Werewolf Trials

We previously dove deeper into the Salem Witch Trials that took place in the late 1600’s. We’re going to continue the topic of trials this week by discussing the Werewolf Trials. Did you even know that was a thing?

Hundreds of years before the infamous witch trials of Salem, European courts were bringing men and women to trial for a different unnatural accusation. They were believed to be werewolves. Transforming into the monstrous creature and then mutilating and devouring children.

These trials began as early as the 15th century and are thought to have lasted for at least two more. Superstition, religion, and politics all played a role. Many of those that were accused were beggars or people that kept to themselves, known as hermits. Some even confessed to being a werewolf, but only after constant torture. Hundreds of people were burned at the stakes over accusations.

Werewolf Lore:

The idea of humans transforming into wolves dates back to 2100 BC. There’s even a tale of Greek mythology, where King Lycaon tests Zeus’s power by feeding him meat mixed with human remains. Since he was able to decipher between the two, he was turned into a werewolf as punishment. This is where the term lycanthropy came from.

*Lycanthropy is defined as a mental disorder where a person believes he/she can transform into a wolf or other animal.

Folklore of the Middle Ages calls it shape-shifting. They believed it happened against a person’s will.

Other legends tell of this transforming power being that of the Devil.

The Accused:

France, 1521. Michel Verdon was arrested, tortured, and then confessed to being a werewolf. This was along with Pierre Bourgot and Philibert Montot.

France, 1573. Gilles Gardner admitted to being a werewolf after he was accused of murder and cannibalism.

Germany, 1589. Peter Stumpp was found guilty. His punishment is not for the faint of heart. Skin removed by hot pinchers. Beheaded. And then burned at the stake. What’s even worse is his head was actually displayed as a warning to others that were tempted to dance with the Devil.

Netherlands, 1590’s. Folkert Dirks admitted that he and his family could shape-shift into wolves under the Devil’s command.

France, 1598. Jacques Roulet supposedly had transformational salve to assist in his serial killings.

Estonia, 1651. Hans was only 18 years old when he was arrested and charged of lycanthropy. He confessed to hunting as a wolf for two years.

Interesting Facts:

Those that were accused and executed had their land turned over to the King. Historians believe this could be the reason behind the trials. Land ownership.

Many of those accused of lycanthropy shared a similar telling. A man or men dressed in black approached them with a deal directly from the Devil. Others claimed being bitten before the transformation began.

There are many men throughout history that claim they could easily transform into wolves, and part of their story always involved gruesome murders. Most also involved eating their victims, so it wasn’t just murder but cannibalism too.

Whether or not you believe in werewolves, there are some stories from our history that show the possibility. One example of this is Peter, “the Wild Boy.” Peter was found wandering a German forest in 1725. He was naked and walking on all fours. He ate with his hands and couldn’t speak. It was believed that he was raised by wolves because of his demeanor and actions.

Sources:

history.com
wikipedia.org
britannica.com