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