Jump to content

Upper Austrian peasant war of 1626: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Adding short description: "Military conflict"
 
(32 intermediate revisions by 23 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Military conflict}}
{{multiple issues|
{{refimprove|date=August 2013}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2013}}
{{Infobox military conflict
{{copy edit|date=August 2013}}
| conflict = Upper Austrian peasant war
| partof = The [[Thirty Years' War]]
| image = Der Sturm auf Peuerbach.jpg
| image_size = 250
| caption = Model of Peasant rebels attacking the Peuerbach stronghold
| date = May – December {{start date and age|1626}}
| place = [[Upper Austria]], [[Holy Roman Empire]]
| result = Imperial victory
| combatant1 = Austrian Rebels
| combatant2 = {{flagicon image|Banner_of_the_Holy_Roman_Emperor_(after_1400).svg}} [[Holy Roman Empire]]<br />{{flagicon image|Flag_of_the_Electorate_of_Bavaria.svg}} [[Electorate of Bavaria|Bavaria]]
| commander1 = [[Stefan Fadinger]]{{KIA}}<br />Christoph Zeller{{KIA}}
| commander2 = {{flagicon image|Flag_of_the_Electorate_of_Bavaria.svg}} Adam Von Herberstorff
| strength1 = {{c.}} 40,000
| strength2 = 40,000+
| casualties1 = 12,000+{{Sfn|Wilson|2009|p=413}}
| casualties2 = 10,000+
}}
}}
[[File:Frankenburger Würfelspiel Zinnfigurendiorama.jpg|thumb|{{lang|de|Frankenburger Würfelspiel}} two men are forced to play for their life, throwing the dice.|alt=The {{lang|de|Frankburger Würfelspiel}} has forced each two men to play for their life throwing the dice below the rope hanging from the tree that would be used to immediately hang the one who loses a priest is nearby for a last prayer and a line of Bavarian soldiers guard the scene from the large mass in the background]]
The '''Upper Austrian peasant war''' ({{langx|de|Oberösterreichischer Bauernkrieg}}) of 1626 was a [[rebellion]] led by farmers whose goal was to free [[Upper Austria]] from [[Bavaria|Bavarian rule]]. The motive (found in the {{lang|de|[[Frankenburger Würfelspiel]]}} of 1625) was an escalation of the Bavarian Electorate's attempt to press the country into the [[Catholic church|Catholic]] faith at the time of the [[Thirty Years' War]].


==History==
[[File:Der Sturm auf Peuerbach.jpg|thumb|Peasant rebels attacking the Peuerbach stronghold.|alt=The attack on Peuerbach - the stronghold is surrounded by high walls with embrasures and a moat in front but the peasant rebels are already leaning ladders to the wall climbing over it with their gun men providing fire coverage from the water line]]
[[File:Stefan Fadinger.jpg|thumb|Stefan Fadinger, elected high commissioner of the Traunviertel and Hausruckviertel districts, and the supreme commander of the rebel army]]
[[File:Frankenburger Würfelspiel Zinnfigurendiorama.jpg|thumb|{{lang|de|Frankenburger Würfelspiel}} - two men are forced to play for their life, throwing the dice.|alt=The {{lang|de|Frankburger WürfelPspiel}} has forced each two men to play for their life throwing the dice below the rope hanging from the tree that would be used to immediately hang the one who loses - a priest is nearby for a last prayer and a line of Bavarian soldiers guard the scene from the large mass in the background]]
In the beginning of the Thirty Years' War, Upper Austria was pledged to the Bavarian Electorate by the [[House of Habsburg]]. The new ruler assumed ''[[cuius regio, eius religio]]'' (the religion of the ruler dictated the religion of the ruled) and tried to convert the lands to the Catholic faith. In May 1625,<ref>{{cite web|title=Upper Austria, Peasants' War 1625–1626|url=http://www.zum.de/whkmla/military/17cen/uaustpeaswar.html|publisher=zum.de|access-date=17 October 2013}}</ref> the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] priest of the [[Frankenburg am Hausruck]] parish was replaced by a Catholic priest sent from Bavaria. After an armed uprising, the new priest was forced to flee from the castle. However, the men feared the reaction from Bavaria and surrendered three days later. [[Adam von Herberstorff]], the Bavarian steward of Upper Austria, called all of the men from the region to the Haushamerfeld near Frankenburg to hold the assizes. The 36 men who had led the revolt were among the 5,000 gathered. The court sentenced the men to death, but allowed half of them to go free. Two men would step forward, and one would hang while the other would go. A roll of the dice determined their fate.
The '''Peasants' War in Upper Austria''' (German {{lang|de|''Oberösterreichischer Bauernkrieg''}}) was a [[rebellion]] led by farmers in 1626, whose goal was to free [[Upper Austria]] from [[Bavaria|Bavarian rule]]. The motive (found in the {{lang|de|[[Frankenburger Würfelspiel]]}} of 1625) was an escalation of the Bavarian kingdom's attempt to press the country into the Catholic faith at the time of the [[Thirty Years' War]].


