Bamberg - ending Flashcards
(14 cards)
what scepticism was there before 1630?
early 1627: complaints made about innocent people executed for witchcraft
1627: von Dornheim stated those who gave false testimony should be beaten
* intrdouced a whipping post
* reaction presumably because accusations had been made against Forner
Ferdinand
how did the case of Dorothea Flock start?
1630: Bamberg counciller, Georg Flock was accused. He fled, but his wife Dorothea was arrested
Georg appealed to Emporer Ferdinand due to health concerns for Dorothea and her new child
Ferdinand
what was von Dornheim’s involvement in the case of Dorothea Flock?
send a letter to Ferdinand stating there were no health concerns, accusing Flock of being dishonest
after further objection from Flock’s family, and a letter from Ferdinand demanding all documents related to the trial should be sent for review, von Dornheim rushed the trial to have Dorothea arrested before they could arrive
Ferdinand
what was the impact of the case of Dorothea Flock?
protests from her relatives
* Flock wasn’t able to question her accusers or hire a lawyer
* disobeyed the Carolina Law Code which stated judges must establish credibility of witnesses, and confessions under torture should only be permitted is accompanied by other evidence
Ferdinand
what was the Imperial Chamber Court?
the highest judicial court of the Holy Roman Empire
Ferdinand
how did the Imperial Chamber Court become involved?
received complaints about von Dornheim from those who escaped the witch-prison
Ferdinand
how did Emporer Ferdinand react to the complaint from Barbara Schwartz?
wrote to von Dornheim, criticising him for continuing the trials and ordered him to send documents from Schwartz’s trial
received documents and criticised von Dornheim’s use of torture and disregard of imperial decrees
was then found that the documents were copies, and von Dornheim refused to send originals
Ferdinand
did Ferdinand’s involvement in cases of Flock and Schwartz bring an end to the craze?
von Dornheim claimed no one had been arrested since June 1630
March 1631: Ferdinand discovered at leat 25 people had been arrested within that time
Dumler’s letter
who was Georg Wilhelm Dumler?
a former administrator of St Martin’s Church in Bamberg
Dumler’s letter
what did Georg Dumler argue in his letter?
- hundreds of respectable peple had suffered due to the use of torture
- leaders of the witch-commission were easily led by false accusations
- there was insufficient proof in the trials to legitimately find suspects guilty
- the Carolina Law Code had been disregarded
- 1628: his wife had been executed despite being innocent and a Catholic
Dumler’s letter
what was the impact of Dumler’s letter?
- convinced Emporer that the trials needed to be stopped
- 12 June 1631: Ferdinand took action against Bamberg trials
Dumler’s letter
how did Ferdinand take action against the Bamberg craze?
12 June 1631: announced he was to punish those responsible
* appointed Dr Anton Winter as the new witch-commisioner
* decreed for all future trials to be conducted according to Carolina Law Code
* confiscation of property forbidden
von Dornheim remained in Bamberg
Swedish army
what was Sweden’s involvement in the Thirty Years’ War?
- 1630: Sweden’s Protestant army entered the war
- 1631: won important victories, regaining much of the Protestants’ territory
- army increased in size from 40,000 (1630) to 150,000 (1631)
Swedish army
what was the impact of the arrival of the Swedish army in Bamberg?
- invaded and took over administration, which forced von Dornheim to flee
- population already in decline and tired of fighting upon their arrival
- witch-hunting was no longer prioritised by authorities due to issues such as fighting, declining population, the fleeing of the prince-bishop, etc
