More than 1,000 castles and religious houses were destroyed in Germany alone during 1525.

Many priceless works of mediaeval art of all kinds perished.

But we must not allow our regret at such vandalism to blind us in any way to the intrinsic righteousness of the popular demands.
The elements of revolution now became absorbed by the Anabaptist movement, a continuation primarily in the religious sphere of the doctrines of the Zwickau enthusiasts and also in many respects of Thomas Muenzer.

At first Northern Switzerland, especially the towns of Basel and Zuerich, were the headquarters of the new sect, which, however, spread rapidly on all sides.

Persecution of the direst description did not destroy it.