Hartmann, Heinrich (d. 1639)
Neither the Hutterian "Väterlied," which is not sparing in its expressions of praise, nor the Geschichts-Bücher have much to say about Heinrich Hartmann, the head of the entire brotherhood in Hungary. On 17 March 1631 he was ordained preacher with two other brethren; he served "about 28 years." The Geschichts-Bücher report that after the death of Valentin Winter, all the preachers and deacons and many other trusted Brethren assembled at Sobotiste and after adequate deliberation unanimously entrusted the leadership to Hartmann on 3 December 1631. The "Väterlied," however, says he was elected by a majority vote rather than a unanimous vote. Great difficulty befell the brotherhood in the following year, when Niagy Michaly Ferencz, part owner of the household at Sobotiste, tried to compel the Brethren to perform gratuitous labor, contrary to the terms of the contract given them. Hartmann was most rudely treated. With two other Brethren he was placed in a dark, stinking, filthy chamber. Even the intercession of the Palatin benefited them little, for Ferencz openly scoffed at the right of anyone, whether Palatin or even the king, to interfere with the rights granted him by Hungarian law. Hartmann was finally released, of course upon payment of a sum of money. The Geschichts-Bücher discuss this incident at great length, in order (they say) that their descendants may see what Hungarian laws can accomplish. Heinrich Hartmann died 29 September 1639.
Bibliography
Beck, Josef. Die Geschichts-Bücher der Wiedertäufer in Oesterreich-Ungarn. Vienna, 1883; reprinted Nieuwkoop: De Graaf, 1967: 363, 440 ff.
Hege, Christian and Neff, Christian. Mennonitisches Lexikon, 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. II, 258
| Author(s) | Johann Loserth |
|---|---|
| Date Published | 1959 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Loserth, Johann. "Hartmann, Heinrich (d. 1639)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1959. Web. 19 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Hartmann,_Heinrich_(d._1639)&oldid=145417.
APA style
Loserth, Johann. (1959). Hartmann, Heinrich (d. 1639). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 19 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Hartmann,_Heinrich_(d._1639)&oldid=145417.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, pp. 668-669. All rights reserved.
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