BP3: The Ending of the Witch Craze

When did the Emperor become directly involved?

When did the Emperor become directly involved?

1630

Why did the Emperor become directly involved?

A Bamberg councillor (Georg Flock) was accused and fled to Nuremberg, but his wife Dorothea was arrested. He appealed to Ferdinand stating concern for her health and her newborn child, and the legitimacy of the legal process.

How did Dornheim initially respond to Flock?

• accused Flock of being dishonest

• compelled the emperor to ignore his complaints

• said he initiated the trials to honour God

Why did Flock and family appeal to the Emperor again?

Renewed proceedings against Dorothea in April 1630

Who said Dornheim should stop the trial and what did they request?

• the pope and Ferdinand

• all documents related to the trial be send to imperial Holfrat (a high-ranking adviser) for review, and that if he did not obey, he would be punished

What did Dornheim do after the letters were requested?

• rushed the trial and had Dorothy executed before the letters arrived on 17th May

• she was beheaded in secret at 6am

After Flock’s execution, what were her relatives main complaints?

• her trial was illegal and contrary to religious law

• Flock was unable to question the testimony of her accusers of hire a lawyer because the trial was conducted in secret

• the Carolina Law Code (1532) required judges to establish the credibility of witnesses (which was impossible to do in her case)

• Confessions taken thru torture should only be permissible in court if supported by other evidence

Where did complaints about Bamberg eventually reach?

The Imperial Chamber Court in Speyer - the highest judicial court in the HRE, acting as an appeals court

What did Dornheim’s representative in Speyer report back to him?

• 2 other escapees from the witch-prison had sent complaints directly to the emperor

• compelled him to take immediate action to preserve his reputation

What did Dornheim eventually decide to do?

He sent 2 of his witch commissioners to the Diet of Regensburg :o (July-Nov 1630) to present a defence. Presented their case to the Aulic council, some councillors were already sceptical and felt his position would be jeopardised if he let the trials continue

Ferdinand’s 1530 rebuttal?

• wrote to Dornheim criticising of his continuation of the trials against direct orders

• complained about the case of Barbara Schwarz, who had escaped the witch-prison

What did Ferdinand ask for in regards to Schwarz and how did he react?

• ordered the documents from the case

• criticised his for his over-zealous use of torture and disregard of imperial decrees

• demanded more documents - which were copies when they arrived so he demanded originals

• Dornheim refused, saying no-one had been arrested for witchcraft since June 1630, but that trials were necessary for those trying to teach children magic

• Emperor found in March 1631 that at least 25 people had been arrested in the meantime - relatives of Zeil victims said property confiscations were causing the town to go bankrupt

Final piece of evidence Ferdinand needed to know he should stop the trials?

• A powerful letter from Georg Dumler, a former administrator of St Martin’s in Bamberg

• he stated that several hundred respectable people had suffered as a result of torture and the leaders of the witch commission were easily lead by false accusations

• there had never been sufficient proof

• In August 1628 his pregnant wife had been tortued and has miscarried, following which she was executed, and he was then arrested - despite both being Catholics

• the accused were denied a lawyer or advocate (as stipulated in CLC)

What did Ferdinand announce on 12th June 1631

That he was to punish those responsible for the Bamberg trials

Who did Ferdinand appoint as new director of the witch commission?

Dr Anton Winter

What else did Ferdinand decree on 12th June 1631?

• all future trials conducted under CLC

• Confiscation of property was forbidden

What happens to Dornheim after?

He remains in Bamberg, giving little support to Winter and refusing to release those in custody

Swedish Army size 1630-32

40,000 —> 150,000

Why did the 30 yrs war/Swedish army lead to the end of the hunts?

They plundered the countryside, Bamberg was tired of the constant fighting, they had decimated farm and a declining population, combined with the flight of the prince bishop witches were no longer seen as a priority

Invasion of the Swedish Army?

• Feb 1632

• took over the administration of Bamberg + Dornheim was forced to flee

• He looted the Cathedral’s treasure, including 12 chests of gold and valuable documents, and went to Austria where he died of a stroke in 1633

• Catholic nuns and Jesuits could continue their work