Witch trials in Sweden

The witch processes in Mora. At the bottom, devils and witches. Above, women and children are being interrogated and are given testimony. A prisoner drives a flock of imprisoned witches and wizards. Around the bonfire where the convicted burn, witches are seen carrying children on brooms, goats and debris, while demons in animal debris tumble into the air.German copper engraving from 1670.

Sweden was a country with few witch trials compared to other countries in Europe. In Sweden, about four hundred people were executed for witchcraft prior to the last case in 1704.[1] Most of these cases (circa 280) occurred during a short but intense period; the eight years between 1668 and 1676, when the witch hysteria called Det stora oväsendet ("The Great Noise") took place, causing a large number of witch trials in the country. It is this infamous period of intensive witch hunt that is most well known and explored.[2]

  1. ^ Ankarloo, Bengt, Satans raseri: en sannfärdig berättelse om det stora häxoväsendet i Sverige och omgivande länder, Ordfront, Stockholm, 2007
  2. ^ Tiderman-Österberg, Jennie (25 October 2021). "The Swedish Witch Trials: How to Confront Dark Heritage". Folklife. Retrieved 9 December 2021.