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The Würzburg witch trial is among the largest Witch trials in the Early Modern period: it's one of the four largest witch trials in Germany
(Wikivisually)
The Würzburg witch trial, which took place in Germany from 1626–1631, is one of the biggest mass-trials seen in Europe during the period of the Thirty Years War. 157 men, women and children in the city of Würzburg are confirmed to have been burned, mostly after first being beheaded. It's estimated that over 900 people were executed, but only a couple hundred were actually recorded.
(The Witch Trials - Würzburg Witch Trials (Germany, 1626 - 1631)
The witch trials phenomenon stemmed from a great mass hysteria. Regardless of age, profession, low or high class, male or female, adult or child, anyone could be found guilty. Innocent children (some 3 and 4 years old) were accusing of having intercourse with the devil. Even innocent people passing through a town were accused of worshipping satan if they didn't have a good enough reason for doing so. (Burr)
Weather in the 1620s was causing crops to fail, hunger, and the plague began to wipe out helpless lives. Rather than considering natural causes or political leaders, people blamed "witches" for the catastrophes. Through 1628-1630, a new wave of witch hunts broke out in the Holy Roman Empire. (Pavlac)
Philipp's own nephew was among the 900+ people burned at the stake. Philipp was obviously very power hungry and the mass executions carried on throughout his reign. People were afraid to speak against him in fears of being prosecuted.
(The Witch Trials - Würzburg Witch Trials (Germany, 1626 - 1631)
In 1628 the Holy Roman Empire was in a fragile condition. The Thirty Years War had already been taking place for ten years through many territories. The war was fought concerning how much power the emperor would have over other imperial kings, dukes, as well as the clash between Roman Catholicism/Protestantism. Germany suffered the most damage. Land had been ruined by armies, hundreds were killled, and political systems weakened. (continued)
When we think about hysterical witch hunts, typically our thoughts go to the events in Salem, Massachusetts during the last 1600s.
However, if one really wants to see where the hatred and fear of witchcraft started, look to no other place than Germany's history of trials.
The first persecutions in Würzburg were ran by Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn, Prince bishop of Würzburg, and were carried on by Philipp Adolf von Ehrenberg, Juilus' nephew. They started in surrounding areas around the city in 1626. With most with trials, the victims soon counted people from all walks of society, including nobles, priests, councilmen and mayors.
( CJ Linton) &
(The Witch Trials - Würzburg Witch Trials (Germany, 1626 - 1631)
The burnings took place outside of the Marienkapelle.
Between the years 1400 to 1800 many Europeans thought 'witches' were a serious danger to society. Although, witches did not really exist, authorities arrested, prosecuted, punished, and hunted people they imagined to be witches.
Julius and Phillip
an estimated 45,000 people were prosecuted and killed for devil-worshipping in early modern Europe during the witch hunts.
(Stringer)
Pavlac, Brian A. "A Witch Hunt: Germany 1628--Historical Background." Prof. Pavlac’s Women’s History Resource Site. Last Revised 2 May, 2009.
http://departments.kings.edu/womens_history/witch/hunt/whbg.html.
Unknown. “WikiVisually.com.” WikiVisually, wikivisually.com/wiki/Würzburg_witch_trial.
George L. Burr. “The Witch Persecution at Wurzburg.” History.Hanover.edu, Mar. 2001, history.hanover.edu/texts/wurz.html.
“The Witch Trials - Würzburg Witch Trials (Germany, 1626 - 1631).” Witchcraft and Witches, 2009, www.witchcraftandwitches.com/trials_wurzburg.html.
CJ Linton. “Wurzburg Witch Trials.” Paranormal History, 5 Jan. 2009, paranormalhistory.webs.com/apps/blog/show/217312-wurzburg-witch-trials.
Stringer, Morgan L. “A War on Wome? The Malleus Maleficarum and the Witch-Hunts in Early Modern Europe.” Thesis.honors.olemiss, 2015, thesis.honors.olemiss.edu/459/1/Malleus Maleficarum Final.pdf.
80% of those people put to death were women.
In 1631, Philip Adolf died.
Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, came to power and the Wurzburg witch trial was put to an end.
Carlee Ellis