Giona

(g soft). A leader of the Anabaptists, once a servant of Comte d'Oberthal, but discharged from his service for theft. In the rebellion headed by the Anabaptists, Giona took the Count prisoner, but John of Leyden set him free again. Giona, with the rest of the conspirators, betrayed their prophet king as soon as the Emperor arrived with his army. They entered the banquet room to arrest him, but perished in the flaming palace. (Meyerbeer: Le Prophète, an opera.)

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