| Witches in Austria and Germany |
Mass witch trials began in the 15th century with the help of the 'Malleus Maleficarum', a manual for
hunting and persecuting witches drawn up by two Dominican priors of questionable reputation, which
had thirty reprints by 1669. The "Burning Times" began in earnest from 1550 to 1650, with mass
hysteria and burnings. In the 16th century, the number of witch trials actually dropped when the
Reformation hit. Witch hunting had become part of broader campaigns to impose religious
orthodoxies, and witch-hunts lost most of their momentum with the end of the Thirty Years War
when the Peace of Westphalia brought better religious recognition and sought more tolerance.
hunting and persecuting witches drawn up by two Dominican priors of questionable reputation, which
had thirty reprints by 1669. The "Burning Times" began in earnest from 1550 to 1650, with mass
hysteria and burnings. In the 16th century, the number of witch trials actually dropped when the
Reformation hit. Witch hunting had become part of broader campaigns to impose religious
orthodoxies, and witch-hunts lost most of their momentum with the end of the Thirty Years War
when the Peace of Westphalia brought better religious recognition and sought more tolerance.
Ferdinand von Wittelsbach, Catholic prince-archbishop of Cologne burned
2,000 members of his flock during the 1630s. In Southwest Germany alone,
3,229 people were executed for witchcraft between 1562 and 1684. Three-
quarters of all witchcraft trials took place in the Catholic-ruled territories of the
Holy Roman Empire.
2,000 members of his flock during the 1630s. In Southwest Germany alone,
3,229 people were executed for witchcraft between 1562 and 1684. Three-
quarters of all witchcraft trials took place in the Catholic-ruled territories of the
Holy Roman Empire.
Emperor Leopold I in 1679 forbade the introduction of new tortures, particularly the Nagelbett, or
bed of nails. In 1679, Emerenziane Pichler was tried at Linz, and after a year condemned with her
two eldest children. She was burned September 25, 1680; her two children, aged twelve and
fourteen, on September 27, 1680. In 1679, a beggar boy, age 14, whom the police suspected caused
storms, was tortured until he came up with confession and accomplices names of which he named 3.
All four were burned December 13, 1679. A priest, Laurenz Paumgartner, wrote in his diary that in
his small parish alone, within 15 months around 1680, thirteen witches had been executed.
bed of nails. In 1679, Emerenziane Pichler was tried at Linz, and after a year condemned with her
two eldest children. She was burned September 25, 1680; her two children, aged twelve and
fourteen, on September 27, 1680. In 1679, a beggar boy, age 14, whom the police suspected caused
storms, was tortured until he came up with confession and accomplices names of which he named 3.
All four were burned December 13, 1679. A priest, Laurenz Paumgartner, wrote in his diary that in
his small parish alone, within 15 months around 1680, thirteen witches had been executed.
Another Praetorius appeared in history. In 1597, Pastor Anton Praetorius was appointed as pastor
and had to witness the torture of 4 accused witches. According to court records, the Reverend was
so upset about the torture that he protested violently and succeeded in stopping the trial against the
last surviving woman. He was one of the first with the courage to protest the terrible situation of
accused witches. In his new parish in Laudenbach, he wrote a book, initially under an assumed name
in 1598, "Gründlicher Bericht über Zauberey und Zauberer" to protest against the torture and
prosecution of witches. Praetorius died in 1613.
and had to witness the torture of 4 accused witches. According to court records, the Reverend was
so upset about the torture that he protested violently and succeeded in stopping the trial against the
last surviving woman. He was one of the first with the courage to protest the terrible situation of
accused witches. In his new parish in Laudenbach, he wrote a book, initially under an assumed name
in 1598, "Gründlicher Bericht über Zauberey und Zauberer" to protest against the torture and
prosecution of witches. Praetorius died in 1613.
The Protestants were by no means immune to witch frenzy, however. Both Luther and Calvin
directed bitter sermons against witches. In Austria before 1570, prosecution was infrequent due in
part to the moderation of Emperor Maximilian II, 1564-76. To him, witches and fortune tellers were
merely idiots. However, under his successor Emperor Rudolf II, who was influenced by witch haters
among his closest advisors, witchcraft peaked. When an old woman was seized as a witch and
repeatedly tortured, she confessed she had copulated with the devil, raised storms for fourteen years
and gone to the sabbat. The elderly municipal judge, appointed during the reign of the skeptical
Maximilian II, found the old woman insane and committed her to an asylum, but he was overruled
by newly appointed judges, who condemned the accused to be dragged to the stake and burned.
