Rise of Witch Hunting

Question 1

Rise of Witch Hunting: Developments in Christian Doctrine

Answer 1

Threat of Heresy:

• In 200yrs after 1200, number of groups e.g. cathars, lollards, were perceived to be a threat to the Catholic Church
• Some church groups believed that these unorthodox groups were part of a diabolical conspiracy to weaken and destroy christianity, witches were later seen as part of this
• 1326: Pope authorised Inquisition to persecute Witchcraft as a type of heresy

Devil’s Pact:

• Before 15th century, most witches prosecuted for Maleficium and were rarely executed
• Idea of a Sabbat and Witches meeting with the Devil developed and many educated Europeans began to believe that Witches had made a pact with the Devil
• By 16th century: Demonological experts insisted that witches gathered at Sabbat to perform series of blasphemous rites.
• Witches seen as a heretical sect, 1484 Papal Bull declaring Witchcraft an ‘Exceptional Crime’

Question 2

Rise of Witch Hunting: Malleus Maleficarum and Other Views

Answer 2

Malleus Maleficarum:

• 1st treatise that had a major impact on views of Witchcraft, 1st published in 1486
• Written by Kramer and Sprenger, 2 Dominican friars, Kramer had been an inquisitor for Southern Germany
• Malleus stressed urgency of eradication of Witches (who were mainly women)
• Claimed Witchcraft was the worst of all crimes

Impact of Malleus:

• Thought to have sparked surge in trials in 1490s
• Now suggested that not as influential, publication in Italy followed by reduction in cases

Other Treatises 1560-1620:

• On the Demon-Mania of Witches: by Jean Bodin, saw Witchcraft as a major threat and urged people to resist the Devil’s forces
• Six Books of Discussions on Magic: by Martin Del Rio, was a Spanish Jesuit, became most popular treatise in 17th century

Sceptics:

• Reginald Scot: Wrote Discoverie of Witchcraft, scepticisms based on absence of biblical foundation for witch hunts
• Johann Weyer: said ‘the killing of witches is nothing but a massacre of the innocents’

Question 3

Course of Witch Hunts

Answer 3

1480-1560:

• 1480 to 1520: Witches tried in France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Netherlands
• Many persecutions occurred in Northern Italy, suggested that 1000 arrests per yr in Como alone
• 1520 to 1560: Drop in execution, possibly because of scepticism among learned elite

1560-1660:

• Period of intense persecution
• Trier: Large Witch hunts in 1580s and 1590s,
• Quedlinburg: 133 executed on one day in 1589
• Scotland: Hunts between 1590-97
• Some countries had ended trials by 1610 e.g. Spain and Netherlands
• Sporadic hunts, occurring at different times in different areas

End of Witch Hunting:

• After 1660, Witch trials and executions declined
• Few areas in eastern Europe experienced serious trials in 17th century
• By late 18th century trials and persecutions had ended
• Once estimated that 9 million killed, now thought to be around 100,000

Question 4

Who were the Witches?

Answer 4

Female Stereotype:

• Women seen as morally weaker than men and more likely to succumb to Devil’s temptations
• Clerics endorsed view that women driven by lust, sexualisation of women justified by turning it into propaganda condemning their behaviour

Age:

• Older women accused more, as they often displayed eccentric or anti-social behaviour
• May have been more dependent on society, could have asked for charity and become a nuisance within community

Marital Status:

• Many witches were unmarried
• Thought that women needed a male influence or they were more likely to be seduced by the Devil

Personality:

• Often bad tempered or sharp tongued, could be scolds
• Many had been suspected of or prosecuted for immoral behaviour e.g. cursing
• Suggests they were a nuisance, community wanting to get rid of them

Male Witches:

• Iceland: 90% of condemned Witches were Male
• Estonia: 60% Male
• Finland: 50% Male
• Some males persecuted when people were forced to name accomplices