Miller, Doug A Mighty Fortress of God. The Siege of Münster 1534-5

Volume 28 of the series "From Retinue to Regiment 1453-1618". In February 1534, Franz von Waldeck, the Catholic Bishop of Münster, alarmed by the emergence of an Anabaptist enclave in the city, began a siege that was to last sixteen brutal months. This fortress, led by fervent believers who regarded Münster as the "New Jerusalem", resisted the bishop's troops with unwavering determination. Amid religious unrest and shifting political allegiances, the Anabaptists fortified the city, fending off numerous attacks and withstanding famine, disease and internal strife. In "A Mighty Fortress of God", the siege is brought to life through the vivid accounts of contemporary witnesses and detailed historical research. Readers are taken step by step through the crucial stages of the siege: the building of earthworks, the organisation of the defences and the increasingly desperate attempts by both sides to break the deadlock. From the failed attacks in 1534 to the dramatic betrayal that finally led to the collapse of the Anabaptist defence in June 1535, this account illuminates a key moment in the history of the Reformation period. The book also examines the motivations, leadership and ideologies of both the besiegers and the besieged, offering a unique insight into the complexities of the Anabaptist movement and its tragic end in Münster. The text is supplemented by specially commissioned artwork of clothing and flags, as well as detailed appendices including the Bishop's Articles of War and details of the costs of the siege.