Prophecy, Madness, and Holy War in Early Modern Europe: A Life of Ludwig Friedrich Gifftheil

This book explores the life and doctrines of Ludwig Friedrich Gifftheil (1595-1661), a German barber surgeon and prophet who stalked Europe's battlefields, petitioning kings, princes, and emperors to end warfare. He believed all war was prompted by false prophets and took up his sword as God's warrior in 1635, embarking on a quest to recruit an army of the righteous and wage a holy war. His adventures cast a dramatic new light on the culture and society of early modernity, the place of prophecy and madness in the negotiation of religious authority, the origins of the theosophical current, and the stranger apocalyptic impulses at the roots of Pietism and missionary Christianity.

Format: Hardback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 20 June 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

This volume delves into the enigmatic life and doctrines of Ludwig Friedrich Gifftheil (1595-1661), a German barber surgeon and prophet who lived during the turbulent seventeenth century in Europe. Fueled by a peculiar blend of family tragedy and a collection of dissenting religious writings, Gifftheil embarked on a relentless quest to end the warfare that plagued the continent. Convinced that all wars were instigated by false prophets, particularly the clergy of Europe's Christian confessions, he tirelessly petitioned kings, princes, and emperors to abandon the advice of their advisors and embrace a godly peace. In a remarkable transformation, Gifftheil reinvented himself in 1635 as God's warrior, embarking on a mission to gather an army of the righteous and wage a holy war in Europe. His ultimate goal was to establish a divine peace on the continent.

Prophecy, Madness, and Holy War in Early Modern Europe employs a wealth of new manuscript and print sources from across Europe, the United Kingdom, and North America to provide the definitive account of Gifftheil's life and achievements. Against the backdrop of personal loss and restless travels across the continent, Gifftheil's story unfolds as an alternative history of religious and political dissent in the seventeenth century. His adventures shed light on various aspects of early modernity, including the culture and society of the time, the role of prophecy and madness in the negotiation of religious authority, the origins of the theosophical current, and the enigmatic apocalyptic impulses that underlay Pietism and missionary Christianity.

This captivating volume offers a fresh perspective on the complexities of seventeenth-century Europe, challenging our understanding of the period and shedding light on the enduring legacies of Gifftheil's remarkable life and ideas.

Weight: 514g
Dimension: 243 x 162 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197623930