Theophanes’ account of Kavadh I, legendary treasure, and exorcism at a demon-guarded castle in late antique Persia Zoubdadeyer is the name of a fortified site mentioned in the Chronicle of Theophanes the Confessor, a Byzantine source composed in the early 9th century, recounting events from late antiquity. According to Theophanes, the castle stood on the … Read more
Sébastien Michaelis (1543-1618) was a French Dominican friar and demonologist. He authored Histoire véritable de ce qui s’est passé dans l’exorcisme de trois filles possédées au pays de Flandre, avec un Traité des sorciers et des magiciens (True History of What Happened in the Exorcism of Three Possessed Girls in Flanders, with a Treatise on … Read more
The Massalians (or Messalians), an early Christian sect, believed that every person inherits a demon from their parents. They practiced lengthy prayers to subdue this inner demon, followed by dancing and contortions, claiming to ‘jump on the devil.’ Another sect of Massalians in the 10th century believed in two gods born from a primal being. … Read more
Languet was the curé (parish priest) of Saint-Sulpice in Paris, known for his particular method of exorcising ‘possessed’ individuals, likely during the time of the Convulsionnaires (18th century). When presented with someone deemed possessed, he would pour holy water on their head and command them to go to the Salpêtrière hospital, threatening to have them … Read more
Guillaume was a servant of Mynheer Clatz, a nobleman from the Duchy of Jülich in the 15th century. Guillaume was reportedly possessed by a demon and requested an exorcism from a heretical pastor named Bartholomée Panen. Panen, known for charging money to exorcise demons, was unsuccessful in this case. As Guillaume’s condition worsened, with his … Read more
Marie Garcia, a woman from Madrileschos, near Toledo, Spain, became possessed after eating an orange given to her by another woman. She was tormented for seven years by a legion of demons. Upon being exorcised, the dominant demon revealed his name as Asmodeus (Asmodée in French) and claimed to reside in the woman along with … Read more
Jeanne Féry. A young woman from Sore on the Sambre, she was cursed by her father and claimed to be possessed by a demon from the age of four. The demon provided her with white bread and apples, preventing her from feeling physical punishment. As she grew older, she was gradually led into a life … Read more
Eleazar was a Jewish magician who employed an enchanted ring containing a root used by Solomon to exorcise demons. Upon detecting a demon, Eleazar would cast the possessed individual to the ground and recite Solomon’s words, commanding the demon to leave the body and pour water from a jug, which the demon would obey, proving … Read more
Clauzette was a young girl in Toulouse in 1681 who exhibited signs of possession, claiming to be under the control of Robert, whom she stated was the master of all devils. Her behavior led many to believe she was possessed, prompting widespread interest and attempts to exorcise her. Four other girls experienced similar possession after … Read more
André Césalpin was a sixteenth-century physician from Arezzo, Tuscany, known for his work Recherches sur les Démons. This treatise explores the supernatural causes of certain diseases, particularly addressing the demonic possession of nuns in a Pisan convent. Césalpin argued that while demons existed, they could not physically interact with humans. He ultimately sided with the … Read more