As so often with the mass trials of sorcery, the victims soon counted people from all society, including nobles, councilmen and mayors. Friedrich forner, the catholic reformation, and witchhunting. Those of trier in germany were perhaps the most expansive witch trials in. The spark of the bamberg witch craze cover page footnote the author wish to acknowledge dr. They resulted in the executions of between 300 and 600 people, and were some of the greatest witch trials in history, as well as some of the greatest executions in the thirty years war. The malefizhaus of bamberg, germany, where suspected. James morrows top 10 books on witch persecutions books. Although, historically and scientifically witches did not really exist, political authorities began to arrest, prosecute and punish or hunt. Interestingly, it is possible to document that of all the trials, only one set in 90 milan involved women tried for practicing rites led by the pagan goddess diana. However, prior to any of these trials came the largest series of witch trials throughout human history the trier witch trials. The bulk of the trials between 1400 and 1700 involved diabolism, luciferianism, and acts relating to the devil. The violence lack of central authority allowed witch hunts to occur. Written by james sprenger and henry kramer of which little is known, the malleus remained in use for three hundred years.
During the time of the thirty years war 1618 1648, more witch trials and executions. How a book published in medieval europe led to the torture and death. That means roughly forty times as many people died in the bamberg witch trials alone than in the salem ones and yet hardly anyone in this country has even heard of them. Misconceptions about the witchtrials tales of times. Large numbers of people were prosecuted for witchcraft in europe between 1560 and 1630. After she escaped the witch trials in france, she fled to spain and fell victim to them.
Posted in uncategorized and tagged bamberg witch trials, book, folk devils, hexenhaus, hysteria, mcwatters, novel, paisley witches, pay gap, renfrewshire witches, salem, veronica junius, witch hunt on october 31, 2016 by nikkimcwatters. The ruler of bamberg at the time, princebishop gottfried dornheim, went on a killing spree of sorts. The bamberg witch trials 16261631 outdid all of them. Witch trials in the thirty years war bartered history. If there was a world cup for witchburnings, the germans would be undisputed. The minutes of the trial, which is in all respects a fair specimen of german witch trials, are still to be seen at bamberg.
According to legend the bishop of bamberg did not grant the citizens any land for the construction of a town hall. In our reading there are several documents from german cities that can form the basis for a paper about the german witch panic. In 1628 there was tried for witchcraft at the episcopal city of bamberg, in germany, the burgomaster johannes junius. Yet, in medieval europe and colonial america, more than 12,000 lost their lives this way. The crucible the crucible by arthur miller was a very admirable way to portray the salem witch trials. Bamberg witch trials by sherryn pattarawuttiwong on prezi. The bamberg witch trials, which took place in bamberg in 16261631, were one of a series of mass witch trials in southern germany, contemporary with the wurzburg witch trials and others. The minutes of the trial, which is in all respects a fair specimen of german witchtrials, are still to be seen at bamberg.
Alix wood from a modern perspective, it seems incredible that people were once executed for practicing witchcraft. Today i would like to extend a warm and hearty welcome to laura libricz, with my first ever guest blog post. Of the estimated 90,000 individuals prosecuted for witchcraft in europe, at least 30,000 and possibly as many as 45,000 came from the germanies, roughly encompassed at the time by the holy roman empire and nearby territories. Her first novel, the master and the maid, is the first book of the. Bamberg, a really beautiful city in northern bavaria, undoubtedly one of the most attractive cities in germany. Until around 1440 witchcraftrelated prosecutions in europe centred on maleficium, the concept of using supernatural powers. Not just prince bishop who benefitted, but the accused had to pay the jailor, for transport themselves, of interrogator and torturers, carpenters etc for hanging stand, executioner and lawyers vested interest in hunt. The witch trials at fulda in germany in the years from 1603 to 1606, which led to the death of about 205 people, many of them burnt alive at the stake, was one of the biggest witch trials in europe and one of the biggest massexecutions in peace time.
