The Munster Rebellion

1534 Münster Rebellion: The beginning of an Anabaptist ‘New Jerusalem’, Germany, under the charismatic leadership of Jan Matthys (also spelled Matthijs, Mathijz, Matthyssen, Mathyszoon; a follower of Melchior Hoffman) and Jan van Leyden (John of Leyden/Leiden, Jan Bockelson or Beukelszoon; 1509? - '36). All Lutherans and Roman Catholics were to be eliminated by driving them out or converting them, so as to create a community bound by love and without sin. Van Leyden legalized polygamy, and himself took sixteen wives, one of whom he beheaded himself in the marketplace. Community of goods was also established. Non-belief was made a capital offence. It resisted besieging armies and lasted for more than a year.