directed bitter sermons against witches. In Austria before 1570, prosecution was infrequent due in
part to the moderation of Emperor Maximilian II, 1564-76. To him, witches and fortune tellers were
merely idiots. However, under his successor Emperor Rudolf II, who was influenced by witch haters
among his closest advisors, witchcraft peaked. When an old woman was seized as a witch and
repeatedly tortured, she confessed she had copulated with the devil, raised storms for fourteen years
and gone to the sabbat. The elderly municipal judge, appointed during the reign of the skeptical
Maximilian II, found the old woman insane and committed her to an asylum, but he was overruled
by newly appointed judges, who condemned the accused to be dragged to the stake and burned.
Some really enjoyed the sport. Jakob Bithner was a Lutheran witch-hunter in the Austrian duchy of
Styria during the late sixteenth century. In March 1580, Bithner was in charge of sending reports to
the court and to the estates, including assessments of the conditions and safety of the duchy's postal
routes, bridges, footpaths, and roads. He used his position to send a series of reports to the Styrian
estates outlining his interests in "eradicating all manifestations of magic and superstition," and
described his involvement in no fewer than 23 of the 39 known cases of witchcraft from 1578 to
1600. There were also witchcraft scares in Tirol and Salzburg. In Tirol, those accused of witchcraft
who may have confessed and then retracted that confession were sent back to be tortured again.
Only those under seven years old were safe.
Styria during the late sixteenth century. In March 1580, Bithner was in charge of sending reports to
the court and to the estates, including assessments of the conditions and safety of the duchy's postal
routes, bridges, footpaths, and roads. He used his position to send a series of reports to the Styrian
estates outlining his interests in "eradicating all manifestations of magic and superstition," and
described his involvement in no fewer than 23 of the 39 known cases of witchcraft from 1578 to
1600. There were also witchcraft scares in Tirol and Salzburg. In Tirol, those accused of witchcraft
who may have confessed and then retracted that confession were sent back to be tortured again.
Only those under seven years old were safe.
During the years of plague, witches were thought to spread the black death. It was later discovered
that a convenient way to eliminate a rival, a romantic competitor, an enemy or a bad neighbor was to
accuse them of witchcraft, and individual cases began an upward momentum from the 14th and 15th
century. During the Inquisition, most witches were classed as heretics, not only disbelievers in church
doctrine but also servants of the Devil. Although not all witches were burned at the stake, very few
found guilty of heresy escaped this punishment.
that a convenient way to eliminate a rival, a romantic competitor, an enemy or a bad neighbor was to
accuse them of witchcraft, and individual cases began an upward momentum from the 14th and 15th
century. During the Inquisition, most witches were classed as heretics, not only disbelievers in church
doctrine but also servants of the Devil. Although not all witches were burned at the stake, very few
found guilty of heresy escaped this punishment.
Witch hunting peaked in Germany in the 17th century. Early panics had taken
place in Brandenburg and Mecklenburg, then in the Rhineland and Southwest
Germany, with German ecclesiastical territories hit hardest. The town of
Baden burned 200 witches from 1627 to 1630. Tiny Ellwangen burned 393
witches from 1611 to 1618, and the Catholic prince-bishop of Würzburg
burned 600 witches from 1628 to 1631.
place in Brandenburg and Mecklenburg, then in the Rhineland and Southwest
Germany, with German ecclesiastical territories hit hardest. The town of
Baden burned 200 witches from 1627 to 1630. Tiny Ellwangen burned 393
witches from 1611 to 1618, and the Catholic prince-bishop of Würzburg
burned 600 witches from 1628 to 1631.
During the secondary period of witch baiting at the end of the seventeenth century, in 1673,
"Gutenhag, a judge" kept a 57 year old woman 11 days and nights kneeling on a torture stool with
sharp prongs, burning her feet with sulfur, because she would not confess a pact with the devil. In
Salzburg, the Zauberer Jackl trials (see below) took place.
"Gutenhag, a judge" kept a 57 year old woman 11 days and nights kneeling on a torture stool with
sharp prongs, burning her feet with sulfur, because she would not confess a pact with the devil. In
Salzburg, the Zauberer Jackl trials (see below) took place.
A late comer to the witch hysteria picnic, Archbishop Max Gandolph hosted the
Zauberjäeckl trials in Salzburg from 1675 to 1681, in which he punished people
who were actually felons as witches. The Magic Jacket Society prosecuted in
those trials had recruited orphans using "black magic, sodomy and conjurations
with mice" to control them. Only those under 12 years old escaped death, but 200
others were executed. A cozy B&B (Burning and Beheading) called the Salzburg
Hexenturm was constructed which would hold 100 persons from ages 12 to 80
for torture, strangulation and the two Bs noted above.