Failing in his appeals to the authorities, he wrote a book to set forth his views. Some of the trials and torture sessions such as that of the wealthy local landowner johannes junius, for example were recorded in sickening detail. Persuasions of the witchs craft research papers discuss a book about the modern phenomenon of witchcraft and magic in england. Over an extended period these trial resulted in the executions of around 1,000 people, it belonged to the largest witch trials in history, among the largest during the thirty years war, one of the. Most notably, we have mentioned the basque witch trials in spain, transpiring from 1609 to 1611 a.
These include the salem witch trials, the early spanish inquisition, and the burning times in general. Between the years 1400 to 1800 many europeans thought witches were a serious danger to society. The trial illustrates the dynamic of witch hunts when judicial torture was used. The malleus set out specific requirements and procedures for the trials, torture, and death of germanys many suspected witches. A short video about the 30 years war, before a little source analysis and an exam question if you have time. A witch prison was built in bamberg and a network of informers was established. Georg hann, had some limited success in checking the trials but he because of this was believed to be a witch lover and he and his wife and daughter were burned in 1628. The bamberg witch trials, which took place in bamberg in germany in 16261631, are among the more famous cases in european witchcraft history.
Johannes junius 1573 6 august 1628 was the mayor german. The witch hunts at bamberg original electronic text at the web site of the hanover historical texts project. Dec 26, 2012 the malefizhaus of bamberg, germany, where suspected witches were held and interrogated. This is a list of people executed for witchcraft, many of whom were executed during organised witchhunts, particularly from the 15th18th centuries. Weasels with more earthly desires also played their part in stoking the flames. The large body of scholarship that treats german witchcraft since the. Witchhunt paid for itself, a bamberg witchhunt industry developed, benefitting the local economy. The following is an excerpt from the trial of johannes junius for the crime of witchcraft in bamberg germany in 1628. The witch persecution at trier western civilization ii. Visit the site of the biggest witch trial in history.
The bamberg witch trials witch trials spells that work. In the city of bamberg the local bishop prompted several waves of witch hunts that climaxed in 162931, with more than a thousand sacrificed to appease the local hysteria. It had tremendous influence in the witch trials in england and on the. Louis xiii was a weak king, but his first minister, cardinal richelieu did all he could to strengthen the monarchy. The german lands have long been known as the heartland of the witch craze. Thank you to laura for taking the time to write this wonderful article on witchcraft in germany. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. The frescoes that adorn the facades are as amazing as the story behind the buildings construction. Bamberg witch trials project gutenberg selfpublishing. Bamberg witch trials bamberg witch houses located in the franconia region of germany period. The minutes of the trial, which is in all respects a fair specimen of german witchtrials, are still to be seen at. The werewolf of bamberg us edition a hangmans daughter tale book 5 kindle edition this is the title which attracted me to the hangmans daughter series of historical mysteries and adventures. Eva pocs provides a template upon which to define the bamburg witches. Bamberg witch trials germany, 1626 1631 witchcraft.
Bamberg was the location of one of the largest series of witch trials in. Bamberg witch trials bamberg witchhouses located in the franconia region of germany period. At times it could be extremely cruel and violent and that is shown by the dreadful witch trials of the seventeenth century. Dornheim established an operation of full time torturers and executioners. It wasnt considered bad because they were deemed witches. Written in latin, the malleus was first submitted to the university of cologne on may 9th, 1487. Witches and fear of the devil the bamberg and wurzburg witch hunts, 16261630. The early modern witch burning stronghold throughout the dark ages, christianity had. Men, women, and children were accused and executed for being a witch in germany.
Witch persecutions at bamberg hanover college history department. Posted in uncategorized and tagged bamberg witch trials, book, folk devils, hexenhaus, hysteria, mcwatters, novel, paisley witches, pay gap, renfrewshire witches, salem, veronica junius, witchhunt on october 31, 2016 by nikkimcwatters. Richelieu even used witch hunts when necessary to destroy enemies, as in the case of urban grandier. Part of cornell university librarys division of rare and manuscript collections, cornells witchcraft collection contains over 3,000 titles documenting the history of the inquisition and the persecution of witchcraft, primarily in europe.
The bamberg witch trials, which took place in bamberg in 16261631, were one of a series of. Find sources european witch trials his 241 research. Over an extended period these trial resulted in the executions of around 1,000 people. How the germans went crazy for witch hunts the local.
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