Twelve Articles

German religious document

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July 14, 2026

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The "Twelve Articles" were a document drawn up for the Swabian peasantry during the German Peasants' War of 1524–1525. Inspired by the Reformation, these articles articulated demands for agrarian rights and freedom from oppression by nobles and landlords. Key demands included the right for every congregation to choose its minister and the assertion that the Bible proves the freedom of the people.12

While the revolt was supported by some reformers, Martin Luther's condemnation contributed to its defeat, resulting in the deaths of approximately 100,000 peasants. The "Twelve Articles" are significant as they demonstrate how the principle of biblicism became central to people's concerns about their worldly lives.12

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Germany
The revolution of 1525
…the common man” are the Twelve Articles drawn up for the Swabian peasantry by an Evangelical cleric and associate of Zwingli’s. Article 3 of this document asserts, “The Bible proves that we are free, and we want to be free,” while another article claims for every congregation the right to…
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…the common man” are the Twelve Articles drawn up for the Swabian peasantry by an Evangelical cleric and associate of Zwingli’s. Article 3 of this document asserts, “The Bible proves that we are free, and we want to be free,” while another article claims for every congregation the right to…
Read More

Martin Luther
Controversies after the Diet of Worms
…in a manifesto titled “The Twelve Articles of the Peasants”; the document is notable for its declaration that the rightness of the peasants’ demands should be judged by the Word of God, a notion derived directly from Luther’s teaching that the Bible is the sole guide in matters of…
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…in a manifesto titled “The Twelve Articles of the Peasants”; the document is notable for its declaration that the rightness of the peasants’ demands should be judged by the Word of God, a notion derived directly from Luther’s teaching that the Bible is the sole guide in matters of…
Read More