Ulrich von Helfenstein, Witch-Hunter of Wiesensteig

Ulrich von Helfenstein lived a life of religious turmoil. A one-time Catholic, Helfenstein was the target of many Reformists. The attempts of the Reformists were fruitless, however, and in 1567 Helfenstein returned to Catholicism.

In the mid-1500s, Helfenstein's town of Wiesensteig was going through not only religious turmoil, but also war, severe hailstorms, and epidemics. Needing a scapegoat, Helfenstein began to lash out against witches.

On August 3, 1562, there was a huge hail-storm. Damages were extensive. Within a couple of days, Helfenstein had arrested several women, an action which appears to have met with wide approval. Six of the arrested women were executed as witches, and a number of these claimed to have seen citizens of Esslingen at their sabbat. In no time, the witch panic had spread over thirty miles to Esslingen.

Nevertheless, all three arrested in Esslingen were let go. Helfenstein was appalled at the lenience, and executed another forty-one female witches from Wiesensteig. And, "on December 2, 1562, he approved the execution of 20 more. In some such way we reach the total reported in a sensational pamphlet of 1563, which described 'the true and terrible acts and deeds of the sixty-three witches and sorceresses who were burned at Wiesensteig'" (Midelfort 88-89).

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Ulrich von Helfenstein, Witch-Hunter of Wiesensteig copyrighted 1996-1998 to Shantell Powell.