Alexander (d. 1533)
Alexander, an Anabaptist martyr, a schoolmaster by vocation, also at one time a sexton, leader of the Anabaptists in Thuringia, was executed in November 1533 in Frankenhausen, Germany. Wappler (100) calls him "one of the noblest figures in the Anabaptist movement" of Middle Germany and responsible for the vigorous spread of Anabaptism in northern Thuringia and the southern Harz region. He was baptized at the end of 1529, probably by Volkmar Bernhard at Esperstedt, and was continuously active in an itinerant ministry of evangelism until his arrest at Frankenhausen in July 1532. He baptized many in the territory between Fulda and Frankenhausen. Wappler (348-351) presents his "confession" of 8 July 1533 which actually consists of his answers to the court inquisitor and is a valuable account of his activity as well as his methods and teachings.
Bibliography
Jakobs, E. "Die Wiedertäufer im Harz." Zeitschrift des Harz-Vereins für Geschichte und Altertumskunde 32 (1899): 423-536.
Wappler, P. Die Täuferbewegung in Thüringen von 1526-1584. Jena, 1913. 92-101, 348-352, et passim.
Wiswedel, Wilhelm. Bilder and Führergestalten aus dem Täufertum. 3 v. Kassel: J.G. Oncken Verlag, 1928-1952: I, 88 f.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, pp. 43-44. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.
©1996-2008 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.
To cite this page:
MLA style: Bender, Harold S. "Alexander (d. 1533)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1955. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 18 November 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/A4413.html>
APA style: Bender, Harold S. (1955). "Alexander (d. 1533)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 18 November 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/A4413.html>
