartoodevelopedtoidentifyforonemomentitsownemancipationwiththeemancipationofthebourgeoisie。Themassofthenation，smallbourgeoisartisansandpeasants，wereleftinthelurchbytheirnearestandnaturalallies，thebourgeoisie，becausetheyweretoorevolutionary，andpartlybytheproletariatbecausetheywerenotsufficientlyadvanced。Dividedinitself，thismassofthenationachievednothing，whileopposingtheirfellowopponentsontherightandtheleft。

Astoprovincialnarrow—mindedness，itcouldhardlyhavebeengreaterin1525amongthepeasantsthanitwasamongtheclassesparticipatinginthemovementof1848。Thehundredlocalrevolutionsaswellasthehundredlocalreactionsfollowingthemandcompletedwithouthindrance，theretentionofthesplitintonumeroussmallstates——allthisspeaksloudenoughindeed。Hewho，afterthetwoGermanrevolutions，of1525and1548，andtheirresults，stilldreamsofafederatedrepublic，belongsinahousefortheinsane。

Still，thetworevolutions，thatoftheSixteenthCenturyandthatof1848—50，are，inspiteofallanalogies，materiallydifferentfromeachother。Therevolutionof1848bespeaks，ifnottheprogressofGermany，theprogressofEurope。

Whoprofitedbytherevolutionof1525？Theprinces。Whoprofitedbytherevolutionof1848？Thebigprinces，AustriaandPrussia。Behindtheprincesof1525therestoodthelowermiddle—classofthecities，heldchainedbymeansoftaxation。Behindthebigprovincesof1850，therestoodthemodernbigbourgeoisie，quicklysubjugatingthembymeansoftheStatedebt。Behindthebigbourgeoisiestandtheproletarians。

Therevolutionof1525wasalocalGermanaffair。TheEnglish，French，BohemiansandHungarianshadalreadygonethroughtheirpeasantwarswhentheGermansbegantheirs。IfGermanywasdecentralised，Europewassotoamuchgreaterextent。Therevolutionof1848wasnotalocalGermanaffair，itwasonephaseofagreatEuropeanmovement。Themovingforcesthroughouttheperiodofitsdurationwerenotconfinedtothenarrowlimitsofoneindividualcountry，noteventothelimitsofone—quarteroftheglobe。Infact，thecountrieswhichwerethearenaoftherevolutionwereleastactiveinproducingit。Theyweremoreorlessunconsciousrawmaterialswithoutwilloftheirown。Theyweremouldedinthecourseofmovementinwhichtheentireworldparticipated，amovementwhichunderexistingsocialconditionsmayappeartousasanalienpower，butwhich，intheend，isnothingbutourown。Thisiswhytherevolutionof1848—50

couldnotendinthewaythattherevolutionof1525ended。

THEEND

TheTwelveArticlesofthePeasantsTHETWELVEARTICLESOFTHEPEASANTSThefundamentalandcorrectchiefarticlesofallthepeasantsandofthosesubjecttoecclesiasticallords，relatingtothesemattersinwhichtheyfeelthemselvesaggrieved。

Mcccc，quadratum，IxetduplicatumVcumtransit，christianasectaperibit。

PeacetotheChristianReaderandtheGraceofGodthroughChrist。

Therearemanyevilwritingsputforthoflatewhichtakeoccasion，onaccountoftheassemblingofthepeasants，tocastscornuponthegospel，saying：Isthisthefruitofthenewteaching，thatnooneshouldobeybutallshouldeverywhereriseinrevoltandrushtogethertoreformorperhapsdestroyaltogethertheauthorities，bothecclesiasticandlay？

Thearticlesbelowshallanswerthesegodlessandcriminalfault—finders，andserveinthefirstplacetoremovethereproachfromthewordofGod，andinthesecondplacetogiveaChristianexcuseforthedisobedienceoreventherevoltoftheentirePeasantry。InthefirstplacetheGospelisnotthecauseofrevoltanddisorder，sinceitisthemessageofChrist，thepromisedMessiah，theWordofLife，teachingonlylove，peace，patienceandconcord。Thus，allwhobelieveinChristshouldlearntobeloving，peaceful，long—sufferingandharmonious。Thisisthefoundationofallthearticlesofthepeasants（asWillbeseen）whoaccepttheGospelandliveaccordingtoit。HowthencantheevilreportsdeclaretheGospeltobeacauseofrevoltanddisobedience？ThattheauthorsoftheevilreportsandtheenemiesoftheGospelopposethemselvestothesedemandsisdue，nottotheGospel，buttotheDevil，theworstenemyoftheGospel，whocausesthisoppositionbyraisingdoubtsinthemindsofhisfollowers，andthusthewordofGod，whichteacheslove，peaceandconcord，isovercome。

