Chapter 5D - Bamberg

Question 1

What was the state of Germany during the 17th century?

Answer 1

• not a unified state. Patchwork of political entities of varying size and influence
• some towns and cities could enjoy relative freedom if they had the status of an imperial city.
• town and village courts were given lots of freedom to make their own judgements

Question 2

What was the religious context of the Holy Roman Empire?

Answer 2

• Protestant faith gradually gained support
• german towns became divided
• Catholic emperor Charles V gained victory over protestant confederacy in 1548, a new principle was established “The religion of a ruler would be the religion of the region”.
• majority catholic town could be ruled by protestant leaders and vise versa

Question 3

What was a prince bishop?

Answer 3

A Bishop who acts as civil governor of a principality. Large areas of HRE were under their rule in the 17th

Question 4

What factors in the HRE led to witchcraft becoming more widespread?

Answer 4

• Political and judicial authority was fragmented meant that panics could easily take hold
• the context of the reformation and counter-reformation is important because it led to Germans fearing the Devils work all around them
• Germany had a limited legal framework to use against witches.

Question 5

What was the importance of Bamberg?

Answer 5

• founded in the 11 century, the principality of Bamberg was created to aid the spread of Christianity in Germany. From 1242 became important centre of the Roman Catholic Church
• the extensive lands ruled by the catholic prince-bishops saw most witch persecution in Germany in the 17th century.

Question 6

What was the counter-reformation?

Answer 6

• began in 16th century gained territory back for the catholic faith
• led by zealous prince-bishops from across the HRE and gained momentum through the influence of the Jesuit order (anti protestant sect of Catholic Church)
• Protestants believed that catholics were in league with the Devil and that the pope was the Antichrist.

Question 7

How did Catholic emperors promote the Jesuit case?

Answer 7

• settled across modern Germany, Vienna, Grazm Innsbruck and Linz in Austria
• traditional forms of catholic devotion were encouraged and new shrines dedicated to saints were established
• elites who governed these states supported the Habsburg’s and enabled them to cement their overall control

Question 8

Who were the Habsburg’s?

Answer 8

• German royal family that provided rulers for a number of European states.
• 1551 split into Spanish and Austrian lines

Question 9

What resistance did the counter reformation face in Bamberg?

Answer 9

-suffered some resistance, in small Lutheran commune of Markzeuln (controlled by bishop of Bamberg), the parishioners of the local protestant church refused to renounce their faith. New catholic ministers were chased out of the area

Question 10

How did the authorities deal with the resistance to the Bamberg counter reformation?

Answer 10

• Johann Gottfried Von Aschhausen (JGvA) became prince bishop in 1609, he prioritised the conversion of his protestant parishes to Catholicism. The methods he used were;
  1) fines imposed on protestant parishes
  2) supplies of wood to protestant parishes were restricted
  3) catholic troops were quartered in protestant villages
  4) Dissidents (actively opposed policy) were sent into exile and some Lutherans were rounded up and arrested

Question 11

What effect did the tactics employed by the authorities have on the Bamberg counter reformation?

Answer 11

-Some communities in Bamberg remained stubborn and in 1619 there were still some parishioners in Marktzeuln who refused to convert

Question 12

What was the state of WC in Bamberg during the reign of JGvA and his predecessor

Answer 12

• JGvA sent uncooperative priests to their own prisons (priest vaults). Persecution of protestants, and as a result witches, not as widespread as FvD but still had around 300 witches executed
• Trials even took place before JGvA; his predecessor, Neytard Von Thungen, initiated the first persecutions in 1595

Question 13

What event occured in 1610?

Answer 13

• JGvA issued a new ordinance concerning WC. Ordered an investigation, in which any person found guilty of practicing magic would be severely punished
• this coincided with a protestant rebellion in nearby Bohemia

Question 14

What was the impact of the 1610 events?

Answer 14

• Bishops visitation report stated that WC still being carried out in Bamberg in form of fortune-telling and spell casting
• pre-Christian activities reported at a pagan shrine
• protestant preachers were being harboured, thus enhancing the connection between Protestantism and WC in the eyes of Catholic Church
• Lena Pantzerin, accused in 1612, outsider named Trill was needed to examine her. Her accusation led to more being accused.
• years 1616-19 saw increase in WC hunting. Stopped in 1616 as war in Bohemia meant authorities could not afford to keep hunts going

Question 15

What were the origins of the 30 years war?

