View source for Amon, Hans (d. 1542)

Hans Amon, bishop of the [[Hutterian Brethren (Hutterische Brüder)|Hutterian Brethren]] in [[Moravia (Czech Republic)|Moravia]], was the successor of [[Hutter, Jakob (d. 1536)|Jakob Hutter]]<em>. </em>Amon was a cloth weaver by trade, and hence frequently called "Tuchmacher." Amon came from [[Bayern Federal State (Germany)|Bavaria]] and was among the 80 persons who left [[Kromau (Jihomoravský kraj, Czech Republic)|Kromau]] in 1529 and settled in [[Austerlitz (Jihomoravský kraj, Czech Republic)|Austerlitz]]<em>. </em>From 1530 to 1534 he worked with Jakob Hutter in [[Tyrol (Austria)|Tyrol]], when the persecution of the [[Anabaptism|Anabaptists]] was at its height. In 1535 Hutter transferred to him the leadership of the Hutterite congregations, which he retained for seven years. Before his death he named [[Lanzenstiel, Leonhard (d. 1565)|Leonhard Lanzenstiel]] as his successor. At Candlemas 1542 Amon died at [[Schäkowitz (Moravia, Czech Republic)|Schäkowitz]] in Moravia. To his memory [[Bruckmaier, Georg (d. 1585)|Georg Bruckmaier]]<em>, </em>who was burned at the stake for his faith at Ried in [[Austria|Upper Austria]], dedicated several verses. Seventeen of Amon's open letters are still extant, preserved (original or copy) in the possession of the Hutterian Brethren in Frankfort, [[South Dakota (USA)|South Dakota]]. Copies and some originals are also scattered among Austrian archives. An epistle addressed to the imprisoned Brethren on the sea (galley slaves of Andrea Doria) was published condensed by Beck in <em>Wiedertäufer in Kärnten</em>. Amon also wrote three hymns: "Der ewig Gott, der mächtig" (32 stanzas); "O, ihr herzlieben Brüder mein" (10 stanzas), and "Unbillig habens ghandelt die bös und gottlos Rott." The assertion of Kripp in <em>Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Wiedertäufer in Tirol </em>(Innsbruck, 1857), that Amon was captured at Götzenberg in [[Tyrol (Austria)|Tyrol]] and executed at [[Michelsburg (Bruneck, Südtirol, Austria)|Michelsburg]] with 10 brethren is erroneous.
= Bibliography =
Ammann, H. <em>Die Wiedertäufer in Michelsberg im Pusterthale. </em>Brixen, 1896.

Beck, Josef. <em>Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Wiedertäufer in Kärnten : Mitgetheilt nach Handschriften des 16. und 17. Jahrhundertes</em>. Klagenfurt: Ferdinand v. Kleinmahr, 1867: 123 ff.

Beck, Josef<em>. Die Geschichts-Bücher der Wiedertäufer in Oesterreich-Ungarn. </em>Vienna, 1883; reprinted Nieuwkoop: De Graaf, 1967: 87.

Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. <em>Mennonitisches Lexikon</em>, 4 vols. Frankfurt &amp; Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe; Schneider, 1913-1967: v. I, 57.

Horsch, John. <em>Kurzgefasste Geschichte der Mennoniten Gemeinden</em>. Elkhart, Ind.: Mennonite Publishing Co., 1890. 127.

<em>Die Lieder der Hutterischen Brüder : Gesangbuch darinnen viel und mancherlei schöne Betrachtungen, Lehren, Vermahnungen, Lobgesänge und Glaubensbekenntnisse, von vielen Liebhabern Gottes gedichtet und aus vielen Geschichten und Historien der heiligen Schrift zusammengetragen, allen frommen Liebhabern Gottes sehr nützlich zu singen und zu lesen. </em>Scottdale, Pa.: Mennonitisches Verlagshaus, 1914: 95-97, 116-120.

Loserth, Johann. <em>Der Anabaptismus in Tirol. </em>Vienna: F. Tempsky, 1892.

Zieglschmid, A. J. F. <em>Die älteste Chronik der Hutterischen Brüder: Ein Sprachdenkmal aus frühneuhochdeutscher Zeit</em>. Ithaca: Cayuga Press, 1943.
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