500 years of the Peasants' War: Glatt reminds us of the uprising and its rebels!

500 years of the Peasants' War: Glatt reminds us of the uprising and its rebels!

On October 26, 2025, a remarkable exhibition will open in Glatt, which will be dedicated to the largest uprising before the French Revolution: the Peasants' War of 1524/25. This historical conflict, characterized by social hardship and the pursuit of justice, united farmers, craftsmen and ordinary citizens who rose up against feudal despotism. The exhibition in the Glatt Castle Culture and Museum Center shows the moving events and central actors of the uprising in order to bring centuries-old history to life. The show is on view until February 1, 2026 and is worth taking a look at.

Sebastian Lotzer is one of the outstanding personalities of the uprising. The Krämer, born in Horb in 1490, was a decisive player and is considered the leading author of the “Twelve Articles of the Peasants in Swabia”. These first written demands for human rights and civil liberties in Europe were published in February 1525 and demanded, among other things, the right of communities to elect their pastor and the return of community forests. What is particularly noteworthy is that the articles, with a circulation of 25,000 copies, were distributed quickly and inexpensively thanks to the then new type of book printing. Wikipedia reports that an original document of the articles is kept in the Memmingen city archives.

The demands of the farmers

The “Twelve Articles” cover several key concerns. In addition to the freedom of choice for pastors, they demanded the abolition of small tithes and a limit on compulsory labor. These demands are a clear expression of the farmers' dissatisfaction with the existing conditions, which were characterized by high taxes and unfair distribution of resources. The movement emerged at a time when social tensions in the Holy Roman Empire were noticeably increasing, and the insurgents were brutally suppressed.

However, reactions to the articles were mixed. Martin Luther, who was considered a tremendous authority at the time, clearly rejected the farmers' demands and even called Lotzer a "preacher of lies." These critical voices contributed to the division between the reformers and the revolutionaries. Nevertheless, the Twelve Articles remained important for later social movements because they recorded the demands of ordinary people. Some of their goals were only realized during the revolution of 1848/49.

Important players in the Peasants' War

One of the other important figures of the Peasants' War was Thomas Mayer, who became known as the “top captain” of the Baltringer Bunch. Mayer, who lived in Lossburg, was a skilled diplomat who knew how to argue with divine law. He occupied positions in Dornstetten and finally besieged Sulz. Unfortunately, after the defeat, his leadership ended in a dramatic fate: he was captured and beheaded in Tübingen.

Another protagonist was Ulrich Metzger, who joined the insurgents and was also involved in the siege of Sulz. His fate took a turn after the uprising when he was arrested, but was able to provide support for a primal feud. Particularly noteworthy is Endlin Murer, who is one of the few women in the records: she was active in Dornhan, freed an imprisoned priest and thus courageously opposed the prevailing system.

The historical significance of the Peasants' War cannot be overestimated. Not only was it a sign of resistance to social inequality, but it also paved the way for future struggles for justice and freedom. Webhistoriker highlights the social, political and religious motivations of the insurgents, who demanded a profound transformation of society around 1500.

The revolt of 1524-25 is a powerful reminder that the pursuit of freedom and justice is not a new phenomenon. Let yourself be carried away by the exhibition in Glatt to learn more about this important period of history and experience first-hand the stories of the courageous people who stood up for their rights.