Inthesecondplace，itisclearthatthepeasantsdemandthatthisGospelbetaughtthemasaguideinlifeandtheyoughtnottobecalleddisobedientordisorderly。WhetherGodgrantthepeasants（earnestlywishingtoliveaccordingtoHisword）theirrequestsorno，whoshallfindfaultwiththewilloftheMostHigh？WhoshallmeddleinHisjudgmentsoropposehismajesty？DidbenothearthechildrenofIsraelwhentheycalleduponHimandsavedthemoutofthehandsofPharaoh？CanHenotsaveHisownto—day？Yes，Hewillsavethemandthatspeedily。Therefore，Christianreader，readthefollowingarticleswithcareandthenjudge。Herefollowthearticles：

TheFirstArticle。——First，itisourhumblepetitionanddesire，asalsoourwillandresolution，thatinthefutureweshouldhavepowerandauthoritysothateachcommunityshouldchooseandappointapastor，andthatweshouldhavetherighttodeposehimshouldheconducthimselfimproperly。ThepastorthuschosenshouldteachustheGospelpureandsimple，withoutanyaddition，doctrineorordinanceofman。FortoteachuscontinuallythetruefaithwillleadustoprayGodthatthroughHisgracethisfaithmayincreasewithinusandbecomepartofus。ForifHisgraceworknotwithinusweremainfleshandblood，whichavailethnothing;sincetheScriptureclearlyteachesthatonlythroughtruefaithcanwecometoGod。OnlythroughHismercycanwebecomeholy。HencesuchaguideandpastorisnecessaryandinthisfashiongroundedupontheScriptures。

TheSecondArticle。——AccordingasthejusttitheisestablishedbytheOldTestamentandfulfilledintheNew，wearereadyandwillingtopaythefairtitheofgrain。ThewordofGodplainlyprovidedthatingivingaccordingtorighttoGodanddistributingtoHispeopletheservicesofapastorarerequired。Wewillthat，forthefuture，ourchurchprovost，whomsoeverthecommunitymayappoint，shallgatherandreceivethistithe。

Fromthisheshallgivetothepastor，electedbythewholecommunity，adecentandsufficientmaintenanceforhimandhis，asshallseemrighttothewholecommunity（or，withtheknowledgeofthecommunity）。Whatremainsovershallbegiventothepooroftheplace，asthecircumstancesandthegeneralopiniondemand。Shouldanythingfartherremain，letitbekept，lestanyoneshouldhavetoleavethecountryfrompoverty。Provisionshouldalsobemadefromthissurplustoavoidlayinganylandtaxonthepoor。Incaseoneormorevillagesthemselveshavesoldtheirtithesonaccountofwant，andeachvillagehastakenactionasawhole，thebuyershouldnotsufferloss，butwewillthatsomeproperagreementbereachedwithhimfortherepaymentofthesumbythevillagewithdueinterest。

Butthosewhohavetitheswhichtheyhavenotpurchasedfromavillage，butwhichwereappropriatedbytheirancestors，shouldnot，andoughtnot，tobepaidanythingfartherbythevillagewhichshallapplyitstithestothesupportofthepastorselectedasaboveindicated，ortosolacethepoorasistaughtbytheScriptures。Thesmalltithes，whetherecclesiasticalorlay，wewillnotpayatan，fortheLordGodcreatedcattleforthefreeuseofman。Wewillnot，therefore，payfartheranunseemlytithewhichisofman’sinvention。

TheThirdArticle。——Ithasbeenthecustomhithertoformentoboldusastheirownproperty，whichispitiableenough，consideringthatChristhasdeliveredandredeemedusall，withoutexception，bythesheddingofHispreciousblood，thelowlyaswellasthegreat。Accordingly，itisconsistentwithScripturethatweshouldbefreeandwishtobeso。

