This church in Germany still has three hanging cages that remain from the 1500's. Three men were tortured and their remains left to rot in these cages.
The Münster Rebellion was an attempt by radical Anabaptists to establish a communal sectarian government in the German city of Münster. The city was under Anabaptist rule from February 1534, when the city hall was seized and Bernhard Knipperdolling installed as mayor, until its fall in June 1535
After lengthy resistance, the city was taken by the besiegers on June 24, 1535. The army of Münster was defeated in 1535 by the prince-bishop Franz von Waldeck, and John of Leiden was captured. He was found in the cellar of a house, from where he was taken to a dungeon in Dülmen, then brought back to Münster. On January 22, 1536, along with Bernhard Krechting and Bernhard Knipperdolling, he was tortured and then executed. Each of the three was attached to a pole by an iron spiked collar and his body ripped with red-hot tongs for the space of an hour. After Knipperdolling saw the process of torturing John of Leiden, he attempted to kill himself with the collar, using it to choke himself. After that the executioner tied him to the stake to make it impossible for him to kill himself. After the burning, their tongues were pulled out with tongs before each was killed with a burning dagger thrust through the heart. The bodies were placed in three cages and hung from the steeple of St. Lambert's Church and the remains left to rot. About fifty years later the bones were removed, but the cages have remained into the 21st century.
Just to add to this they weren't just regular revolutionarys and criminals. The Bishop was quite Liberal for the time and allowed them free practice of their religion. They then locked him out of the city. Killed all who opposed them and caused a famine. Also probably mass raped the women. But history is a bit hazy on that.
The original leader of the rebellion actually stepped out of the city gates in front of the bishops army thinking he was made immortal by God.
malgoya on March 11st, 2018 at 21:26 UTC »
St. Lambert's Cathedral | Munster, Germany
The Münster Rebellion was an attempt by radical Anabaptists to establish a communal sectarian government in the German city of Münster. The city was under Anabaptist rule from February 1534, when the city hall was seized and Bernhard Knipperdolling installed as mayor, until its fall in June 1535
After lengthy resistance, the city was taken by the besiegers on June 24, 1535. The army of Münster was defeated in 1535 by the prince-bishop Franz von Waldeck, and John of Leiden was captured. He was found in the cellar of a house, from where he was taken to a dungeon in Dülmen, then brought back to Münster. On January 22, 1536, along with Bernhard Krechting and Bernhard Knipperdolling, he was tortured and then executed. Each of the three was attached to a pole by an iron spiked collar and his body ripped with red-hot tongs for the space of an hour. After Knipperdolling saw the process of torturing John of Leiden, he attempted to kill himself with the collar, using it to choke himself. After that the executioner tied him to the stake to make it impossible for him to kill himself. After the burning, their tongues were pulled out with tongs before each was killed with a burning dagger thrust through the heart. The bodies were placed in three cages and hung from the steeple of St. Lambert's Church and the remains left to rot. About fifty years later the bones were removed, but the cages have remained into the 21st century.
Album with individual pictures
Here's a history of the Anabaptists
boscotx on March 11st, 2018 at 22:09 UTC »
Seems that after 500 or so years of exposure to the elements the metal cages would had rusted, at least a little bit, if not completely.
Ojahh on March 11st, 2018 at 22:11 UTC »
Just to add to this they weren't just regular revolutionarys and criminals. The Bishop was quite Liberal for the time and allowed them free practice of their religion. They then locked him out of the city. Killed all who opposed them and caused a famine. Also probably mass raped the women. But history is a bit hazy on that.
The original leader of the rebellion actually stepped out of the city gates in front of the bishops army thinking he was made immortal by God.
He was not.