Zauberjäeckl trials in Salzburg from 1675 to 1681, in which he punished people
who were actually felons as witches. The Magic Jacket Society prosecuted in
those trials had recruited orphans using "black magic, sodomy and conjurations
with mice" to control them. Only those under 12 years old escaped death, but 200
others were executed. A cozy B&B (Burning and Beheading) called the Salzburg
Hexenturm was constructed which would hold 100 persons from ages 12 to 80
for torture, strangulation and the two Bs noted above.
The "Jackl" was supposedly a Devil who helped beggars by teaching them curses, giving them
potions with which to earn alms and by making them invisible when they stole. Most were killed after
induced confessions. The trials came with the age of workhouses for the indigent, and at a time when
the church viewed vagabonds as a sign of weakness and social policy failure at a time when
conversion back to Catholicism was being strongly enforced.
potions with which to earn alms and by making them invisible when they stole. Most were killed after
induced confessions. The trials came with the age of workhouses for the indigent, and at a time when
the church viewed vagabonds as a sign of weakness and social policy failure at a time when
conversion back to Catholicism was being strongly enforced.
| The Zauberjäeckl Trials |
“Zauberer Jackl" was Jakob Koller, son of a farmhand from Mauterndorf. It was claimed that his
mother had taught him the “handicraft” of fraud and stealing. She was accused of theft and magic,
and she implicated one Paul Kaltenpacher and they were both executed in late August of 1675.
During the violent interrogation process, both accused "Jackl" of complicity. Subsequently, a warrant
of arrest was issued against Jackl and the search began. In 1677, the authorities received a message
that Jackl was dead, but this not only proved untrue, it turned out that Jackl had recruited a whole
group of followers, mostly young, poor people, including a Matthias Thomas Hasendorfer as an
accomplice. It reported that Zauberer Jackl taught him magic. The authorities consequently began a
search and destroy mission for both the Jackl and all of his witch accomplices who used charms and
magic. A fundamental goal was to stop the propagation of the sorcery among young people.
mother had taught him the “handicraft” of fraud and stealing. She was accused of theft and magic,
and she implicated one Paul Kaltenpacher and they were both executed in late August of 1675.
During the violent interrogation process, both accused "Jackl" of complicity. Subsequently, a warrant
of arrest was issued against Jackl and the search began. In 1677, the authorities received a message
that Jackl was dead, but this not only proved untrue, it turned out that Jackl had recruited a whole
group of followers, mostly young, poor people, including a Matthias Thomas Hasendorfer as an
accomplice. It reported that Zauberer Jackl taught him magic. The authorities consequently began a
search and destroy mission for both the Jackl and all of his witch accomplices who used charms and
magic. A fundamental goal was to stop the propagation of the sorcery among young people.
In 1944, the ages old
Hexenturm was destroyed
in a devilish Allied cultural
bombing attack on Salzburg.
All that remains in its pace
is a plaque, left, and the
small witch weathervane
that once adorned its roof,
visible in photo & inset.
Hexenturm was destroyed
in a devilish Allied cultural
bombing attack on Salzburg.
All that remains in its pace
is a plaque, left, and the
small witch weathervane
that once adorned its roof,
visible in photo & inset.
Stories about Jackl grew more and more imaginative until Jackl and his
followers were said to have the ability to turn into animals and make
themselves invisible, and they were also considered responsible for all
mysterious deaths or murders. It wasn't long before everyone wanted Jackl
and his whole gang caught. Today, it is thought that Zauberer Jackl was
probably just a thief and a beggar, and not even a murderer, let alone a
magician. The legendary Zauberer Jackl could never be seized.
followers were said to have the ability to turn into animals and make
themselves invisible, and they were also considered responsible for all
mysterious deaths or murders. It wasn't long before everyone wanted Jackl
and his whole gang caught. Today, it is thought that Zauberer Jackl was
probably just a thief and a beggar, and not even a murderer, let alone a
magician. The legendary Zauberer Jackl could never be seized.
