5. The Great Witch-Hunt in Bamberg, Germany, 1623-32 (All in 1)

What was the broader goal of the witch hunts in Bamberg during the Counter-Reformation

To reclaim and solidify Catholic Church territory and authority

Who was they key leader in Bamberg’s with hunts and the Counter-Reformation

Prince-Bishop von Aschhausen

How did economic measures support the Catholic Church’s efforts during the Bamberg witch hunts

Fines were imposed and supplies like wood were restricted to weaken Protestant communities

What political actions accompanied the Bamberg witch hunts to reinforce Catholic control

Catholic soldiers were forced to live in Protestant villages, and people who disagreed with the Church’s rules were kicked out of the area.

How were witch hunts used for religious purposes during the counter-reformation in Bamberg

Protestants were linked to witchcraft to portray Catholicism as the defender against heresy

Why was linking Protestantism with witchcraft significant for the Catholic Church

It justified persecution and reinforced the Church’s authority by demonizing Protestant faith

How did the Thirty Years’ War affect witch hunts in Bamberg

It intensified witch hunts due to economic hardship, political instability, and religious fanaticism

What hardships did foreign armies cause in Bamberg during the war

Famine, plundering of villages and towns, and forced conscription of young men and boys.

Why did people start accusing others of witchcraft during the war

They sought explanations for misfortunes like famine, war, and destruction

Which groups were most commonly targeted as witches during the Thirty Years’ War in Bamberg

Women with behavior seen as improper by the Catholic Church, political dissenters, healers and fortune-tellers, and members of the upper class

How were the upper classes affected by witch hunts under Prince-Bishop von Dornheim

A law allowing confiscation of witches’ property was exploited, leading to disproportionate targeting of the upper classes

What role did witch hunts play for the Catholic Church during the war

They were used to enforce Catholic conformity and suppress opposition during a time of crisis

What period of climate change worsened crop failures during the Bamberg witch hunts

The 'Little Ice Age,' a period of colder, wet weather peaking between 1560 and 1660

How did harsh weather affect Bamberg in the late 1620s

Frost destroyed important crops like wine, causing severe food shortages

What financial problems worsened the crisis in Bamberg during the witch hunts

High war debts and heavy taxes due to the Thirty Years' War

Why did the prince-bishops support witch hunts during economic crises

They hoped to blame witches for crop failures and natural disasters to maintain control

How did inflation impact the people of Bamberg

Money lost value, prices rose, and poverty increased, causing widespread hardship

Why were people living near trade routes more likely to be accused of witchcraft

Economic conflicts between traders made them easy scapegoats for financial troubles

How many individuals were implicated in the Bamberg witch trials between 1623 and 1632?

Estimates range from 600 to 900, with at least 642 formally brought to trial.

What percentage of accused individuals were women between 1623 and 1631

72.7%

Were older women the primary targets of the Bamberg witch trials

No, most accused women were of marriageable age rather than widows or traditional "wise women"

What was the average age of the accused women

33 ½ years old

Who was Georg Eder, and why was he executed

A Counter-Reformation supporter who opposed the trials; officials saw opposition as aiding the Devil

How did the concept of hereditary guilt affect accused families

Executions often implicated relatives, wiping out entire families

Who was Hans Laughan

As mayor of Zeil, Hans Langhans was accused and executed during the Bamberg witch trials. His forced confession under torture highlights how officials and local leaders were persecuted, often due to their opposition to the trials or their political influence

What law allowed the use of torture in Bamberg

The Carolina Law Code of 1532

Why was torture widely used in Bamberg witch trials

The prince-bishop had judicial freedom, allowing extensive use of torture to extract confessions

Name some common torture methods used in Bamberg

Thumbscrews, strappado (suspension by wrists), whipping, kneeling on spikes, sleep deprivation

Who was John Junius and why is his case significant

John Junius was Bamberg’s mayor, tortured severely after his wife’s execution, and confessed only under torture

What typical elements were included in confessions extracted during Bamberg witch trials

Deals with the Devil, oaths of loyalty, naming fellow witches, and admitting to harmful acts like crop destruction and sacrilege

How did property confiscations impact the witch-hunt in Bamberg

Confiscations funded the trials, making the witch-hunt self-sustaining and encouraging persecution.

Who bore the costs of the witch trials

The accused and their families paid for all court costs, including interrogators, travel, execution materials, and fees.

