Bernhard Bitterlin, Witch-Hunter of Obermarchtal

A harsh man, judge Bernhard Bitterlin was hugely responsible for the wave of witch trials between 1586 and 1589. Eighty-four or more people (mostly peasant women) were executed: around seven percent of Obermarchtal's inhabitants. Bitterlin continued as judge of Obermarchtal well into the seventeenth century. In 1627-28, he condemned at least another seven people for witchcraft (Midelfort 97).

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Bernhard Bitterlin, Witch-Hunter of Obermarchtal copyrighted 1996-1998 to Shantell Powell.