When was the ‘Great Witch Hunt’ in Bamberg, Germany?
1623-32
How many witches were accused over the 9 year hunts?
Up to 900
What types of people were accused during the Bamberg trials?
People from lower and higher social orders, women, men, poor and wealthy.
Anyone was vulnerable.
What was the Holy Roman Empire and what made it susceptible to witch hunts?
Modern day Germany divided into 2000 different regions.
-There was no central authority, each region had a different ruler and political system.
What was the Carolina Code and when was it established?
Established 1532, stated justice should remain local. It also contained some guidance for witch hunters and how to administer justice.
How might the Carolina Code contributed to the trials?
Local fanatics could potentially gain more influence over a region and intensify the trials due to the Carolina Code stressing that justice should be local.
What did ‘Cuius regio, eius religio’ mean and how did this doctrine increase tension in the Holy Roman Empire?
‘Whose realm, his religion’, which meant the religion of a region was defined by its leader.
-Deaths of leaders could mean quick changes in religion.
-A region could be majority Protestant lead by Catholics or vise versa, contributing to religious devision.
What were prince-bishops?
They were rulers who could combine religious and civil authority, enforcing the church and law in a particular region. They had absolute power.
What was the Reformation/ Counter Reformation and how does it link to witch hunting?
The Counter Reformation was a movement in the Catholic church to oppose Protestantism and the Reformation.
-This increased suspicions of different religious denominations and led to heightened religious tensions.
When did the Counter Reformation start and how was it structured?
The second half of the 16th century.
-It was led by zealous prince bishops.
-From 1534 on, Jesuit churches established in cities and preached extremely anti-Protestant messages.
–Protestant resisted the Counter Reformation, believing that Catholics were in league with the Devil.
Why did the Counter reformation lead to increased witch hunts across Germany?
Increasing religious tensions between Catholics and Protestants led to increased suspicions. Since both denominations believed the other was working with the devil, they believed removing witches would help defeat the devil and weaken the opposing denomination.
Who was the prince-bishop of Bamberg 1609 to 1623?
Johan Gottfried Von Aschhausen
What actions did Johan Gottfried Von Aschhausen take that made witch hunting more intense in Bamberg?
He introduced a new witchcraft law in 1610, which stated anyone found practicing magic would be punished by death.
-Over 14 years, Von Aschhausen prosecuted 300 witches.
How did Von Aschhausen increase religious tensions between Protestants and Catholics?
As prince-bishop, he made the conversion of Protestant parishes a top priority. The methods he used resulted in increased resentment:
-Fines were imposed on parishes that remained Protestant.
-Wood supplies into Protestant parishes were limited.
-Catholic troops were stationed in Protestant villages.
-Protestant could be arrested for opposing these policies and would be held in Bamberg tower.
When did witchcraft temporarily end during Von Aschheausen’s reign and why?
1619.
Since a civil war had broke out in neighbouring Bohemia, it was argued that resources could not be spent on witch hunting.
Who was elected as prince-bishop in 1623, marking the start of the ‘Great Witch Hunt’ in Bamberg?
Georg II Fuchs Von Dornheim
How did the 30 years war impact Bamberg economically and in terms of religion?
-Soldiers took food and supplies from villages
-Debts amassed from fighting the war increased to 800,000 florins by its end, increasing taxes for the population
-Catholics in Bamberg began to label anyone who differed from Catholic practices as a heretic, suspecting the Devil was influencing the population.
What arguments can be made to suggest the experience of was REDUCED the intensity of witch hunting?
CASE - In Saarland, witch hunting ended in the 1630s for around 30 years due to devastation caused by war.
CASE - In Bamberg, citizens argued resources could not be spent on hunting witches.
-War places economic burdens on society, so the costs to put witches on trial can’t be met.
-The breakdown of authority meant there was no way to put witchcraft of trial.
-Witches were often used as scapegoats in society, during war there are obvious explanations for problems
What arguments can be made to suggest the experience of was INCREASED the intensity of witch hunting?
-War increased economic pressures;
-Debts from fighting amassed to 800,000 florins, leading to increased taxes, increasing social tensions.
-Increased suspicion of opposing sides (increased religious divisions);
-E.g. Catholics viewing anyone different as a heretic, sharpening religious tensions, increasing suspicions from own sides.
-Could suggest the Devil is becoming desperate;
-Creating the chaos of war, so must also be employing witches.
-This belief encourages people to hunt more witches to defeat the devil.
-War convinces people they must take action.
When were the crop failures in Bamberg? How did they impact the trials?
-1629, the year the trials peaked, frost destroyed the wine crop.
-The 1620s were cold and wet, with 1628 being referred to as the ‘year without a summer’.
–Witches would confess to attempting to ruin fruit and crop harvests through witchcraft
–People demanded the eradication of witches through a petition because they were believed to have been destroying crops.
+The 30 years war and harvest failures combined represented an economic crisis for Bamberg.
What was the impact of inflation (and other economic problems) on the trials?
-Imported silver from America was in decline from 1610.
-The amount of gold in gold coins had declined to 77% by 1626, meaning money was losing its value.
-Combined with poor weather and crop failures, there was increased inflation and rising prices in Bamberg.
What would witches confess to that links with economic factors? (two specific cases, one general)
CASE - Margret Eissmennin - she was forced to turn to the Devil after money began to lose its value
CASE - Kunigudta Rindterin - confessed to having entered a relationship with a wealthy man to avoid poverty, which was interpreted to be a pact with the devil.
–Other witches also confessed to being involved in plots to freeze and destroy all of Bamberg’s crops.
Between 1623 and 1632, how many people were implicated and executed for witchcraft?
Between 600 and 900.
Between 1623 - 31, what was the percent of women accused? What was the percent from 1616 - 22 (under von Aschhausen)?
-1623-31 = 72.7%
-1616-22 = 81.1%
