A 'Communist state' is established by the Anabaptists at Munster

(79 words)
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Anabaptist leader John of Leiden joins his fellow believers at Münster in Westphalia. Following an insurrection on 9th February, he and other leaders such as the pastor Bernard Rothmann establish a communal theocracy. John of Leiden is made King of this new state, and institutes social transformations including adult baptism, the commonality of goods and legalised polygamy. Order was restored in June by the overthrown bishop of Münster, Franz von Waldeck, after a siege of several months.

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Citation:
Editors. "A 'Communist state' is established by the Anabaptists at Munster". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 01 November 2010
[http://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=14520, accessed 19 June 2013.]