Answer 15

• role HRE emperor was declining by the 17th century
• Habsburg emperors were concerned with enhancing their territory through marriage. This caused resentment in places such as Bohemia and Moravia, where protestants became bitter as a result of counter-ref policies
• In Prague, defenestration was carried out on representatives of the emperor. Protestants of Bohemia then raised armies in support of Frederick V, Elector Palatine, the son in law of James I of England

Question 16

What do some historians believe happened as a result of the 30 years war?

Answer 16

• some argue that this led to an increase in WH across the empire
• others argue that it decreased WH as the empire was distracted by war

Question 17

How did the 30 years war evolve over time?

Answer 17

• foreign armies became involved with; 150k swedes, 100k Danes (both protestant), scottish, english and Dutch all fighting
• 1635 France joined the anti-Habsburg side and the war became less a bout religion and more a continuation of the existing rivalry between the French and the Habsburg’s in Spain and Germany

Question 18

What was the impact of the 30’s year war on Bamberg?

Answer 18

• large armies in Bamberg caused famines as villages and towns were plundered for supplies
• young men and boys conscripted to both sides
• crop failures and inflation also then contributed to an increased fear of witches as misfortune was seen to be present everywhere
• catholics in Bamberg who fought for the counter reformation became more fanatical than ever. Non catholics were heretics, suspected of WC

Question 19

What type of people were accused of WC in the context of war?

Answer 19

• women whose sexual behaviour deviated from that expected by Catholic Church. Originated from protestant belief that persists should not live lives of celibacy
• people (both men and women) whose political views or attitude to the war deviated from those of the catholic authorities
• people who had reputation as healers, fortune-tellers or sorcerers became easy scapegoats
• upper class; under FvD a law that allowed confiscation of witches property was exploited, resulting in upper class being targeted

Question 20

What was the impact of weather and crop failures on WC in Bamberg?

Answer 20

• Confession of Katharine Merckhlerin, made in Nov 1626 contained admission that she had been part of a plot to freeze and destroy all of Bambergs crops
• Trials peaked in 1929 which was same year frost destroyed wine crop
• 1628 remembered as year without summer. Mini ice age in early 17th century
• combined with debt from war (800k florins) which led to high taxes.
• in the interest of Prince Bishop (PB) to carry out WH to ensure frost didnt return

Question 21

What were petitions?

Answer 21

• sent from subjects to their overlords

- demanded the eradication of witches in a particular village, parish or town

Question 22

What was the economic state of Bamberg?

Answer 22

• imports of silver from America declined after 1610. Non-silver currency had to be used
• Gold florin, reduced in gold content from 79% in 1400’s to 77% in 1626
• inflation occured as goods increased in price.
• Bamberg citizens didn’t understand economics so many blamed crisis on WC. Many accused lived on trade routes

Question 23

What are some examples of economic causes being mentioned in confessions?

Answer 23

• Margaretha Eissmennin admitted that after extensive coin clipping, money lost its value and she was forced to turn to devil.
• Kunigudta Rindterin confessed that she entered into relationship with rich man in order to avoid poverty. Interpreted by accusers as pact with devil

Question 24

What were the figures for the number accused of WC in Bamberg and how where these split across genders?

Answer 24

• 600-900 between 1923 and 1932

- women made up 72.7% of those brought to trial

Question 25

How did the hunts in Bamberg begin?

Answer 25

• Election of JGFvD as PB in 1623 allowed craze to become wide-spread.
• few isolated cases in years 1623-25 then mass trials took place from 1626.
• initial epicentre in Zeil (under Bambergs jurisdiction) where 59 were charged in 1626 with 30 executed.
• 1627, 130 suspects from Zeil called before Bamberg court and 1628 trials spread to Bamberg itself
• at least 642 brought to trial between 1623-31

Question 26

What social groups were affected by Bamberg Hunts?

Answer 26

• stereotype rarely found. In Zeil only 7 older women were sent for execution and only 2 of these were ‘wisewomen’
• average age at 33.5 (marriageable age)
• most men accused were middle-aged except 9 year old boy
• boy confessed without any torture to a widely exaggerated story about a demon called George. Story involved many typical WC things.

Question 27

What was unique about Bamberg hunts as opposed to other hunts at the time?