Instead of him, 200 others were accused of being his accomplices and met their grisly deaths
between 1675 and 1681, 139 alone in the year 1681.The extremely violent Zaubererjackl witchcraft
trials were one of the last of the major European witch-hunts and unusual in that the majority of the
two hundred or so victims were mostly vagrants, mentally ill, beggars, wage workers, thieves and
prostitutes. Two thirds were male and one third were under age 16, and most admitted to acts of
sorcery during the torturous interrogations.
between 1675 and 1681, 139 alone in the year 1681.The extremely violent Zaubererjackl witchcraft
trials were one of the last of the major European witch-hunts and unusual in that the majority of the
two hundred or so victims were mostly vagrants, mentally ill, beggars, wage workers, thieves and
prostitutes. Two thirds were male and one third were under age 16, and most admitted to acts of
sorcery during the torturous interrogations.
The Salzburger Hexenturm was built between 1465 and 1480. In 1678, it was a prison with 14 cells
and an apartment for the court servants who managed the place. There was no street level door for
the prisoners. They were lowered down by means of long wooden poles and sent up tied to the
same, many to be burned alive in that manner.
and an apartment for the court servants who managed the place. There was no street level door for
the prisoners. They were lowered down by means of long wooden poles and sent up tied to the
same, many to be burned alive in that manner.
Witch hunting was not over yet. In 1688, a whole family, including children and servants, were
burned in Styria. In 1695 at Steiermark, Marina Schepp confessed to having sex with the devil after 6
1/2 hours on the torture stool, and she was burned. In the provinces of Styria and the Tirol, the
Halsgerichtsordnung, a severe anti-witchcraft code, was adopted in 1707 with hideous punishments.
burned in Styria. In 1695 at Steiermark, Marina Schepp confessed to having sex with the devil after 6
1/2 hours on the torture stool, and she was burned. In the provinces of Styria and the Tirol, the
Halsgerichtsordnung, a severe anti-witchcraft code, was adopted in 1707 with hideous punishments.
Once upon a time, every child born on August 18th could be tested for possible witchcraft because,
according to a local legend, an evil warlock was born on that day in 1638. The Schwarzenberg is a
mountain in the middle of the Lungau near the castle of Moosham. People there say that long ago,
witches lived in the mountain and came out of their caves at midnight. They wore white robes and
danced on the meadow under the full moon, but only children could hear their music.
according to a local legend, an evil warlock was born on that day in 1638. The Schwarzenberg is a
mountain in the middle of the Lungau near the castle of Moosham. People there say that long ago,
witches lived in the mountain and came out of their caves at midnight. They wore white robes and
danced on the meadow under the full moon, but only children could hear their music.
In Salzburg, all night long the witches danced, whispered, laughed and quietly talked, and the
dancing-place of the witches was called "Rader Tanzhügel", or "dancing hill."On that hill the snow
melted quickly in winter, and it was said that was because the witches danced the snow away.
dancing-place of the witches was called "Rader Tanzhügel", or "dancing hill."On that hill the snow
melted quickly in winter, and it was said that was because the witches danced the snow away.
In the Rhine area, Hellene Mechthildis Curtens, 1722-1738, of Gerresheim, was an alleged German
witch and one of the last people executed for sorcery in Germany. She had been arrested on the
word of a 14-year old girl, and while being tortured accused her neighbour Agnes Olmans of being a
witch. They were then both accused, even though Olmans denied the charges and demanded to be
exposed to the ordeal of water. She was denied this, since that method was no longer used in the
area. Both women were judged guilty of sorcery and executed August 19, 1738. For a long time,
they were thought to be the last executed for witchery in Germany. But one Maria Renata Saenger
von Mossau was executed in 1749 and farm wife Anna Trutt Schnidenwind was executed in 1751,
accused of having caused a great fire. The very last prosecution in Germany was most likely that of
Anna Maria Schwegel of Bavaria who was sentenced to death for sorcery in 1775, but died in prison
before her execution. It was not until 1787 that all witchcraft laws in Austria were repealed.
witch and one of the last people executed for sorcery in Germany. She had been arrested on the
word of a 14-year old girl, and while being tortured accused her neighbour Agnes Olmans of being a
witch. They were then both accused, even though Olmans denied the charges and demanded to be
exposed to the ordeal of water. She was denied this, since that method was no longer used in the
area. Both women were judged guilty of sorcery and executed August 19, 1738. For a long time,
they were thought to be the last executed for witchery in Germany. But one Maria Renata Saenger
von Mossau was executed in 1749 and farm wife Anna Trutt Schnidenwind was executed in 1751,
accused of having caused a great fire. The very last prosecution in Germany was most likely that of
Anna Maria Schwegel of Bavaria who was sentenced to death for sorcery in 1775, but died in prison
before her execution. It was not until 1787 that all witchcraft laws in Austria were repealed.
