Background
Sattler was born in approximately 1490 in Staufen, Germany.
Sattler was born in approximately 1490 in Staufen, Germany.
He was particularly influential for his role in developing the Schleitheim Confession. He became a Benedictine monk in the abbey of Saint Peter and most likely became prior. He left Saint Peter"s probably in May 1525 when the monastery had been overcome by the troops from the Black Forest fighting in the German Peasants" War.
Some believe that Sattler is to be identified as the "Brother Michael in the white coat," mentioned in a document dated 25 March of that year, thus placing Sattler in Zurich before Snyder"s estimation of when he left Saint Peter"son
Snyder believed that Sattler possibly arrived in Zurich to attend that disputation. He was involved in missionary activity around Horb and Rottenburg, and eventually traveled to Strasbourg.
He was tried and sentenced to be executed as a heretic in Rottenburg am Neckar. The sentence to execution read, "Michael Sattler shall be committed to the executioner.
The latter shall take him to the square and there first cut out his tongue, and then forge him fast to a wagon and there with glowing iron tongs twice tear pieces from his body, then on the way to the site of execution five times more as above and then burn his body to powder as an arch-heretic." The other men in the group were executed by sword, and the women, including Margaretha, were executed by drowning.
A memorial plaque at the site of his execution near Rottenburg am Neckar reads: "The Baptist Michael Sattler was executed by burning after severe torture on 20 May 1527 here on the "Gallows Hill". He died as a true witness of Jesus Christ.