Answer 27

• High status individuals were accused including Mayor of Bamberg, John Junius and Mayor of Zeil, Hans Langhans.
• reason for this lies in their opposition to the trials as they were aiding the Devil. Those who failed to persecute were witches themselves
• Georg Eder, son of well known catholic reformer at imperial court was executed.

Question 28

What started to happen from 1628 (to do with religion)

Answer 28

• officials began examining parish record for individuals who failed to receive Catholic communion. They were reported to the official commission on WC
• these people had either refused to convert or had reluctantly converted
• Eg; Two brothers, Johann and Georg Kauwer field to Rome where they presented the Vatican with a complaint against the PB. Both their parents were executed

Question 29

What pattern was seen in WC trials in Bamberg?

Answer 29

• initially accused, father was executed along with his wife or vise versa
• Georg Hann was arrested for questioning trials after execution of his wife and daughter in 1628. Became under suspicion when he petitioned the imperial high court to intervene in cases of accused women. Easy to accuse him after execution of wife
• His son and daughter in-law where then condemned after they in turn protested about the treatment of Hann and his wife

Question 30

What was the status of torture in Bamberg witch hunts?

Answer 30

• legal under 1532 Carolina Law Code which allowed large amount of devices to be used on accused
• PB had judicial freedom so numerous confessions were made in this way
• network of informers was created and a witch-prison was built in order to carry out torture
• confessions obtained under torture were permissible in court and defendants were denied many basic legal rights

Question 31

What were some of the methods used in torture?

Answer 31

• thumbscrews; thumbs were placed in vice-like contraption, which would be gradually tightened if suspect did not confess. Toes also crushed
• burning of hair
• whipping
• forced to kneel on pieces of wood covered with metal spiked for several hours
• food containing excessive salt and pepper was given to some who were then deprived of water

Question 32

What was the case of John Junius?

Answer 32

• arrested in June 1928, served as mayor for 20 years and faced some of worst torture documented
• his wife has been arrested which implicated him by association
• Also implicated by Georg Hann and his family who named him and many others before they were executed
• Hann swore on his life that he witnessed Junius a year and half earlier at a witch-gathering in the electoral council room

Question 33

What was in Junius letter?

Answer 33

• written to daughter and smuggled out of prison
• serves as one of most powerful accounts of torture no persecution in the period.
• Explains he was innocent and only confessed due to torture
• begged for extra day to consider his situation and speak with a priest. This was denied but he was allowed one day of reflection where he then confessed and was pressed for names of accomplices.

Question 34

What are some typical features found in Bamberg confessions?

Answer 34

• 1st part of confessions involved recounting how the accused became involved with devil
• second part described a death threat given to them by their demon to force co-op
• provided a list of evil deeds committed

Question 35

How did witch hunting in Bamberg become profitable?

Answer 35

• Witches property could be confiscated. State received 50k florins from Wolfgang Hoffmeister (treasure of Bamberg)
• hunts paid for themselves as witch had to pay for all costs (court costs, travel expenses of interrogators, additional staff and raw materials used to make the gallows)
• local economy benefited from this industry with lawyers, rope makers and blacksmiths getting increased income

Question 36

Who was John George Fuchs Von Dornheim?

Answer 36

• PB of Bamberg between 1623-31. Champion of counter ref and believed that tackling WC was of upmost importance
• took personal responsibility for hunt and hired many to assist him including his Vicar Frederick Forner
• Property confiscations made this a profitable job for FvD
• built witch prisons to contain 30-40 suspects. Had biblical text written on walls

Question 37

Who was Frederick Forner?

Answer 37

• FvD’s deputy and also a strong supporter of counter ref and hatred of WC and was involved with hunting even before JGvA became PB in 1609. A greater intellect than FvD hence his usefulness
• most significant individual instigator of the trials but without the consent of JGvA the initial hunts between 1616-1619 would not have occurred. FvD then made sure the trials were made extensive and horrific
• published 25 sermons on WC and magic in 1625
• beliefs: hated Calvinism, areas where occult practices were being carried out protestant preachers were being harboured and 30 years war increased WC

Question 38

What were the two key beliefs of JGFvD and Fredrick Forner?

Answer 38

1) Obedience was central to a well functioning society: Forner found connection between mans disobedience and sin, idolatry and WC. Obedience to god is source of faith and order
2) The closer one came to defeating the devil the more stronger it became: If the devil used violence it is justifiable to use violence and torture on suspected witches. Should be expected to find more witches in catholic areas as Devil could not corrupt protestants any more

Question 39

What scepticism was present in Bamberg pre 1630?