The steward had thought that the harsh sentence would frighten the peasants, but it only served to increase dissent and give sympathy to the rebels. Over the next year, the peasants secretly prepared for war by recruiting a man from every farmer's house, supplying them with weapons, and teaching them tactics. They intended to attack on the [[Pentecost]], but war had broken out two weeks earlier, when Bavarian soldiers tried to steal a horse in [[Lembach im Mühlkreis]]. In response, a number of peasants on a pilgrimage near Lembach quickly assembled to slaughter the Bavarian garrison of 25 men. The group continued to collect more recruits on their way to [[Peuerbach]], where they faced Herberstorff and his men. Even before the full size of the peasant army was assembled in Peuerbach, a number of companies attacked them and were quickly defeated. The new commissioners of the region were elected summarily on the battlefield.
== History ==
[[File:Stefan Fadinger.jpg|thumb|Stefan Fadinger, elected high commissioner of the Traunviertel and Hausruckviertel districts, and the supreme commander of the rebel army.]]
In the beginning of the Thirty Years' War, Upper Austria was pledged to the Bavarian Kingdom by the [[House of Habsburg]]. The new ruler assumed ''[[cuius regio, eius religio]]'', and tried to convert the lands to the Catholic faith. In May of 1625,<ref>{{cite web|title=Upper Austria, Peasants' War 1625-1626|url=http://www.zum.de/whkmla/military/17cen/uaustpeaswar.html|publisher=zum.de|accessdate=17 October 2013}}</ref> the Protestant priest of the [[Frankenburg am Hausruck]] parish was replaced by a Catholic priest sent from Bavaria. After an armed uprising, the new priest was forced to flee from the castle. However, the men feared the reaction from Bavaria and surrendered three days later. Adam von Herberstorff, the Bavarian steward of Upper Austria, called all of the men from the region to the Haushamerfeld near Frankenburg to hold the assizes. The 36 men who had led the revolt were among the 5,000 gathered. The court sentenced the men to death, but allowed half of them to go free. Two men would step forward, and one would hang while the other would go. A roll of the dice determined their fate.


The 5,000-strong peasant army went on to besiege [[Eferding]], [[Wels]], [[Kremsmünster]], and [[Steyr]], finally arriving at [[Linz]], which did not surrender despite being defended by only 150 Bavarian soldiers. During the siege of Linz, the rebel leader, [[Stefan Fadinger]], was shot. He died on July 5, two weeks after the fatal gunshot. It took months for Bavaria to send troops under [[Gottfried Heinrich zu Pappenheim|Pappenheim's]] command to relieve the town at the end of August. Steyr was won back on September 26, and Wels on September 27. The war went on until the onset of winter, leaving the countryside destroyed. The farmers were now required to feed the 12,000 Bavarian soldiers who were spending winter in the country. Most of the leaders of the revolt were decapitated over the following months.
the ellie.C thought the beach was cool and the harsh sentence would frighten the peasants, but it only served to increase dissent and give sympathy to the rebels. Over the next year, the peasants secretly prepared for war by recruiting one man from every farmer's house, supplying them with weapons, and teaching them tactics. They intended to attack on the Pentecost, but war had broken out two weeks earlier, when two Bavarian soldiers tried to steal a cow in Lembach. In response, a number of peasants on a pilgrimage near Lembach quickly assembled to slaughter the Bavarian garrison of 25 men. The group continued to collect more recruits on their way to [[Peuerbach]], where they faced Herberstorff and his men. Even before the full size of the peasant army was assembled in Peuerbach, a number of companies attacked them and were quickly defeated. The new commissioners of the region were elected summarily on the battlefield.


