Both
the Danube and
the Rhine have
their sources in the snow-caped Alps in Switzerland.
Transportation from this
mountainous landlocked country was via river valleys. It comes as no
surprise
then that the exiled Brethren from Zurich found
their way to the
cities along these rivers. Augsburg and Strasbourg in
particular became
significant Anabaptist centres from where many missionaries were sent
to the
surrounding communities. Many prominent Anabaptist leaders such as
Hubmaier,
Denk and Hetzer worked in this area.
Michael
Sattler had joined the Brethren in Zurich and
fled to Strasbourg as an
exile. While engaged
in organizing the emerging Anabaptist congregations he was arrested at
Horb and
executed in Rottenburg on Tuesday,
May 21, 1527. His
wife Margareta was
drowned in the Neckar River a few
days later.
George
Blaurock escaped to Tyrol and
served as leader of the
Brethren there till he was executed in 1529 in Klausen. He was followed
in that
position by Jacob Hutter. For a period of time Anabaptists were welcome
in
southern Moravia.
Several thousand Anabaptists moved from Tyrol and Bavaria to
Nikolsburg and Austerlitz. The Hutterite Church
evolved in that area.