The Infected and the Guilty: On Heresy and Witchcraft in Post-Reformation Denmark

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

    Abstract

    This essay investigates the correlation between heresy and witchcraft in a Danish context. In sixteenth-century Denmark theologians, most prominently Niels Hemmingsen, condemned witchcraft by referring to it as heresy and false beliefs. Still, as a consequence of the Lutheran Reformation the Church had no legal influence in the prosecution of witchcraft and related offences. This essay investigates the link between heresy and witchcraft in theological writings, legal regulations and in trials for witchcraft. It argues that although Danish trials for witchcraft were an issue for lay authorities, an analysis of the link between heresy and witchcraft provides new insights in what can be characterized as a ‘trichotomy’ of theologians, legislation and judicial regulations put into practice.
    Translated title of the contributionDe besmittede og de skyldige: Om kætteri og trolddom i det efter-reformatoriske Danmark
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationContesting orthodoxy in medieval and early modern europe : heresy, magic and witchcraft
    EditorsLouise Nyholm Kallestrup, Raisa Maria Toivo
    PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
    Publication date2017
    Pages233-254
    ISBN (Print)978-3-319-32384-8
    ISBN (Electronic)978-3-319-32385-5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2017
    SeriesPalgrave Historical Studies in Witchcraft and Magic

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'The Infected and the Guilty: On Heresy and Witchcraft in Post-Reformation Denmark'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this