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Morbid

Episode 503: The Torsåker Witch Trials

Oct 16, 2023
Explore the shocking Torsåker Witch Trials in Sweden, where local leaders defied the Crown to execute supposed witches. Discover the brutal practices and extreme punishments of the trials, the church's embrace of misogyny and hysteria, and the challenges faced by the witch hunting commissions. Reflect on how Sweden avoids witch trials and the importance of avoiding false accusations.
01:14:46

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Quick takeaways

  • The Torsåker Witch Trials in Sweden were characterized by religious hysteria and local leaders defying the Swedish Crown to accuse, try, and execute supposed witches without proper authority, with those responsible for starting the hysteria being murdered.
  • The witch trials in Sweden were influenced by earlier works like the Malius Maleficarum, which depicted witches as treacherous and lecherous women, and these beliefs were further reinforced by the Protestant Reformation, creating fear and religious conflicts in Europe.

Deep dives

The Great Noise: The Swedish Witch Trials

During the Great Noise, a period of intense witch trials in Sweden, hundreds of people, mostly women, were accused and executed for witchcraft. The hysteria began with a false accusation made by a young boy out of jealousy and escalated quickly. The trials were fueled by the influence of earlier works like the Malius Maleficarum, which depicted witches as treacherous and lecherous women. The trials were characterized by torture, forced confessions, and reliance on child witnesses. The Swedish government established a commission to address the issue, but it only exacerbated the hysteria. The trials became chaotic and violent, resulting in the deaths of numerous innocent people.

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