Witches have existed at all times, whether believed in them or not. There were periods when they were revered, but during the Middle Ages, a real hunt began for them. In this era, the so-called witch trials appeared - trials that were conducted over women accused of witchcraft and witchcraft. Witchcraft was considered the ability to influence natural elements, people and objects with the help of supernatural abilities. It was believed that such women entered into contact with evil spirits and received their power from her. Moreover, in those distant times, a witch could be considered only for herbal treatment.
During the early Middle Ages, secular and ecclesiastical authorities practically did not pay attention to witches, limiting themselves only to warnings. In those years, the main task was to spread and establish Christianity, so old beliefs and superstitions were simply thrown aside. And only in the 13th century, when Christianity became a fairly strong religion, the Inquisition, which until that time had actively fought against heretics, took on new victims. And since it was believed that witches can perform miracles that cannot be explained, then, therefore, they encroach on the power of the church and the Word of God. Witches were placed on a par with heretics. Gradually, the geography of the places where witches were set on fire expanded.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the witch hunt took on a grand scale. They were tried by episcopal, inquisitorial and secular courts. At the same time, an unfounded accusation of witchcraft or a simple slander was sufficient for the trial. And to knock out the recognition of witchcraft from deadly frightened women was not a big deal.
One of the most terrible crimes was considered the witches' Sabbath - a gathering of all evil spirits at night, during which witches, as a rule, flew by air. The inquisitors tried by any means to get a confession of witchcraft out of the woman, so cruel torture was used. And if a woman did withstand and did not confess, it was considered the power of the devil.
In the Middle Ages, there were even special instructions by which a witch could be recognized. Demonologists wrote more than three dozen treatises in which they told how to expose a witch. Very often, such instructions were drawn up by local authorities for a particular region. The main Vedic signs included not only green eyes and red hair, but also certain objects in the house and even pets.
Very often, suspicions of witchcraft fell on those women who were very different in appearance - either they had various kinds of injuries, severe asymmetry and squint, or, on the contrary, were very beautiful. However, most often suspicions of witchcraft and witchcraft fell on those people who behaved differently from the majority, seemed strange. In addition, unsociable loners, strangers, overly sick people, or, conversely, those who did not get sick during periods of epidemics, as well as those who had special talents, who turned out to be richer and more successful than others, who were lucky in the household, were declared witches.
At first, the suspect was carefully examined, and then they were injected with special needles. On the bodies of women, judges and executioners tried to find white spots, sores, swellings, as well as other places that were insensitive to needle pricks. Thus, they tried to find the so-called "seal of the devil". In addition to needles, hot iron could also be used.
In the hands of the inquisitors was a book - "Hammer of the Witches", which said that most of the witches did not admit their guilt. Therefore, it is necessary to torture them. Before the start of the torture, the suspects were pulled aside and colorfully described what they would do to get them to confess. In some cases it worked. The torture continued until the executioners sought a confession. At the same time, both the executioners and the judges made sure that the victim was conscious and did not die. If the woman did lose her senses, she was left alone for a while, thrown into a cell, and after a while the torture was resumed.
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The most terrible witchcraft crime was love joys with the devil. Under severe torture, women were forced to figure out how it all happened. And at the same time no one was embarrassed that in such cases the testimony of women was very different. People needed details that only fueled the crowd. It was believed that if a woman entered into a relationship with evil spirits, then in the future, evil spirits will help her. Therefore, unmarried women aroused great suspicion and, as a rule, they were impaled.
In addition, witches were recognized in the water. It was believed that witches do not drown, so all suspects were thrown into the water from the bridge. But at the same time, the accused tied their thumbs and toes together and pulled them to the lower back, thus it turned out that the woman seemed to be sitting with bent knees. The charges were dropped from those who drowned, and those who managed to escape were later burned at the stake. But that's not all. In the same "Hammer of the Witches" there was a recommendation to put witches in a cauldron and cook over low heat. As a rule, it was almost impossible to survive after such torture.
Those witches who could be exposed were burned at the stake. The burning process itself was very impressive and aimed to panic and intimidate the assembled audience. People came to the place of execution from afar, while all of them were dressed in festive fashion. Local authorities were also present - the bishop, canons and priests, judges, members of the town hall and lay judges. Then, accompanied by the executioners, they brought tied witches on carts. When the convicts were carried through the crowd, people tried to make fun of them and make fun of them. When the witches were brought to the place of execution, there they were chained and covered with brushwood, logs and straw. After that, the preachers performed a special ritual in which they warned people against practicing witchcraft. And then the executioner lit the fire. Soon, representatives of the authorities left the place of execution,and the servants continued to watch the fire so that it did not go out and only ash remained from the fire. And the execution ended with the executioner collecting all the ashes and blowing it in the wind so that nothing would remain of the witches.
Witchcraft was considered a more serious crime than murder or arson. It should be noted that the fight against witches had a material component as well. All the property that was taken from the witches went to the informers. And the executioners and judges received very good rewards. It is noteworthy that in many cases, not only adults, but also children, as well as criminals and the mentally ill were involved as witnesses. Therefore, witch hunting has become a very profitable and profitable occupation.
And only in the 18th century, the persecution gradually subsided. During those centuries, when the inquisitorial courts raged, about 50 thousand people were burned, hanged and drowned. The trials of witches, in fact, became the mass murder of a huge number of innocent people, and are rightfully considered one of the most dramatic and terrible pages of the Middle Ages.