Peter Titelmann

Peter Titelmann
Born 1501
Died 1572
Nationality Spanish

Peter Titelmann, (1501 - 1572) served as the Dean of Ronsen, in Flanders, until 1546 when he was raised to the rank of Inquisitor.

Career

Titelmann worked in both Flanders and Artois, hunting out and exterminating Mennonites and other supposed heretics.[1] Titelmann reportedly showed no leniency to his victims and was unafraid of them, as he said, “the innocent and virtuous, who make no resistance, and let themselves be taken like lambs”.[2]

The Spanish crown, although aware of Titelmann's cruel methods, endorsed him. In 1565, King Philip II of Spain wrote to his half-sister, the Duchess Margaret of Parma, Governor of the Netherlands, that he had "heard how insubstantial are the objections raised by the inhabitants of Bruges against Titelmann; you would do well not to permit anything to be done to undermine his authority. I am sure that being well-informed of what happens (as I believe you are) you won't fail to take the necessary steps." [3]

References

  1. ↑ Braght, Thieleman (1951). The Bloody Theatre or Martyrs' Mirror of the Defenseless Christians Who Baptized Only upon Confession of Faith and Who Suffered and Died for the Testimony of Jesus Their Saviour . . . to the Year A.D. 1660.
  2. ↑ Motley, John Lothrop (1855). The Rise of the Dutch Republic.
  3. ↑ Phillip II (17 October 1565), To the Duchess of Palmer
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