Notthatwewouldwishtobeabsolutelyfreeandundernoauthority。Goddoesnotteachusthatweshouldleadadisorderlylifeinthelustsoftheflesh，butthatweshouldlovetheLordourGodandourneighbour。

WewouldgladlyobserveallthisasGodhascommandedusinthecelebrationofthecommunion。Hehasnotcommandedusnottoobeytheauthorities，butratherthatweshouldbehumble，notonlytowardsthoseinauthority，buttowardseveryone。WearethusreadytoyieldobedienceaccordingtoGod’slawtoourelectedandregularauthoritiesinallproperthingsbecomingtoaChristian。We，therefore，takeitforgrantedthatyouwillreleaseusfromserfdomastrueChristians，unlessitshouldbeshownusfromtheGospelthatweareserfs。

TheFourthArticle。——Inthefourthplaceithasbeenthecustomheretofore，thatnopoormanshouldbeallowedtocatchvenisonorwildfowlorfishinflowingwater，whichseemstousquiteunseemlyandunbrotherlyaswellasselfishandnotagreeabletothewordofGod。

Insomeplacestheauthoritiespreservethegametoourgreatannoyanceandloss，recklesslypermittingtheunreasoninganimalstodestroytonopurposeourcropswhichGodSufferstogrowfortheuseofman，andyetwemustremainquiet。Thisisneithergodlyorneighbourly。ForwhenGodcreatedmanhegavehimdominionoveralltheanimals，overthebirdsoftheairandoverthefishinthewater。Accordinglyitisourdesireifamanholdspossessionofwatersthatheshouldprovefromsatisfactorydocumentsthathisrighthasbeenunwittinglyacquiredbypurchase。Wedonotwishtotakeitfromhimbyforce，buthisrightsshouldbeexercisedinaChristianandbrotherlyfashion。Butwhosoevercannotproducesuchevidenceshouldsurrenderhisclaimwithgoodgrace。

TheFifthArticle。——Inthefifthplaceweareaggrievedinthematterofwood—cutting，forthenoblefolkhaveappropriatedallthewoodstothemselvesalone。Ifapoormanrequireswoodhemustpaydoubleforit（or，perhaps，twopiecesofmoney）。Itisouropinioninregardtowoodwhichhasfallenintothehandsofalordwhetherspiritualortemporal，thatunlessitwasdulypurchaseditshouldrevertagaintothecommunity。Itshould，moreover，befreetoeverymemberofthecommunitytohelphimselftosuchfire—woodasheneedsinhishome。Also，ifamanrequireswoodforcarpenter’spurposesheshouldhaveitfree，butwiththeknowledgeofapersonappointedbythecommunityforthatpurpose。

Should，however，nosuchforestbeatthedisposalofthecommunityletthatwhichhasbeendulyboughtbeadministeredinabrotherlyandChristianmanner。Iftheforest，althoughunfairlyappropriatedinthefirstinstance，waslaterdulysoldletthematterbeadjustedinafriendlyspiritandaccordingtotheScriptures。

TheSixthArticle。——Oursixthcomplaintisinregardtheexcessiveservicesdemandedofuswhichareincreasefromdaytoday。

Weaskthatthismatterbeproperlylookedintosothatweshallnotcontinuetobeoppressedinthisway，butthatsomegraciousconsiderationbegivenus，sinceourforefatherswererequiredonlytoserveaccordingtothewordofGod。

TheSeventhArticle。——Seventh，wewillnothereafterallowourselvestobefartheroppressedbyourlords，butwillletthemdemandonlywhatisjustandproperaccordingtothewordoftheagreementbetweenthelordandthepeasant。Thelordshouldnolongertrytoforcemoreservicesorotherduesfromthepeasantwithoutpayment，butpermitthepeasanttoenjoyhisholdinginpeaceandquiet。Thepeasantshould，however，helpthelordwhenitisnecessary，andatpropertimeswhenitwillnotbedisadvantageoustothepeasantandforasuitablepayment。

TheEighthArticle。——Intheeighthplace，wearegreatlyburdenedbyholdingswhichcannotsupporttherentexactedfromthem。Thepeasantssufferlossinthiswayandareruined，andweaskthatthelordsmayappointpersonsofhonourtoinspecttheseholdings，andfixarentinaccordancewithjustice，sothatthepeasantsshallnotworkfornothing，sincethelabourerisworthyofhishire。

