Die Verfolgung von Zauberei und Hexerei in den fränkischen Markgraftümern im 16. Jahrhundert

Susanne Kleinöder-Strobel uses the margravates Ansbach and Bayreuth as examples of the cooperation between secular authorities and the church leaders in persecuting practitioners of magic and witchcraft in a large Lutheran territory. In doing so, she provides a fundamental contribution to the reception of reformational patterns of thought on magic and witchcraft. The author begins by examining the margravates' legislation against magic and witchcraft in church, police and provincial regulations from the 16th century. In this context the question of a separate legislation pertaining to witches arises. She also focuses on the way persecution was carried out in the margravates, distinguishing between »state penal authority,« which was demonstrated in legal action against practitioners of witchcraft and magic, and »church discipline,« which can be seen mainly in the records of the inspectors.