German Peasants' War 1524-1525

The German Peasants' War of 1524-1525 was the largest European rebellion until the French Revolution. But as the 500th anniversary approaches it is largely forgotten. 

'The Time of the Harvest Has Come!'
Revolution, Reformation and the German Peasants' War

'The Time of the Harvest Has Come', my book on this mass rising, which argues it was a revolutionary movement that arose out of the crisis of feudalism, and was shaped by the birth of capitalist relations and the Reformation, is out in April 2025 published by Bookmarks.

This page contains links to articles, interviews and reviews I've done about the book and the Peasants' War, and will be updated with other material and events as the anniversary progresses.

Advance endorsements

"This account of the extraordinary German Peasants' War of 1525 is to be highly recommended. Martin Empson has taken a complex subject, given us a clear view of the events and their causes, and shown just how important this peasant uprising was in European history. His book is highly readable and highly instructive and should be essential reading for all those interested in the continuing fight for social justice."
● Andrew Drummond, author The Dreadful History and Judgement of God on Thomas Müntzer: The Life and Times of an Early German Revolutionary

“Martin Empson’s study of the German Peasants’ War gives us a sharp, readable account of one of Europe’s most important social revolts, with a clear sense of the social forces at work during the Reformation, and lively portraits of key individuals such as Thomas Müntzer and Michael Gaismair. Anyone interested in the history of class conflict and popular struggles for equality will profit from reading Empson’s book.”
● Daniel Finn, Features Editor, Jacobin and author of One Man’s Terrorist: A Political History of the IRA

"An excellent account of one of the great revolts from below in German and European history. Five centuries on we can still draw inspiration from the struggles of those who sought to challenge exploitation and tyranny and build a new society based on justice and equality."
● Christine Buchholz, former Die Linke MP

Articles

The German Peasants’ War: 500 years later
Red Pepper, Feb 2025

Anabaptism Was the Revolutionary Face of Reformation Europe

Jacobin, Dec 2024

The German Peasants’ War Was Europe’s Biggest Social Revolt Before the French Revolution
Jacobin, Dec 2023