TheNinthArticle。——Intheninthplace，weareburdenedwithagreatevilintheconstantmakingofnewlaws。Wearenotjudgedaccordingtotheoffense，butsometimeswithgreatillwill，andsometimesmuchtooleniently。Inouropinionweshouldbejudgedaccordingtotheoldwrittenlawsothatthecaseshallbedecidedaccordingtoitsmerits，andnotwithpartiality。

TheTenthArticle。——Inthetenthplace，weareaggrievedbytheappropriationbyindividualsofmeadowsandfieldswhichatonetimebelongedtoacommunity。Thesewewilltakeagainintoourownhands。

Itmay，however，happenthatthelandwasrightfullypurchased。When，however，thelandhasunfortunatelybeenpurchasedinthisway，somebrotherlyarrangementshouldbemadeaccordingtocircumstances。

TheEleventhArticle。——IntheeleventhplacewewillentirelyabolishtheduecalledTodfall（thatis，heriot）andwillnolongerendureit，norallowwidowsandorphanstobethusshamefullyrobbedagainstGod’swill，andinviolationofjusticeandright，ashasbeendoneinmanyplaces，andbythosewhoshouldshieldandprotectthem。

Thesehavedisgracedanddespoiledus，andalthoughtheyhadlittleauthoritytheyassumedit。Godwillsufferthisnomore，butitshallbewhollydoneawaywith，andforthefuturenomanshallbeboundtogivelittleormuch。

Conclusion。——Inthetwelfthplaceitisourconclusionandfinalresolution，thatifanyoneormoreofthearticlesheresetforthshouldnotbeinagreementwiththewordofGod，aswethinktheyare，sucharticlewewillwillinglyrecedefromwhenitisprovedreallytobeagainstthewordofGodbyaclearexplanationoftheScripture。

Orifarticlesshouldnowbeconcededtousthatarehereafterdiscoveredtobeunjust，fromthathourtheyshallbedeadandnullandwithoutforce。

Likewise，ifmorecomplaintsshouldbediscoveredwhicharebasedupontruthandtheScripturesandrelatetooffensesagainstGodandourneighbour，wehavedeterminedtoreservetherighttopresentthesealso，andtoexerciseourselvesinallChristianteaching。ForthisweshallprayGod，sinceHecangrantthese，andHealone。ThepeaceofChristabidewithusall。

ThePeasantWarinGermanyFrederickEngels’

THEPEASANTWARINGERMANYCOMMENTS

BYD。RIAZANOV，1925FourhundredyearshavepassedsincethegreatPeasantWarinGermany。ItdiffersfromsimilarpeasantuprisingsoftheFourteenthCenturyinItaly，FranceandEngland，inthattheseuprisingswereofamoreorlesslocalcharacterandweredirectedagainstthemoneyeconomythenintheprocessofdevelopment，whilethePeasantWar，unfoldingintheepochofearlycapitalismwhichwascreatingaworldmarket，wasintimatelyrelatedtotheeventsoftheReformation。Thismorecomplexhistoricbackground，comparedwiththebackgroundoftheFourteenthCentury，renderedmorecomplextheclassgroupingwhosestruggledeterminedthewholecourseofthePeasantWar。Theroleofproletarianelementsalsobecomesmorepronouncedcomparedwithearlieruprisings。

Itwasnaturalthat，withthegrowthofademocraticmovementinGermany，especiallyaftertheJulyRevolutioninFrance，attentionshouldbedirectedtowardsthestudyofthegreatPeasantWar。Aseriesofpopularbrochuresandworksexaminingindividualphasesofthemovementmadetheirappearance，andin1841therewaspublishedthemonumentalworkof[Wilhelm]

Zimmermann，which，tothepresenttime，remainsthemostdetailednarrativeoftheeventsofthePeasantWarinGermany。

ItwasalsonaturalthattheGermancommunists，confrontedwiththenecessityofdetermininghowfarthepeasantrycouldberelieduponasarevolutionaryfactor，shouldhavecarefullystudiedthehistoryofthePeasantWar。TheirattentionwasparticularlydrawntotheleadersofthePeasantWar，oneofwhomwasThomasMuenzer。Itischaracteristicthatasearlyas1845，Engels，inoneofhisfirstarticlesfortheChartist\"NorthernStar，\"calledtheattentionoftheEnglishworkerstothis\"famousleaderofthePeasantWarof1525，\"who，accordingtoEngels，wasarealdemocrat，andfoughtforrealdemands，notillusions。

