Thiess.27 trial Thiess of Kaltenbrun

1 thiess trial

1.1 origins
1.2 thiess account
1.3 condemnation

thiess trial
origins

swedish livonia in 17th century, @ time of thiess trial.

in 1691, judges of jürgensburg, town in swedish livonia, brought before them octogenarian known thiess of kaltenbrun, believing him witness in case regarding church robbery. aware of fact local people considered him werewolf had consorted devil, had little interest in such allegations, unrelated case @ hand. nonetheless, although had no bearing on case, thiess freely admitted judges had once been werewolf, claimed have given ten years previously. thiess proceeded offer them account of lycanthropy differed traditional view of werewolf prevalent in northern germany , baltic countries.

thiess told judges of how ten years previously, in 1681, had appeared in court, when had accused farmer lemburg of breaking nose. according story had told, had traveled down hell wolf, farmer, practicing satanic witch, had beat him on nose broomstick decorated horses tails. @ time, judges refused believe story , laughed him out of court, 1 of judges did verify nose had indeed been broken.

this time, judges of jürgensburg decided take claims more seriously, , trying establish if mad or sane, asked several individuals in court knew thiess if of sound mind. related far knew, common sense had never failed him. these individuals related thiess status in local community had increased since run in law in 1681.

thiess account


the original trial record, 1691, quoted in duerr, 1985.

thiess claimed on night of st. lucia s day, , on nights of pentecost , st. john s day, , other werewolves transformed human bodies wolves. when questioned further on how occurred, thiess claimed did putting on wolves pelts, claiming had obtained farmer, several years before had passed on else. when judges asked him identify these individuals, changed story, claiming , other werewolves went bushes, undressed , transformed wolves. following this, thiess related , other werewolves wandered around local farms , ripped apart farm animals came across before roasting meat , devouring it. when judges enquired how wolves roast meat, thiess told them @ point, still in human form, , liked add salt food, never had bread.

a depiction of werewolf devouring children, german artist lucas cranach der Ältere, 1512.

thiess told judges of how had first become werewolf, explaining had once been beggar, , 1 day rascal had drunk toast him, thereby giving him ability transform wolf. furthermore related pass on ability else toasting them, breathing jug 3 times , proclaiming become me. if other individual took jug, become werewolf, thiess claimed yet find ready take on role of lycanthrope him.

this done, thiess related wolves travelled place located beyond sea . spot swamp near lemburg, half mile away estate of court s chairman. here entered hell, battled both devil , malevolent witches loyal him, beating them long iron rods , chasing them dogs. thiess furthermore told judges werewolves cannot tolerate devil , , hounds of god .

the judges of jürgensburg confused, asking thiess why werewolves traveled hell if hated devil. responded telling them , brethren had go on journey in order bring livestock, grains , fruits of earth had been stolen witches. if failed in task, thiess opined, year s harvest bad. told them of how previous year had traveled hell werewolf, , had managed carry barley, oats , rye away earth in order ensure bountiful harvest. here, judges noted inconsistency in thiess claims; had earlier asserted had abandoned life werewolf ten years previously, here admitting having traveled hell wolf previous year. under scrutiny, thiess admitted had lied in former claim.

the jürgensburg judges asked thiess souls of werewolves went when died, , responded go heaven, whilst souls of witches go hell. judges questioned this, asking how possible werewolves souls go heaven if servants of devil. once more, thiess reiterated werewolves not servants of devil, of god, , undertook nocturnal journeys hell of mankind.

condemnation

after listening account of nocturnal travels hell, judges became concerned whether thiess devout lutheran or not, , asked him if attended church regularly, listened god s word, regularly prayed , partook of lord s supper. thiess replied did none of these things, claiming old understand them.

it later revealed aside nocturnal journeys, thiess practiced folk magic members of local community, acting healer , charmer. known bless grain , horses, , knew charms designed ward off wolves , stop bleeding. 1 of these charms involved administering blessed salt in warm beer while reciting words sun , moon go on sea, fetch soul devil had taken hell , give cattle life , health taken them. did charm invoke or mention power of god. judges, blessing seen criminal because encouraged clients turn away christianity, , sentenced thiess flogged , banished life.