Bamberg Witch Hunt Flashcards
When was the Bamberg Witch hunt?
1623-1632
How many people were executed?
Between 600 and 900.
Which group of people were targeted?
Younger, wealthier people- the average age was 33 ½
What is the Holy Roman Empire?
A patchwork of complex central European territories that were under the overall authority of an emperor.
What religious changes happened in the HRE during the C16th?
- The Protestant Reformation The Peace of Augsburg (1555) religion of state decided by its leader
- The Counter Reformation the Catholic attempt to counter the Protestant changes
What was the political structure of the Empire and how did this cause problems?
The Emperor had overall control, but each state was ruled by different a person
Each state had slightly different laws.
Who were the Jesuits?
A group commissioned by the Catholic Church to spread and share the Catholic Church’s methods.
They were invited to states to set up schools- this happened under von Aschhausen in Bamberg.
How did tensions between the Catholics and Protestants in Bamberg increase?
Fines and restricted supplies to Protestant parishes.
Catholic troops stationed in Protestant areas.
Lutherans rounded up and executed.
How could Protestants be punished?
Faced imprisonment in Bamberg Tower.
How many witches were executed under Aschhausen?
Around 300
What law was introduced in 1610?
Anyone practicing magic would be severely punished
- It coincided with with Protestant rebellions in Bohemia
- Protestant preachers were being harboured- enhanced the link between Protestants and witchcraft
What happened between 1616-1619?
An intense period of witch hunting in Bamberg.
It ended with the moderates who were focussed on the 30 Years War.
What was the background of the Thirty Years War?
It lays in the religious divisions found in Northern Europe.
The Emperor’s desire to have more land through military gains or marriage.
How did the actions of the Emperor cause resentment?
Protestants felt like they were being targeted, especially as a result of the Counter Reformation policies.
What was the Defenestration of Prague?
A group of the Emperors representatives were thrown out of a tower window by some Protestants.
What was the economic impact of the Thirty Years War?
There was high levels of famine and many men were conscripted.
- This was combined with previous crop failures and inflation.
What was the religious impact of the Thirty Years War?
Catholics became more fanatical than ever- clear anti-Protestant theme to the witch trials.
Anyone who deviated from Orthodox Catholic practices were seen as heretics - seen to be the Devils work.
Which groups of people were targeted?
- Sexually promiscuous women
- People whose views deviated from the Catholic norm
- People with a reputation for healing and fortune telling
- Members of the upper classes (property confiscation)