JOHN OF LEYDEN

JOHN OF LEYDEN (1509-1536) was leader of the Anabaptists in Münster. He was born in The Hague. He was originally a tailor who attained great power as an orator. He joined the Anabaptists, and in 1534 established at Münster, in Westphalia, a society based on communistic and polygamic principles, beset with his followers, who regarded him as a prophet.

However, the bishop of Münster interfered, and he was taken alive after a siege of six months. The next year John was put to death with great torture and cruelty.