A Mighty Fortress of God

The dramatic 16-month siege of Münster by Franz von Waldeck’s forces is vividly retold, revealing the determination of Anabaptist defenders amid religious and political upheaval.

In February 1534, Franz von Waldeck, the Catholic Bishop of Münster, alarmed by the rise of an Anabaptist enclave in the city, initiated a siege that would last for sixteen brutal months. This stronghold, led by fervent believers who viewed Münster as the ‘New Jerusalem’, resisted the bishop's forces with unwavering resolve. Amidst religious turmoil and shifting political allegiances, the Anabaptists fortified the city, repelling numerous assaults and withstanding starvation, disease, and internal strife.

In A Mighty Fortress of God, the siege comes to life through the vivid accounts of contemporary witnesses and detailed historical research. Readers are taken step by step through the critical phases of the siege: the construction of earthworks, the organization of defenses, and the increasingly desperate attempts by both sides to break the deadlock. From the failed attacks of 1534 to the dramatic betrayal that finally led to the collapse of the Anabaptist defense in June 1535, this account illuminates a key moment in Reformation-era history. The book also explores the motivations, leadership, and ideologies of both the besiegers and the besieged, offering an unparalleled 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 providing, amongst other things, the Bishop’s Articles of War, and details of the costs of the siege.