The German witch craze, which occurred between the 15th and 18th centuries, saw thousands of individuals, predominantly women, accused of practicing witchcraft and subsequently put on trial. The trials were marked by a range of disturbing practices, including the use of torture to extract confessions and the belief in so-called "witch marks" or physical signs of a person's involvement in witchcraft. The main idea behind these trials was the prevalent fear and paranoia surrounding witchcraft, which was thought to have the power to bring about harm and misfortune. The accusations often came from neighbors or community members who suspected that certain individuals possessed supernatural abilities or were engaged in witchcraft-related activities. Once accused, individuals faced a difficult and biased legal system that overwhelmingly favored conviction. The trials themselves were often conducted in secret, with little opportunity for defense or the presentation of evidence.
There was a shift in the representation of witches as peasant ignorant ‘rustics’ to an organised conspiracy. As sixteenth-century witches were believed to be aligned with the Devil it was thought that they sought to corrupt the true faith of Christendom (Bailey, 2013, p. 198). Witches were conceived as the antithesis to proper moral and social order. The belief in this conspiracy is further reflected in mass executions of witches in Germany from 1580 (Oplinger, 1990, p. 39).
However, while noting the connection between Catholicism and witch persecution, Bengt Ankarloo and Stuart Clark stipulated that this connection was far from conclusive. Witches were also thought to ride on wolves to the Sabbath and those called Wolfbanners could magically instruct wolves to attack people Schulte, 2009, p.
The trials themselves were often conducted in secret, with little opportunity for defense or the presentation of evidence. In many cases, the accused were subjected to severe torture in order to extract a confession, which was considered a crucial piece of evidence. The accused were often forced to endure horrific forms of torture, such as the strappado, where a person's hands were tied behind their back and they were then lifted off the ground by a rope, causing extreme pain and dislocation of the shoulders.
Trials of witches during the German witch craze
Between the years 1400 to 1800 many Europeans thought witches were a serious danger to society. Although, historically and scientifically witches did not really exist, political authorities began to arrest, prosecute and punish -- or hunt -- people they imagined to be witches. For a general material on the whole issue of the witch hunts, go to the Witch Hunts main page here, and explore the links. "Ten Common Errors and Myths about the Witch Hunts" might be particularly helpful.
In 1628 the Holy Roman Empire was in a fragile condition. What historians would later call the Thirty Years War had rattled through many territories for ten years already. This conflict was fought concerning how much power the emperor would have over other imperial kings, dukes and counts in addition to the clash between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. Many people had died, territories had been devastated by armies, and political systems weakened. Further, bad weather in the 1620s was causing crop failures, famine and plague. Instead of considering natural causes or the mistakes of politicians, people would blame mysterious witches, in league with the Devil, for these misfortunes. Then, especially in the years 1628-1630, a new wave of witch hunts broke out in the Holy Roman Empire, especially in territories ruled by prince-bishops.
Prince-bishops were both prelates of the church and political rulers. As clerics they administered the possessions and clergy of the Roman Catholic Church within their dioceses. But as princes of the empire, they acted like dukes or counts in their control of taxes, armies, and courts within their individual territories. For more on prince-bishops, click here.
These clerical/political leaders of territories like Eichst�tt, Bamberg, W�rzburg, Mainz, or Cologne harshly hunted witches, often by violating civil rights of the accused. Torture could be carried out on hearsay evidence from as few as two witnesses, and contrary evidence by equally valid eyewitnesses could be ignored. Although imperial legal codes were supposed to prohibit repeated torture, professors and lawyers argued that further bouts of torture were a mere continuation of the first application. Tortured victims produced fantastic stories and accusations that fed the frenzy of the hunts.
Other forms of torture included the use of thumbscrews, the water test, and the infamous "witch's chair." These brutal interrogation techniques were often used as a means of breaking the accused and ensuring their compliance with the authorities. In addition to physical torture, the accused also had to contend with the belief in "witch marks," or physical signs of their involvement in witchcraft. These marks were often thought to be invisible to the naked eye and could only be revealed through a process of pricking and searching for insensitivity on the body. Many individuals were falsely accused and convicted based on these supposed marks, which were seen as irrefutable proof of their guilt. Overall, the trials of witches during the German witch craze were characterized by a widespread fear and paranoia surrounding witchcraft, a biased legal system that favored conviction, and the use of torture and the belief in physical marks to extract confessions and secure guilty verdicts..
Reviews for "The Legacy of the Malleus Maleficarum: Influencing the German Witch Trials"
1. John - 2 stars - While Trials of witches during the German witch craze does provide a comprehensive account of the events during that period, I found it to be too dense and dry. The author's writing style was very academic and lacked any sort of storytelling element to engage the reader. It felt more like reading a textbook than an engaging historical account. I would have preferred a more accessible and narrative-driven approach to this subject matter.
2. Jennifer - 1 star - I was really disappointed with Trials of witches during the German witch craze. The book was poorly organized and lacked cohesion. The author seemed to jump from one topic to another without any clear connection, making it difficult to follow the narrative. Additionally, the writing was overly complex and filled with jargon, making it inaccessible to someone like me who is not well-versed in historical terminology. Overall, I found this book to be confusing and frustrating to read. I would not recommend it to others.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I was expecting Trials of witches during the German witch craze to provide a more nuanced perspective on the events and the accused witches, but I found it to be heavily biased. The author seemed to present the accusations and trials without any consideration of the social and cultural context of that time. It felt like a one-sided narrative that only portrayed the witches as victims and the accusers as misguided. I would have appreciated a more balanced and objective analysis of the subject matter.
4. Robert - 3 stars - While Trials of witches during the German witch craze provided a lot of information and details about the trials, I felt that it lacked analysis and interpretation. The book mostly listed facts and events without delving deeper into the reasons behind the witch craze or the motivations of the accusers. It felt like reading a collection of court documents rather than a comprehensive analysis of the historical period. I would have liked to see more analytical insight and interpretation from the author.