The Anabaptist kingdom of Münster is proclaimed

The Reformation in Münster took a radical turn. Teaching that baptism should be reserved for adult believers, the Anabaptists anticipated the imminent return of Jesus Christ and the end of time.

Dutchman Jan Matthys made himself head of the movement on 9 February 1534 and set about creating a theocracy. Launching a campaign of iconoclasm – destroying all images and statues as idols – he also ordered the destruction of every book except the Bible and the expulsion of every adult that refused baptism. Seeking to halt the spread of what he viewed as dangerous extremism, the Bishop of Münster lay siege to the city. Jan Matthys walked out of Münster on Easter Sunday 1534, expecting to meet the returned Christ, and was immediately killed by mercenaries in the pay of the Bishop. He was succeeded by another Dutchman, Jan van Leiden, who eventually became known as “King Jan”.

The large surplus of women in Münster led to the decision to allow polygamy, and “King Jan” eventually collected a total of 16 wives. His reign was brought to an end by a combination of siege and famine, and Münster was stormed by the Bishop’s forces in June 1535. Those Anabaptists not killed defending their kingdom were executed. Jan van Leiden and two of his advisors were tortured to death and their bodies were displayed in iron cages suspended from the tower of St Lambert’s Church. The “Anabaptist’s cages” can still be seen there today.