Person

Götz von Berlichingen

c. 1480–1562 · 16th century · Also known as Gottfried von Berlichingen

Götz von Berlichingen was a Franconian imperial knight and mercenary known as Götz of the Iron Hand after he lost his right hand in 1504 and wore an iron prosthesis. He waged many private feuds, was held prisoner at Heilbronn from 1519, and in 1525 led a band of rebels in the Peasants' War. Goethe's play of 1773 made him a German hero.

Götz von Berlichingen
Image: Unknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 1 state history

Free Imperial City of Heilbronn

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Götz von Berlichingen. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/gotz-von-berlichingen
MLA
“Götz von Berlichingen.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/gotz-von-berlichingen. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Götz von Berlichingen.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/gotz-von-berlichingen.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Götz von Berlichingen’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/gotz-von-berlichingen (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