Medieval Münster and Polygamy!

Taking a peek at some gorgeous buildings in medieval Münster in Germany, these gabled rows of houses in the Prinzipalmarkt date from as early as the 13th C, although destroyed and rebuilt after the second world war. 

Münster has a fascinating Medieval history, peaking perhaps in the 1530's, in the midst of the Reformation, the Baptists took over! Due to war, disease and the struggle to reform there were suddenly a huge amount of single women and a minimal amount of men ...... the result, polygamy was officially introduced! One of the leaders of the Baptists, Jan van Leiden (who was crowned king of Münster) had 17 wives (blessing or a curse?) around 1534 the reign of the Baptists was brutally ended and the leaders tortured and executed (best not get into detail here!) the bodies of the tortured were hung in metal cages on the exterior of the Lamberti Church and can be seen (empty thank goodness) today. 

Another fascinating piece of history can still be heard today ..... the Türmer ...... the Türmer is a kind of night watchman who, since medieval times blows a horn from the 75m high pinnacle of the Lamberti Church every half hour from about 20.30 until midnight, letting everybody know that everything in Münster is OK. One little detail about the watchman has changed, although the job has remained the same, the present Türmer is a woman! 

In a city's history, dominated by men, she is blowing her own trumpet!