Chapter 1

The witch - a myth in Europe

The belief in witches was a superstition that was predominantly widespread in Christian Europe, the roots of which can be found in the pre-Christian belief in gods, and became increasingly important in the 14th century in particular. In the course of the 15th century, the overall image of witches and wizards developed into a cult of witches with gatherings and rites that were intended to lead to the takeover of world domination. The main element of witchcraft was the devil's pact, which represented both a contract with the devil and a renunciation of God and heresy. Closely linked to this was the devil's courtship, sexual intercourse between the witch and the devil. The third element was the witches' sabbath in connection with the witches' flight, and the fourth element of witchcraft was the damaging spell. There were many reasons for casting a spell, such as adultery and jealousy, envy and resentment, greed, disputes and power struggles, covering up one's own misdeeds and other motives.

Course of the witch trials

Witch trials are court proceedings in which people - usually women - were accused of allegedly practising witchcraft. These trials reached their peak in Europe from the 15th to the 17th century.

The course of the witch trials was often manipulated from start to finish in order to force"confessions" and pass sentences. The witch trial usually began with an accusation from a neighbor or local clergyman.

Example: Irmgard, an elderly widow living on the outskirts of the village, may be accused of being a witch by a neighbor. The neighbor may have claimed to have seen Irmgard do inexplicable things, or she may blame Irmgard for her personal misfortunes. The accusation was often followed by imprisonment and a trial. In some cases, the mere rumor that someone was a witch was enough to get them arrested. However, there are certainly other cultural notions of witches, as women with special knowledge, who played an important role in medieval or even older obstetrics, for example, in medieval culture, where a different form of knowledge was available and handed down. This shift from a neutral person with a different knowledge system to a spy for evil permeated society right into the bedrooms of respectable people.

The driving forces behind the persecution

Various causes can lead to witch trials. Some of the most important are religious fanaticism, superstition and social or personal conflicts. In times when diseases and natural disasters were seen as punishment from God, witches were often accused and persecuted. Religious reforms often led to witch trials as new leaders sought to consolidate their power by eliminating"witches". People were accused of witchcraft out of envy, fear or personal enmity. In addition, ignorance, superstition, gr