Analyses and articles on political and religious persecution during the Reformation (1517 to 1648)
On the surface, the Council of Constance (1414–1418) was intended to restore the unity of the Church. However, behind the scenes of this magnificent assembly at Lake Constance lay one of the most consequential show…
While Jan Hus is often seen as the face of the Bohemian Reformation, Hieronymus of Prague (1379–1416) was its intellectual engine and most passionate orator. His fate at the Council of Constance remains one of…
Jan Hus was a scholar, priest, and rector of the University of Prague. He dared to criticize the corruption of the Catholic Church and the sale of indulgences. His persecution is a textbook example of…
In the tumultuous years of the early Protestant Reformation, while Martin Luther was challenging papal authority in Wittenberg, a courageous teacher from the Duchy of Berg was bringing these revolutionary ideas to the Rhineland. Adolf Clarenbach (c.…
Martin Luther (1483–1546) went down in history as the great Reformer. However, his relationship with the Jewish population represents one of the darkest chapters in the history of European persecution. His path was one that…
When Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg in 1517, he ignited more than a religious debate; he triggered a political earthquake that would reshape the Holy Roman Empire. The…
The Amish represent one of the most distinctive religious minority groups with a remarkable history of persecution and cultural preservation. Emerging from the Anabaptist movement of the Radical Reformation in 16th century Europe, the Amish…
The Mennonites represent one of the most significant religious minority groups with a centuries-long history of persecution. Emerging from the Radical Reformation of the 16th century, they trace their origins back to the Anabaptist movement…