MarxandEngels，whoverysoberlyregardedtheroleofthepeasantryintherealizationofasocialrevolutionneverunderestimateditsroleasarevolutionaryfactorinthestruggleagainstthelargelandownersandthefeudalmasters。Theyunderstoodverywellthatthemorethepeasantryfallsundertheleadershipofrevolutionaryclasseswhichuniteit，themorecapableitisofgeneralpoliticalactions。Ledbytherevolutionaryproletariat，supportingitsstruggleagainstcapitalisminthecityandthevillage，thepeasantryappearedtobeaveryimportantally。ThisiswhyMarxandEngels，duringtherevolutionof1848—49，mercilesslyexposedthecowardlyconductoftheGermanbourgeoisie，which，curryingfavourwiththeJunkersandafraidoftheproletariat，hadrefusedtodefendtheinterestsofthepeasantry。

ItwaswiththeaimofinstructingtheGermanbourgeoisdemocracythatin1850，Engels，supportedbythefactualmaterialcollectedbythedemocrat，Zimmermann，wrotethissplendidaccountoftheGermanPeasantWar。First，hegivesapictureoftheeconomicsituationandoftheclasscompositionofGermanyofthattime。Thenheshowshowoutofthissoilspringthevariousoppositiongroupswiththeirprogrammes，andgivesacolourfulcharacterisationofLutherandMuenzer。ThethirdchaptercontainsabriefhistoryofthepeasantuprisingsintheGermanEmpirefrom1476

to1517，thatis，tothebeginningoftheReformation。InthefourthchapterwehavethehistoryoftheuprisingofthenobilityundertheleadershipofFranzvonSickingenandUlrichvonHutten。ThefifthandsixthchapterscontainanarrativeoftheeventsofthePeasantWarassuch，withadetailedexplanationofthemaincausesofthepeasants’defeat。IntheseventhandlastchaptersthesignificanceofthePeasantWaranditsconsequencesinGermanhistoryareexplained。

PermeatingthewholeofEngels’workistheideaofthenecessityofamercilessstruggleagainstthefeudalmasters，thelandlords。Onlyaradicalabolitionofalltracesoffeudaldomination，hesaid，couldcreatethemostfavourableconditionsforthesuccessofaproletarianrevolution。InthisrespectEngelswasinfullharmonywithMarx，whowrotetohimlater（August16，1856），\"EverythinginGermanywilldependuponwhetheritwillbepossibletosupporttheproletarianrevolutionbysomethinglikesecondeditionofthePeasantWar。Onlythenwilleverythingproceedwell。\"

QuitedifferentwastheconceptionofLassalle，whooverestimatedthesignificanceoftheuprisingofthenobility，idealizedFranzvonSickingenandUlrichvonHutten，andtreatedtherevolutionarymovementofthelowerplebeianstratatoocontemptuously。Inhisopinion，thePeasantWar，notwithstandingitsrevolutionaryappearance，wasinrealityareactionarymovement。\"Youallknow，\"hesaidtotheBerlinworkers，\"thatthepeasantskilledthenoblesandburnedtheircastles，or，accordingtotheprevailinghabit，madethemrunthegauntlet。However，notwithstandingthisrevolutionaryappearance，themovementwas，insubstanceandprinciple，reactionary。\"

TheRussianrevolutionarypopulists，especiallytheadherentsofBakunin，oftenidentifiedLassalle’sviewofthepeasantswiththeviewsofMarxandEngels。InthistheyfollowedBakunin’slead，whowrotethefollowing：

\"EverybodyknowsthatLassallerepeatedlyexpressedtheideathatthedefeatofthepeasantuprisingintheFourteenthCenturyandthestrengtheningandrapidgrowthofthebureaucraticstateinGermanythatfolloweditwereaveritabletriumphfortherevolution。\"AccordingtoBakunin，theGermancommunistsviewedallpeasantsaselementsofreaction。\"Thefactis，\"headded，\"thattheMarxistscannotthinkotherwise;worshippersofstatepoweratanyprice，theyareboundtocurseeverypeople’srevolution，especiallyapeasantrevolution，whichisanarchicbyitsverynature，andwhichproceedsdirectlytoannihilatethestate。\"

