15TH CENTURY WITCH TRIALS
I. Earliest Trials for Maleficium and Diabolism
1397-1406: Trial of STEDELEN (Bern, Switzerland)
Secular Judge PETER VON GREYERZ
Charges: Maleficium -- standard peasant accusations
Invocation of demon -- sorcerer type activities
Diabolism -- group demon worship, cannibalism
1398 -- University of Paris debate: Maleficium as heresy
1435 -- Johannes NIDER, O.P. FORMICARIUS (Antheap)
first witch treatise, draws on Stedelen trial
Nider gets information directly from Greyerz
denies reality of nightflying, citing Canon Episcopi
II. Italy 1420’s Saint Bernardino of Siena
Franciscan preacher, targets women, Jews, homosexuals
involved in witch trials 1426 Rome (Finicella), 1428 Todi
III. New elements in witch trials: Switzerland 1420-1430's
1428 VALAIS (Swiss Canton)
large
group trial by Bishop of Sion
executes over 100 for maleficium and diabolism.
1438 Lausanne, Neuchatel (Switzerland)
full description of Sabbath: "Synagogues of Satan"
or VAUDERIE (term from Waldensians)
includes collective apostasy "From Christ to Devil"
signs of allegiance to demon:
Devil's mark, intercourse with devil, infant sacrifice
flying to Sabbath:
distance as "reality factor"
1459--ARRAS, Burgundy (France) 34 tried, 12 burned
escalation of trial from individual to group through torture
mass
trials conducted by Inquisitor and Bishop
intervention of secular ruler:
Duke of Burgundy stops trial
accused
nobleman appeals to
PARLEMENT OF PARIS (royal appeals court)
1491
-- posthumous rehabilitation of victims