Bamberg witch trials
Bamberg (1609-1631)
Accused Over 1000
Convictions 900
Executions c.900
The witch trials in Bamberg were pursued with vigour by the cities leaders. Under Prince-Bishop Johann Gottfried von Aschhausen, who held office from 1609 to 1622, the trials in earnest as his predecessors had focused more on fighting protestants than witches. Crop failures had added to public hysteria and after decrees were issued against diviners and sorcerers, the hunts grew in size from six victims to around 300. When Johann Georg Fuchs von Dornheim, known as the witch burner or witch-bishop, became prince-bishop in 1623 the trials went into overdrive as a result of repeated crop failure. A ruthless witch hunter, von Dornheim ordered the building of the Drudenhaus, a prison built solely to house and torture witches.
The accused came from all walks of life with their social status varying greatly. Some were members of rival ruling families, while tradesmen like butchers, bakers and brewers were also accused. The poisoning of supplies by magical means was very much alive in the public imagination, so these trades were suspect. As usual the lower classes were targeted with menial jobs like
