Against the Murderous and Robbing Hordes of the Peasants

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July 17, 2026

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Martin Luther's pamphlet, "Against the Murderous and Robbing Hordes of the Peasants," was written in response to the German Peasants' War of 1524–1525. Inspired by the Reformation, peasants revolted against nobles and landlords, demanding freedom from oppression and agrarian rights. While some supported the revolt, Luther condemned it, urging rulers to suppress the uprising. He believed the peasants had misinterpreted Christian principles and that the worldly and spiritual realms should remain separate. His condemnation contributed to the defeat of the revolt, resulting in the deaths of approximately 100,000 peasants and leading to increased restrictions on them.12

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Martin Luther
Controversies after the Diet of Worms
…sympathy for the peasants, and Against the Murderous and Robbing Hordes of the Peasants, which vehemently denounced them. Both works represented a shift away from his earlier vision of reform as encompassing societal as well as religious issues. It is likely that they helped to alienate the peasants from Luther’s…
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…sympathy for the peasants, and Against the Murderous and Robbing Hordes of the Peasants, which vehemently denounced them. Both works represented a shift away from his earlier vision of reform as encompassing societal as well as religious issues. It is likely that they helped to alienate the peasants from Luther’s…
Read More