JOHANN (c. 1508-1536), Dutch Anabaptist fanatic, better known as JOHN OF LEYDEN, from his place of birth, was the illegitimate son of Bockel, burgomaster of Soevenhagen, who afterwards married his mother. He was born about 1508, ap prenticed to a tailor, became influenced by the opinions of Thomas Miinzer, travelled in pursuit of his trade (being four years in London), married a widow, became bankrupt, and in Sept. joined the Anabaptist movement under Johann Matthysz (Mat thyszoon), baker of Haarlem. He had little education, but some literary faculty, and had written plays. On Jan. he appeared in Munster as an apostle of Matthysz. Good-looking and fluent, he fascinated women, and won the confidence of Bernard Knipperdollinck, a revolutionary cloth merchant, who gave him his daughter in marriage. The Munster Anabaptists took up arms on Feb. 9, (see ANABAPTISTS). On the death of Matthysz , Buckholdt succeeded him as prophet, added his widow to the number of his wives, and organized a new con stitution for Miinster, with I2 elders (suggested by the tribes of Israel) and other officers of a theocracy, but soon superseded these, making himself king of the new Zion. His arbitrary rule was marked by pomp and severity. Miinster was retaken (June 25, 5) by its prince-bishop, Franz von Waldeck. Buckholdt, after many indignities, was barbarously executed on Jan. 22, 1536; his body and those of his companions were hung in cages to the tower of the Lamberti church. His portrait is in Grouwelen der Hoo f tketteren (Leyden, 5607; an English edition is appended to Alexander Ross's Pansebeia, 2nd ed., 1655) ; a better example of the same is given by Arend.
See Arend, Algemeene Geschiedenis des Vaderlands (1846), ii., iii., 6-9 ; Van der Aa, Biographisch W oordenboek der Nederlanden ) E. Belfort Banc, Rise and Fall of the Anabaptists (19o3). (A. Go.)