Question

A combined Catholic and Protestant force in 1535 brutally toppled the radical Anabaptist regime established in this German city. These Anabaptists were unique in their willingness to use violence (most Anabaptists were pacifists), the introduction of polygamy, and the abolition of all private property. Which German city is being referred to?

A) Wittenberg
B) Münster
C) Augsburg
D) Strasbourg

Answer 1

The German city associated with the Anabaptist regime toppled in 1535 is Münster. The Münster Anabaptists were noted for their atypical willingness to use violence, polygamy, and the abolition of private property, unlike other Anabaptist groups who were pacifist and sought separation of church and state.

Step-by-step explanation:

The German city that was the site of the brutal 1535 event involving a radical Anabaptist regime was B) Münster. This regime was unique in its time for several reasons: while most Anabaptists were pacifists, these Anabaptists were willing to use violence, they introduced polygamy, and they abolished private property. However, they faced opposition from both Catholic and Protestant forces that combined to topple their regime.

Despite the actions of the Münster Anabaptists, other Anabaptist movements such as the Hutterites, Mennonites, and Amish generally advocated non-violence, separation of church and state, and adult baptism based on a conscience decision to join the Christian faith, in contrast to infant baptism practiced among Catholics and most Protestants.

The wider context of the period includes the spread of Protestantism throughout Europe, the Roman Catholic Church's Counter-Reformation, the Thirty Years' War, and the Peace of Augsburg along with other efforts for religious reform led by figures such as Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, and John Calvin.