Answer 39

• early 1627 complaints about innocent executions for WC began to be made at both religious and imperial courts and in July FvD issues a proclamation stating that those who gave false testimony should be flogged
• this proclamation was for show as he was only concerned with protecting his inner circle

Question 40

What was the Imperial Holfrat?

Answer 40

-High ranking adviser to the HREmperor similar to an English Privy Council

Question 42

What was the effect of Flocks trial and what was its significance?

Answer 42

• Flocks relatives protested to Ferdinand stating that the trial was illegal. She was not allowed to question the testimony or hire a lawyer because of the trials secrecy and it broke the Carolina Law code as the evidence from torture was not supported with any other evidence
• First time the emperor of the HRE had been directly involved in a case

Question 43

What was the imperial chamber court?

Answer 43

• Highest Judicial court in the HRE with judges appointed directly by the emperor
• acted as an appeals court and the emperor could become directly involved in the cases

Question 44

What was the involvement of the imperial chamber court in the case of Dorothea Flock?

Answer 44

• Complaints started to reach them from other escapes from the witch-prison in Bamberg
• FvD sent two of his witch-commissioners to the Diet Of Regensburg (meeting of senior leaders of HRE held in 1630) in order to defend him. FvD thought it went well but many were sceptical and throughout Ferdinand would be damaged if he tolerated the persecutions

Question 45

What were the outcomes from the trial of Dorothea Flock?

Answer 45

• Ferdinand criticise FvD for disobeying his orders in this trial and the case of Barbara Schwarz where he overused torture and disregarded imperial decrees.
• FvD sent a letter from the witch-commissioners of Bamberg stating that no arrests were taking place
• Ferdinand found out that this was not true and the hunters were getting rich out of their accusations

Question 46

What provided the final nail in the coffin for the Bamberg hunts?

Answer 46

-Powerfully written letter by Georg Wilhelm Dumler
Stated:
-several hundred innocent people had suffered as a result of torture and the leaders were easily led by false accusations
-there was never sufficient proof to find someone guilty
-Carolina law code permitted the accused a Lawyer but this was never given
-Cases should have been heard in civil courts but they were being held in secret

Question 47

How did Ferdinand end the hunts?

Answer 47

• 12 June 1631 he announced that he was to punish those responsible for the hunts and appointed a new director for the witch-commission.
• Decreed that all future hunts should be carried out under the Carolina Law code and confiscation of property was forbidden
• FvD said that those who accused him were witches and he refused to release his prisoners. Only after the arrival of Sweedish army in 30 Years war did he flee Bamberg and end persecutions

Question 48

What was the involvement of the Swedish army in the 30 years war?

Answer 48

• Protestant army that entered war in 1630 and achieved good victories in 1631 which started to turn the tide of the war
• Much of the territory lost by protestants was regained between 1630 and 1634
• army increased from 40k in 1630 to 150k in 1632
• required huge amounts of resources and food and thus took to plundering the countryside to maintain itself

Question 49

How did the arrival of the Swedish army effect Bamberg?

Answer 49

• Bamberg had been ruined by the war as it was one of the main routes armies took when marching through Germany and Population declined by 40%
• they were outside of Bamberg by feb 1632 causing FvD to flee to Austria where he died of a stroke in 1633
• catholic nuns were still able to carry out their work by counter-attacks by catholic forces contributed to the feeling of panic and chaos across the area
• declining pop, decimated farms, constant fighting and retreat of PB meant witch hunting was no longer a priority and there was no longer any need for the witch prison

Question 50

What was the case of Dorothea Flock?

Answer 50

• Georg Heinrich Flock was accused in 1630 and fled to Nuremberg but his wife, Dorothea was arrested.
• Georg appealed to Emperor Ferdinand stating that her and his unborn child’s health was a concern. FvD wrote a letter to Ferdinand saying their health was fine and that they were following the correct standards and he stated that Georg was lying in his account
• More proceeding against Dorothea led her relatives to appeal to pope and emperor once more.
• Emperor and pope requested that FvD stop the trial and sent a letter stating that all of her trial documents should be sent to the Imperial Holfrat for review, and that if they refused they would be punished
• on hearing that the letters were on their way, FvD rushed the trial and carried out the execution in secret before they could arrive. Execution was switched from burning to beheading to hurry it up.