Bamburg depth study Flashcards
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
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
What was the background of the Thirty Years War?
It lay in the religious divisions found in Northern Europe
The Emperor’s desire to have more land through military gains or marriage
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)
Why was there inflation and economic crisis?
Imports of silver from America start to decline
gold florins were used- gold content dropped to 77%
As money lost value and crops failed and no logical understanding of the cause they looked at witch craft
What did the Carolina Law Code outline about witchcraft?
It was a severe crime- compared to murder, manslaughter, and homosexuality
It wanted to unite the HRE with a law against witchcraft that could be used everywhere- prevent local jurisdiction
Those found guilty should be executed with fire
Trials should be done publicly- not done in Bamberg
Confessions need to be backed up with evidence- not done in Bamberg
Property could be confiscated
How wealthy were the victims?
The upper classes were targeted as their properties could be confiscated- they also had to pay for their trials, imprisonment and execution
What were the stories of some of the victims?
Hans Langhans- mayor of Zeil kept a diary of the early trials, he was tortured and then confessed Lange Gasse (the main street in Bamberg)- 17 well respected families were targeted
Which groups of people would have benefitted from the hunts?
Rope makers, inn keepers, shop owners, lawyers, coachmen, blacksmiths
What was hereditary guilt?
A member of a family was executed and then their family was targeted
The Merklein and Orter families were virtually wiped out in this way
What did the Carolina Law Code allow for?
An extensive range of torture devices, many confessions came from torture
Who was John Junis?
Mayor for around 20 years - he was arrested after his wife had been executed
He wrote letters to his daughter that outline the torture he faced
