Photo:ptwo/Flickr
In the 16th century, Munster was ruled by the elected prince-bishop Franz von Waldeck.
Waldeck was a Catholic, but he tolerated any kind of faith as long as it had Christian origin.
They also believed that all men are equal and all wealth should be equally distributed.
Upon arrival, John of Leidenas he was popularly calledfound many believers warming up to these new ideas.
John of Leiden baptizing a young woman.
Non-believers were driven out of their homes and their properties seized.
They were replaced by Anabaptists who flowed in from surrounding villages in large numbers.
Cathedrals and monasteries became sites for orgies of iconoclasm as rebaptism became compulsory.
Money was outlawed and owing of property was banned.
John of Leiden proclaimed himself the leader, and established a Royal Order complete with a Royal Court.
Polygamy was made compulsory, and John himself took sixteen wives.
Capital punishment for trivial offences became commonplace.
Meanwhile, the citizens starved as food and supplies dwindled.
The cages still hang from the churchs steeple.