==Reception==
The 5,000-strong peasant army went on to besiege Eferding, Wels, Kremsmünster, and Steyr, finally arriving at [[Linz]], which did not surrender despite being defended by only 150 Bavarian soldiers. During the siege of Linz, the rebel leader, Stefan Fadinger, was shot. He died on July 5, two weeks after the fatal gunshot<!-- two weeks later -->. It took months for Bavaria to send troops under [[Gottfried Heinrich zu Pappenheim|Pappenheim's]] command to relieve the town at the end of August. Steyr was won back on September 26, and Wels on September 27. The War went on until the onset of winter, leaving the countryside destroyed. The farmers were now required to feed the 12,000 Bavarian soldiers who were spending winter in the country. Most of the leaders of the revolt were decapitated over the following months.
Upper Austria had been rebellious for centuries, with 62 known uprisings between 1356 and 1849, 14 of which occurred in the 16th century. However, the Peasants' War of 1626 was the costliest in terms of human life and damage to livestock and property.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ooegeschichte.at/epochen/reformation-und-renaissance/bauernaufstaende/einleitung/?type=0&md5hash=|title=Bauernaufstände in Oberösterreich – Einleitung|trans-title=Peasant uprisings in Upper Austria Introduction|language=de|access-date=2013-08-14}}</ref> The war caused [[Martin Aichinger]] to lose his farm and begin roaming the country. He eventually became a religious leader who led a popular revolt against aristocratic rule. His revolutionary ideas frightened the rulers so much that they tried to arrest him, leading to another series of uprisings that ended in the [[Battle on the Frankenberg]] (German {{lang|de|"Schlacht auf dem Frankenberg"}}) in 1636. All of Aichinger's followers were slaughtered during the battle, including the remaining women and children who had been in hiding.

===Reception===
[[File:Martin Aichinger.jpg|thumb|Decapitation of Martin Aichinger.]]
Upper Austria had been rebellious for centuries, with 62 known uprisings between 1356 and 1849, 14 of which occurred in the 16th century. However, the Peasants' War of 1626 was the costliest in terms of human life and damage to livestock and property.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ooegeschichte.at/epochen/reformation-und-renaissance/bauernaufstaende/einleitung/?type=0&md5hash=|title=Bauernaufstände in Oberösterreich – Einleitung|trans_title=Peasant uprisings in Upper Austria - Introduction|language=German|accessdate=2013-08-14}}</ref> The war caused Martin Aichinger to lose his farm and begin roaming the country, eventually becoming a religious leader who led a popular revolt against aristocratic rule. His revolutionary ideas frightened the rulers so much that they tried to arrest him, leading to another series of uprisings that ended in the Battle on the Frankenberg (German {{lang|de|"Schlacht auf dem Frankenberg"}}) in 1636. All of Aichinger's followers were slaughtered during the battle, including the remaining of the women and children that were hiding.


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
* {{Cite book |last=Wilson |first=Peter H. |title=Europe's Tragedy: A History of the Thirty Years War |publisher=Allen Lane |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-7139-9592-3}}

{{Medieval and Early Modern European Peasant Wars}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Peasants' War in Upper Austria}}
[[Category:1626 in the Habsburg monarchy]]
[[Category:17th century in Austria]]
[[Category:Peasant revolts]]
[[Category:Peasant revolts]]
[[Category:Wars involving Austria]]
[[Category:Wars involving Bavaria]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1626]]
[[Category:17th-century rebellions]]
[[Category:Thirty Years' War]]
[[Category:Wars involving the Holy Roman Empire]]

Latest revision as of 16:12, 20 December 2024

Upper Austrian peasant war
Part of The Thirty Years' War

Model of Peasant rebels attacking the Peuerbach stronghold
DateMay – December 1626; 398 years ago (1626)
Location
Result Imperial victory
Belligerents
Austrian Rebels Holy Roman Empire
Bavaria
Commanders and leaders
Stefan Fadinger 
Christoph Zeller 
Adam Von Herberstorff
Strength
c. 40,000 40,000+
Casualties and losses
12,000+[1] 10,000+
The Frankburger Würfelspiel has forced each two men to play for their life throwing the dice below the rope hanging from the tree that would be used to immediately hang the one who loses – a priest is nearby for a last prayer and a line of Bavarian soldiers guard the scene from the large mass in the background
Frankenburger Würfelspiel – two men are forced to play for their life, throwing the dice.

