Witchcraft in Medieval Europe

Witch Hunts in Medieval Europe

The witch hunts and trials started in Medieval Europe in the 15th century and lasted approximately 300 years. In this span it is estimated that 40,000-60,000 people were accused of witchcraft and killed. Germany had the highest execution rate while Ireland had the lowest. Around 80% of the people who were executed were women who were accused of practicing witchcraft or/and being in cahoots with the devil. Most witches were tortured before being hanged or burned at the stake.

Famous Witches in Medieval Europe

Gyde Spandemager 

(Died 1543)

Spandemager was an alleged Danish witch. She was one of the first women executed in Denmark and Scandinavia. Spandemager was said to to enchant a ship fleet and was arrested and tortured.

Lasses Birgitta

(Died 1550)

Birgitta was the first woman to be executed for sorcery in Sweden. Birgitta had entered a church with two men acomplices with the intent of waking the dead. She renounced god and swore herself to the devil. Birgitta was charged guilty of sorcery and decapitated while the two men were only charged with a fine.

Agnes Waterhouse

(1503- July 29, 1566)

In 1566, she was accused of witchcraft along with two other women: Elizabeth Francis and Joan Waterhouse.  All three women were from the same village, Hatfield Peverel. She confessed to having been a witch and that her familiar was a cat (later turned into a toad) by the name of Satan, sometimes spelled Sathan, which originally belonged to Elizabeth Francis. Agnes was put on trial in Chelmsford, Essex, England, in 1566 for using witchcraft to cause illness to William Fynne, who died on 1 November 1565. She was also charged with using sorcery to kill livestock, cause illness, as well as bring about the death of her husband. Her eighteen-year-old daughter Joan Waterhouse was also accused (but found not guilty) of the same crime. Joan Waterhouse's testimony ultimately helped to convict the two other women. Agnes was hanged, and was one of the first women executed under the Witchcraft Act of 1562 in England, the first being Elizabeth Lowys of Great Waltham, Essex.

Maria Pauer

(October  1734 or 1736 – 1750)

Pauer was the last person to be accused and executed for witchcraft in Austria. Maria Pauer was a maid in the St. Catherine suburb in Mühldorf. In January 1749, she had run an errand for her employer to another house, and afterwards, the house was tormented by poltergeist phenomena. This led to her arrest. The conditions in prison made her apathetic and weak. She was interrogated with 527 questions in two months. Anna Maria Zötlin and Liesel Gusterer were also arrested and executed in 1749. Torture was used, and in September 1750, she confessed her guilt. She was sentenced to death and decapitated and burned on October 6, 1750.