How much property value was confiscated during the Bamberg witch trials

Around 500,000 florins in total; for example, Georg Neudecker’s property worth 100,000 florins was confiscated

Who was Prince-Bishop John George II Fuchs von Dornheim and what was his role in the Bamberg witch-hunt

He was known as the "Hexenbischof" (witch-bishop) and played a central role in expanding and intensifying the witch-hunt, overseeing investigations, authorizing torture, and building the Drudenhaus prison

Why did von Dornheim support the witch-hunts

As a champion of the Counter-Reformation, he saw witch-hunting as a religious duty to root out heresy and disobedience to God, while also benefiting financially through property confiscations

What was the Drudenhaus

A witch-prison built in 1627 by von Dornheim to house and torture 30–40 suspects at a time, with biblical texts on the walls

Who was Frederick Förner and what was his contribution to the Bamberg witch-hunt

Förner was von Dornheim’s vicar general and intellectual architect of the hunt. He provided theological justification for the persecution and linked witchcraft to Protestant heresy

What were the main ideas in Frederick Förner’s sermons and writings

He claimed Calvinists were like magicians, said Protestant areas harbored occult practices, and argued that witchcraft was a demonic response to the success of the Catholic Counter-Reformation

How did Förner and von Dornheim justify the use of torture and violence

They believed that as the Devil became more violent in response to his impending defeat, it was justifiable for Catholics to respond with violence against witches

What major event began Emperor Ferdinand II’s direct involvement in the Bamberg witch trials

The arrest and execution of Dorothea Flock in 1630

Why was Dorothea Flock’s execution controversial

It was carried out despite orders from the emperor and the pope to suspend the trial and review documents

Which legal code did the Bamberg trials violate

The Carolina Law Code of 1532

What specific legal protections were denied in the Bamberg trials

The right to question accusers, legal representation, and validation of confessions made under torture

What did von Dornheim do when he learned letters from the emperor and pope were on their way

He rushed Dorothea Flock’s execution before the letters could arrive

How did Emperor Ferdinand II respond to von Dornheim’s continued trials

He issued increasingly forceful letters demanding an end to the trials and proper legal procedure

What was the Imperial Chamber Court's role in ending the witch craze

It received complaints that pressured the emperor to investigate and intervene

What was the Aulic Council

A high court of the Holy Roman Empire that heard von Dornheim’s commissioners’ defence of the trials

What was the emperor’s reaction to the trial documents sent by von Dornheim

He criticised them as mere transcripts and demanded the original documents

Who was Georg Wilhelm Dümler and why was his letter significant

A former church administrator whose letter exposed the trials' cruelty and illegality, influencing the emperor's final decision

What reforms did Emperor Ferdinand II implement in June 1631

Appointed Dr. Anton Winter to oversee trials, banned property confiscation, and enforced adherence to the Carolina Law Code

What finally ended von Dornheim’s power and the witch craze in Bamberg

The advance of the Swedish army, which forced von Dornheim to flee

What major military event forced Prince-Bishop von Dornheim to flee Bamberg

The arrival of the Swedish army in early 1632

Who led the Swedish army that invaded Bamberg during the Thirty Years' War

King Gustavus Adolphus

What did von Dornheim take with him when he fled Bamberg

12 chests of gold, valuable documents, and the cathedral’s treasure

What happened to von Dornheim after he fled Bamberg

He died of a stroke in Austria in March 1633

Why was the population of Bamberg already in decline before the Swedish arrived

The city lay on a major route used by armies, leading to war-related destruction and hardship

How did the war shift priorities in Bamberg, reducing witch-hunting

Survival and stability became more important than persecution due to war, famine, and depopulation

How did the removal of von Dornheim affect the witch trials

It eliminated the main driving force behind the persecutions, contributing significantly to their end

How did influential personalities contribute to the extent of the Bamberg witch craze

Figures like Förner, von Aschhausen, and von Dornheim promoted and legitimised the hunts, with von Dornheim driving them to horrific extremes

What role did officials like Dr Ernst Vasolt play in expanding the trials

They demanded extensive lists of alleged accomplices from suspects, causing accusations to spread rapidly

How did torture contribute to the scale of the witch hunts

Torture led to mass confessions and further accusations, creating a snowball effect

Why was the judicial environment in Bamberg conducive to widespread witch-hunting

Witch-hunters operated with little oversight and were rarely questioned by local judges

How did property confiscation influence the extent of the trials

Accused victims’ assets enriched the authorities, providing a strong financial incentive for further prosecutions

How did religious tensions contribute to the witch craze

Former Protestants accused others to prove their loyalty to Catholicism, and internal rivalries increased accusations