The Upper Austrian peasant war (German: Oberösterreichischer Bauernkrieg) of 1626 was a rebellion led by farmers whose goal was to free Upper Austria from Bavarian rule. The motive (found in the Frankenburger Würfelspiel of 1625) was an escalation of the Bavarian Electorate's attempt to press the country into the Catholic faith at the time of the Thirty Years' War.

History

[edit]
Stefan Fadinger, elected high commissioner of the Traunviertel and Hausruckviertel districts, and the supreme commander of the rebel army

In the beginning of the Thirty Years' War, Upper Austria was pledged to the Bavarian Electorate by the House of Habsburg. The new ruler assumed cuius regio, eius religio (the religion of the ruler dictated the religion of the ruled) and tried to convert the lands to the Catholic faith. In May 1625,[2] the Protestant priest of the Frankenburg am Hausruck parish was replaced by a Catholic priest sent from Bavaria. After an armed uprising, the new priest was forced to flee from the castle. However, the men feared the reaction from Bavaria and surrendered three days later. Adam von Herberstorff, the Bavarian steward of Upper Austria, called all of the men from the region to the Haushamerfeld near Frankenburg to hold the assizes. The 36 men who had led the revolt were among the 5,000 gathered. The court sentenced the men to death, but allowed half of them to go free. Two men would step forward, and one would hang while the other would go. A roll of the dice determined their fate.

The steward had thought that the harsh sentence would frighten the peasants, but it only served to increase dissent and give sympathy to the rebels. Over the next year, the peasants secretly prepared for war by recruiting a man from every farmer's house, supplying them with weapons, and teaching them tactics. They intended to attack on the Pentecost, but war had broken out two weeks earlier, when Bavarian soldiers tried to steal a horse in Lembach im Mühlkreis. In response, a number of peasants on a pilgrimage near Lembach quickly assembled to slaughter the Bavarian garrison of 25 men. The group continued to collect more recruits on their way to Peuerbach, where they faced Herberstorff and his men. Even before the full size of the peasant army was assembled in Peuerbach, a number of companies attacked them and were quickly defeated. The new commissioners of the region were elected summarily on the battlefield.

The 5,000-strong peasant army went on to besiege Eferding, Wels, Kremsmünster, and Steyr, finally arriving at Linz, which did not surrender despite being defended by only 150 Bavarian soldiers. During the siege of Linz, the rebel leader, Stefan Fadinger, was shot. He died on July 5, two weeks after the fatal gunshot. It took months for Bavaria to send troops under Pappenheim's command to relieve the town at the end of August. Steyr was won back on September 26, and Wels on September 27. The war went on until the onset of winter, leaving the countryside destroyed. The farmers were now required to feed the 12,000 Bavarian soldiers who were spending winter in the country. Most of the leaders of the revolt were decapitated over the following months.

Reception

[edit]

Upper Austria had been rebellious for centuries, with 62 known uprisings between 1356 and 1849, 14 of which occurred in the 16th century. However, the Peasants' War of 1626 was the costliest in terms of human life and damage to livestock and property.[3] The war caused Martin Aichinger to lose his farm and begin roaming the country. He eventually became a religious leader who led a popular revolt against aristocratic rule. His revolutionary ideas frightened the rulers so much that they tried to arrest him, leading to another series of uprisings that ended in the Battle on the Frankenberg (German "Schlacht auf dem Frankenberg") in 1636. All of Aichinger's followers were slaughtered during the battle, including the remaining women and children who had been in hiding.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Wilson 2009, p. 413.
  2. ^ "Upper Austria, Peasants' War 1625–1626". zum.de. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  3. ^ "Bauernaufstände in Oberösterreich – Einleitung" [Peasant uprisings in Upper Austria – Introduction] (in German). Retrieved 2013-08-14.
  • Wilson, Peter H. (2009). Europe's Tragedy: A History of the Thirty Years War. Allen Lane. ISBN 978-0-7139-9592-3.