Schladming, a mining town (population in 1959, 1,500; in 2001, 4,570) in the Enns Valley (Ennstal) in the Obersteiermark region of Styria (Steiermark), Austria, was one of the first communities to become Protestant in the 16th century. In the Peasants' War of 1525 it played a prominent part on the side of the revolting peasants, who defeated Sigmund von Dietrichstein on 3 July 1525, but were in turn defeated by Duke Nicolas von Salm. The town was destroyed and the inhabitants severely punished for its part in the insurrection. The restoration proceeded very slowly, and under the protection of the Protestant Baron of Grünbichel its inhabitants became Protestant; in the Counter Reformation they changed their faith (1600). That there were Anabaptists there in the 1520's is seen in a report made to the authorities, found in the archives in Steyer.

Bibliography

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 457. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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