Hans Müller von Bulgenbach
Encyclopedia
Hans Müller, also known as Hans Müller von Bulgenbach, († 12 August 1525 in Habsburg-Laufenburg
), was a peasant leader during the German Peasants' War
. After a career in the French military, he played a pivotal role in the initial peasant uprising at Stuhlingen
, and organized peasant bands throughout southwestern Germany. He was captured after the peasants' loss at Klettgau
in July 1525, imprisoned at the Hohentweil fortress, and executed in August of that year.
, near the Black Forest lake of Schluchsee
. Müller entered the imperial military service and fought in France. After he returned to his homeland, in the territory of the Stühlingen
count, he was caught up in peasant uprisings in 1524. In June, he was elected by his peasant company as captain, and in October, he took his 3,500 man strong brigade of the southern Black Forest
in the direction of Furtwangen, where he added to his company. Then he went to Donaueschingen
, and united with the Brigach
Valley Haufen, and on 14 December, engaged in a small battle with 2,000 nobles.
He was also at the Cloister of St. Blasien
and the Castle Gutenberg
. In 1525, the entire northern region of the Bodensee was in an uproar, and in February and March of that year, he established three more armed peasant bands (Haufen), one for the lake, and one Allgäu
, and one for Baltringen
(Baltringer Haufen
). By this time, Müller had command of approximately 12,000 peasant soldiers.
On 23 May, Müller and his Haufen took possession of Freiburg im Breisgau, where the city fathers in the emergency entered into the so-called "Christian Union" with the peasants. Müller sought to besiege Radolfzell
with his troops. On 1 July he and his soldiers were involved in the Battle of Griesen, today in the Klettgau, and were badly beaten. He was captured and imprisoned on the Hohentwiel
, and later moved to the Habsburg fortress in Laufenburg, where he was tortured and finally, probably on 12 August, decapitated.
Laufenburg, Switzerland
Laufenburg is a municipality in the Swiss canton of Aargau. It is the seat of the district of the same name. On 1 January 2010 the municipality Sulz merged into Laufenburg....
), was a peasant leader during the German Peasants' War
German Peasants' War
The German Peasants' War or Great Peasants' Revolt was a widespread popular revolt in the German-speaking areas of Central Europe, 1524–1526. At its height in the spring and summer of 1525, the conflict involved an estimated 300,000 peasants: contemporary estimates put the dead at 100,000...
. After a career in the French military, he played a pivotal role in the initial peasant uprising at Stuhlingen
Stühlingen
Stühlingen is a town in the Waldshut district in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated on the border with Switzerland, with a border crossing to the village of Oberwiesen in Schleitheim municipality, 15 km northwest of Schaffhausen town....
, and organized peasant bands throughout southwestern Germany. He was captured after the peasants' loss at Klettgau
Klettgau
Klettgau is a group of towns in the district of Waldshut in Baden-Württemberg in Germany. Landgraviat of Klettgau to 1812.There is a border crossing into Switzerland at Erzingen to Trasadingen in Schaffhausen canton....
in July 1525, imprisoned at the Hohentweil fortress, and executed in August of that year.
Participation in the German Peasants' War
The exact date of his birth is not known, but is probably between 1485 and 1495. The location of his birth is usually given as the village of Bulgenbach, which today is in the vicinity of GrafenhausenGrafenhausen
Grafenhausen is a town in the district of Waldshut in Baden-Württemberg in Germany....
, near the Black Forest lake of Schluchsee
Schluchsee
The Schluchsee is a reservoir lake in the district of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, southeast of the Titisee in the Black Forest near Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.- Location :...
. Müller entered the imperial military service and fought in France. After he returned to his homeland, in the territory of the Stühlingen
Stühlingen
Stühlingen is a town in the Waldshut district in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated on the border with Switzerland, with a border crossing to the village of Oberwiesen in Schleitheim municipality, 15 km northwest of Schaffhausen town....
count, he was caught up in peasant uprisings in 1524. In June, he was elected by his peasant company as captain, and in October, he took his 3,500 man strong brigade of the southern Black Forest
Black Forest
The Black Forest is a wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. It is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 metres ....
in the direction of Furtwangen, where he added to his company. Then he went to Donaueschingen
Donaueschingen
Donaueschingen is a German town in the Black Forest in the southwest of the federal state of Baden-Württemberg in the Schwarzwald-Baar Kreis. It stands near the confluence of the two sources of the river Danube ....
, and united with the Brigach
Brigach
The Brigach is the shorter of two streams that jointly form the river Danube in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The Brigach has its source at 925 metres above sea level within St. Georgen in the Black Forest. The Brigach crosses the city Villingen-Schwenningen. After 43 km from the source, Brigach...
Valley Haufen, and on 14 December, engaged in a small battle with 2,000 nobles.
He was also at the Cloister of St. Blasien
St. Blasien
St. Blasien is a town in the Waldshut district in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated in the southern Black Forest, 17 km northeast of Waldshut-Tiengen. St. Blaise's Abbey in the Black Forest is located in St. Blasien. The town is twinned with Saint-Blaise in Switzerland. There is also...
and the Castle Gutenberg
Schloss Gutenberg
Schloss Gutenberg is a castle in Styria, Austria.Schloss Gutenberg stands on a prominent rock by the Raabklamm in Gutenberg an der Raabklamm parish.- Schloss Gutenberg :...
. In 1525, the entire northern region of the Bodensee was in an uproar, and in February and March of that year, he established three more armed peasant bands (Haufen), one for the lake, and one Allgäu
Allgäu
The Allgäu is a southern German region in Swabia. It covers the south of Bavarian Swabia and southeastern Baden-Württemberg. The region stretches from the prealpine lands up to the Alps...
, and one for Baltringen
Baltringen
Baltringen is a once autonomous village in Baden-Württemberg in the region of Upper Swabia, situated approximately 17 km north of Biberach. Administratively, Baltringen is part of the municipality of Mietingen...
(Baltringer Haufen
Baltringer Haufen
The Baltringer Haufen was prominent among several armed groups of peasants and craftsmen during the German Peasants' War of 1524-1525. The name derived from the small Upper Swabian village of Baltringen, which lies approximately south of Ulm in the district of Biberach, Germany...
). By this time, Müller had command of approximately 12,000 peasant soldiers.
On 23 May, Müller and his Haufen took possession of Freiburg im Breisgau, where the city fathers in the emergency entered into the so-called "Christian Union" with the peasants. Müller sought to besiege Radolfzell
Radolfzell
Radolfzell am Bodensee is a town in Germany at the western end of Lake Constance approximately 18 km northwest of Konstanz. It is the third largest town, after Constance and Singen, in the district of Konstanz, in Baden-Württemberg....
with his troops. On 1 July he and his soldiers were involved in the Battle of Griesen, today in the Klettgau, and were badly beaten. He was captured and imprisoned on the Hohentwiel
Hohentwiel
Hohentwiel is an extinct volcano in the Hegau region of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. About 20 miles from Lake Constance, it lies in the German city of Singen....
, and later moved to the Habsburg fortress in Laufenburg, where he was tortured and finally, probably on 12 August, decapitated.