Martyrdom of Anabaptist Evangelist Hubmaier
English: German Anabaptist Balthasar Hubmaier (1485-1528); Gravure by Christoffel van Sichem Deutsch: Deutscher Täufer Balthasar Hubmaier (1485-1528); Stich von Christoffel van Sichem (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Europe's Hapsburg rulers were convinced that the Anabaptist sect was dangerous to the peace of the Empire. And with good reason: a peasant revolt, led by extreme Anabaptists , destroyed the peace of central Europe. The Hapsburgs determined to eradicate the Anabaptists from their kingdom. They drew no distinction between peaceable Anabaptists and radicals. In July, 1527, King Ferdinand's men arrested an Anabaptist leader who was halfway between the peaceable and radical factions. This was Balthasar Hubmaier. The authorities extradited him to Vienna where he was burned at the stake on this day, March 10, 1528 . Three days later they tied a stone around his wife's neck and threw her into the Danube river to drown. But although he was dead, Balthasar's i...