WhenBakuninwrotetheselines，therewasalreadyinexistencethesecondeditionofEngels’workonthePeasantWar，withanewpreface（1870），inwhichtheinconsistencyofLiebknechtandothercontemporaryGermansocial—democratsontheagrarianquestionwascriticised。In1875，thethirdeditionappeared，withanaddendumwhichemphasisedstillmorethesharpdifferencebetweentheviewsofMarxandEngelsontheonehand，andLassalleontheother。

Itmustbenotedthatinthelastyearsofhislife，EngelsdevotedmuchlabourtothestudyofthePeasantWar，andwasabouttorecasthisoldwork。

In1882bewroteaspecialadditiontohisSocialism，UtopianandScientific，devotedtothehistoryoftheGermanpeasantry。OnDecember31，1884，hewrotetoSorge：\"IamsubjectingmyPeasantWartoradicalreconstruction。ItisgoingtobecomeacornerstoneofGermanhistory。Itisagreatpieceofwork。Allthepreliminaryworkisalmostready。\"

TheworkofpreparingthesecondandthirdvolumesofCapitalforpublication，preventedhimfromcarryingouthisplan。InJuly，1893，hewrotetoMehring，\"IfIsucceedinreconstructinganewthehistoricintroductiontomyPeasantWar，whichIhopewillbepossibleduringthiswinter，Iwillgivethereanexpositionofmyviews\"[concerningtheconditionsofthebreakingupofGermanyandthecausesofthedefeatoftheGermanbourgeoisrevolutionoftheSixteenthCentury]。

WhenKautskywaswritinghisbookontheforerunnersofmodernsocialism——itappearedinparts——EngelswrotetohimonMay21，1895：

\"Ofyourbook，Icantellyouthatthefurtheritproceeds，thebetteritbecomes。Comparedwiththeoriginalplan，PlatoandearlyChristianityarenotsufficientlyworkedout。Themediaevalsectsaremuchbetter，andthelaterones，moreso。BestofallaretheTaborites，Muenzer，andtheAnabaptists。Ihavelearnedmuchfromyourbook。FormyrecastingofthePeasantWar，itisanindispensablepreliminarywork。

\"Inmyjudgment，thereareonlytwoconsiderablefaults：

\"（1）Averyinsufficientinsightintothedevelopmentandtheroleofthoseelementsentirelyoutsideofthefeudalhierarchy，whicharedéclassé，occupyingalmosttheplaceofpariahs;elementsthatformtheloweststratumofthepopulationofeverymedievalcity，withoutrightsandoutsidetheruralcommunity，thefeudaldependence，theguildbonds。Thisisdifficult，butitisthechieffoundation，sincegradually，withthedecompositionoffeudalrelations，outofthisstratumdevelopsthepredecessoroftheproletariatwhich，in1789，inthefaubourgsofParis，madetherevolution。Youspeakoftheproletarians，butthisexpressionisnotentirelyexact;whenyoucountamongyour’proletarians’

theweavers，whosesignificanceyoupictureverycorrectly，youmayrightlydoso，onlybeginningfromthatepochwhenthedéclassénon—guildjourneymanweaversmadetheirappearanceandonlyinsofarasthelatterwereinexistence。Muchworkisstillrequiredinthisconnection。

\"（2）Youhavenotsufficientlytakenintoaccountthesituationoftheworldmarket，insofarasonecouldspeakofsuchamarketatthattime，andtheinternationaleconomicsituationofGermanyattheendoftheFifteenthCentury。However，onlythissituationexplainswhythebourgeois—plebeianmovementunderareligiouscloak，havingsuffereddefeatinEngland，theNetherlandsandBohemia，couldachieveameasureofsuccessinGermanyintheSixteenthCentury。Thiswasduetoitsreligiouscloak，whereasthesuccessofitsbourgeoiscontentswasreservedforthefollowingcenturyandforthecountrieswhichhadutilizedthedevelopmentoftheworldmarketthathadinthemeantimetakenanotherdirection，namely，HollandandEngland。Itisagreatsubject，whichIhopetobeabletotreatbrieflyinthePeasantWar，ifIonlysucceedintakingitup！\"

Death——Engelsdiedseveraldaysafterthewritingofthisletter（August5，1895）——preventedhimfromcompletingthiswork。

D。RIAZANOV。

Moscow，July1925