Join the Australian Academy of the Humanities, in partnership with the Holberg Prize and School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland, for 'Dr Liar' meets 'The Devil Himself': Martin Luther and Thomas Müntzer, delivered by Emeritus Regius Professor Lyndal Roper FAHA FBA.

These brilliant insults each threw at the other express the theological differences of the two men: Thomas Müntzer fought on the peasants’ side at the Battle of Frankenhausen; Luther blamed Müntzer for the entire Peasants’ War. The two men’s enmity was legendary.

And yet they were remarkably similar.

Their enmity also had an afterlife: The Communist East German regime made Thomas Müntzer its hero, naming streets after him, even putting his image on the 5-Mark note. So how was he celebrated in 2025, the 500th anniversary of the Peasants’ War?

Respondent
Emeritus Professor Peter Harrison FAHA

Wednesday 23 September 2026
5.30 for 6.00pm AEST

Forgan Smith Building, 1/E109 (view map)
The University of Queensland

The lecture will be followed by a reception Level 3 HPI Foyer, Forgan Smith (Building 1) (Outside of E318).

This event is part of the AAH & Holberg Lecture Series.

Contact the host of 'Dr Liar' meets 'The Devil Himself': Martin Luther and Thomas Müntzer | AAH & Holberg Prize Lecture Series