History of the Crusades

We wrap up the narrative and take a look at the city of Münster today.

Transcribed - Published: 26 September 2025

King Jan receives his punishment for his role in the rebellion along with Bernard Knipperdolling and Bernard Krechting

Transcribed - Published: 19 September 2025

Following the fall of the city, the Anabaptists are rounded up by the Bishop Prince's men.

Transcribed - Published: 12 September 2025

The siege of Münster comes to an end.

Transcribed - Published: 5 September 2025

After yet another attempt to get King Jan to surrender fails, the Bishop Prince orders an attack on Münster to commence - following the plan suggested by Henry Gresbeck.

Transcribed - Published: 29 August 2025

The carpenter Henry Gresbeck stages a break out from Münster along with a small group of guards - an action which will have major implications for the siege. 

Transcribed - Published: 22 August 2025

The letter penned by Henry Graes and growing levels of starvation inside Münster see discontent grow, causing King Jan to crack down heavily on dissenters.

Transcribed - Published: 15 August 2025

As the year clicks over into 1535, Henry Graes fulfils his duties as the Bishop Prince's man - with devastating outcomes for King Jan. 

Transcribed - Published: 8 August 2025

Towards the end of 1534, the Bishop Prince adopts a new strategy to defeat Münster.

Transcribed - Published: 1 August 2025

Henry Graes, the schoolmaster of Münster, was the only apostle to return alive from his mission.  This is his story.

Transcribed - Published: 25 July 2025

King Jan orders 27 Apostles from Münster to embark on missionary expeditions to the outside world, to prepare everyone for the Second Coming.

Transcribed - Published: 18 July 2025

The reign of King Jan commences inside Münster.  In the pre-dawn hours of 23rd October 1534, the people of Münster gather to witness the Second Coming.

Transcribed - Published: 11 July 2025

In a move which surprises just about everyone inside Münster, Jan van Leyden is crowned as king - not just of Münster, but of the entire world. 

Transcribed - Published: 4 July 2025

The implementation of the polygamy policy causes chaos inside Münster, while the Bishop Prince prepares to launch another assault on the city.

Transcribed - Published: 27 June 2025

The introduction of polygamy into Münster prompts an uprising inside the city - led by its chief blacksmith.

Transcribed - Published: 20 June 2025

The Bishop Prince's foolproof plan for defeating Münster results in one of the funniest ever battle-fails.

Transcribed - Published: 13 June 2025

Jan van Leyden begins his rule of Münster by instituting some new policies which alter the physical and political structures of the city.

Transcribed - Published: 6 June 2025

Jan Matthias (aka The Prophet) attempts to lift the siege of Münster and fails spectacularly. 

Transcribed - Published: 30 May 2025

Cracks begin to appear inside the besieged Anabaptist city of Münster due to some radical policies implemented by The Prophet.

Transcribed - Published: 23 May 2025

The siege of Münster commences, with both sides settling in to their new roles.

Transcribed - Published: 16 May 2025

The arrival in Münster of the new leader of the Anabaptist church, a man known as The Prophet, sees the city transform into the first exclusively Anabaptist town.

Transcribed - Published: 9 May 2025

An invasion of Münster by the Bishop Prince's forces seems to be inevitable, but it is prevented by some impressive subterfuge on the part of the Anabaptists.

Transcribed - Published: 2 May 2025

It's February in the year 1534 and the Anabaptists of Münster are preparing their town for the upcoming apocalypse.

Transcribed - Published: 25 April 2025

As the influx of new residents changes the political profile of Münster, a new radical council is elected.  However, the new co-mayors find themselves struggling to prevent Münster from spiraling out of control.

Transcribed - Published: 18 April 2025

The new Bishop Prince of Münster attempts to bring it to heel via a blockade of the city.  Eventually, a compromise is reached between the parties and the blockade is lifted, but the influx of new residents sees storm clouds brewing on the horizon.

Transcribed - Published: 10 April 2025

Contrary to the expectations of many Anabaptists, the apocalypse fails to take place at Strasbourg in 1534.  So - apocalypse is reset to occur in Münster during 1525.

Transcribed - Published: 3 April 2025

To promote my Patreon page, I am posting one of my recent Patreon series as a bonus for History of the Crusades subscribers.  In this first episode of a 27 part series, we take a look at the German city of Münster and at the emergence of the Anabaptist religion. To join Patreon - click here https://www.patreon.com/c/crusadespod

Transcribed - Published: 28 March 2025

The new podcast series "Reconquista" which carries on from the History of the Crusades Podcast is now available.

Transcribed - Published: 25 July 2020

The Lithuanian Conflict XXVI - The End

Transcribed - Published: 20 December 2019

The Lithuanian Conflict XXV - The decline of the Teutonic Order

Transcribed - Published: 13 December 2019

The Lithuanian Conflict XXIV - Many endings

Transcribed - Published: 6 December 2019

The Lithuanian Conflict XXIII - Coronation crisis

Transcribed - Published: 29 November 2019

The Lithuanian Conflict XXII - The Great Conference of 1427

Transcribed - Published: 22 November 2019

The Lithuanian Conflict XXI - War and peace

Transcribed - Published: 15 November 2019

The Lithuanian Conflict XX - Catching up on news from home

Transcribed - Published: 8 November 2019

The Lithuanian Conflict XIX - The Council of Constance Part 3

Transcribed - Published: 1 November 2019

The Lithuanian Conflict XVIII - The Council of Constance Part 2

Transcribed - Published: 25 October 2019

The Lithuanian Conflict XVII - The Council of Constance Part 1

Transcribed - Published: 18 October 2019

The Lithuanian Conflict XVI - The Hunger War

Transcribed - Published: 11 October 2019

The Lithuanian Conflict XV - A new Grandmaster

Transcribed - Published: 4 October 2019

The Lithuanian Conflict XIV - Michael and the Emperor

Transcribed - Published: 27 September 2019

The Lithuanian Conflict XIII - Tales of intrigue and suspicion

Transcribed - Published: 20 September 2019

The Lithuanian Conflict XII - The First Peace of Thorn

Transcribed - Published: 13 September 2019

The Lithuanian Conflict XI - The siege of Marienburg

Transcribed - Published: 6 September 2019

The Lithuanian Conflict X - To Marienburg

Transcribed - Published: 30 August 2019

The Lithuanian Conflict IX - The Battle of Tannenberg Part 3

Transcribed - Published: 23 August 2019

The Lithuanian Conflict VIII - The Battle of Tannenberg Part 2

Transcribed - Published: 16 August 2019

The Lithuanian Conflict VII - The Battle of Tannenberg Part 1

Transcribed - Published: 9 August 2019

The Lithuanian Conflict VI - A troubled peace

Transcribed - Published: 2 August 2019

The Lithuanian Conflict V - Samogitia erupts

Transcribed - Published: 26 July 2019