For a general material on the witch hunts, go to the Witch Hunts main page.
"Ten Common Errors and Myths about the Witch Hunts" might be particularly helpful.
In 1628 the Holy Roman Empire was in a fragile condition. What historians would later call the Thirty Years War had rattled through many territories for ten years already. This conflict was fought concerning how much power the emperor would have over other imperial kings, dukes and counts in addition to the clash between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. Many people had died, territories had been devastated by armies, and political systems weakened. Further, bad weather in the 1620s was causing crop failures, famine and plague. Instead of considering natural causes or the mistakes of politicians, people would blame mysterious witches, in league with the Devil, for these misfortunes. Thus, a new wave of witch hunts broke out in the Holy Roman Empire, especially in territories ruled by prince-bishops.
Prince-bishops were both prelates of the church and political rulers. As clerics they administered the possessions and clergy of the Roman Catholic Church within their dioceses. But as princes of the empire, they acted like dukes or counts in their control of taxes, armies, and courts within their individual territories. For more on prince-bishops, click here.
