Joost van den Vondel (1587–1679) was a Dutch poet, playwright, and author. He is noted for his dramatic work Lucifer (1654), which influenced later writers and contributed to the development of Dutch literature. Lucifer is a verse drama depicting the rebellion of Lucifer and the fallen angels, integrating biblical themes and classical form. Related Posts:Mythological … Read more
Marie Volet was a young woman from Pouillat, near Bourg in Bresse, who, around 1691, claimed possession by a supernatural entity. She exhibited symptoms such as screaming, thought to be in Hebrew, and physical convulsions in the presence of holy relics, holy water, and priests. A canon from Lyon sought medical advice and she was … Read more
Marguerite de Sare was accused of witchcraft around the year 1600 in Bordeaux, France, at approximately sixteen years of age. Records indicate she was charged with making a pact with a demonic entity. While imprisoned, she died before the culmination of her trial. Her case exemplifies broader witch persecutions in early modern Europe. Related Posts:Regions … Read more
Georges Sabellicus was a German itinerant performer and self-proclaimed leader of necromancers, astrologers, magicians, chiromancers, and pyromancers in the early 17th century. He traveled through Germany claiming expertise in occult arts, reportedly earning substantial money. Contemporary accounts note that older individuals and children in particular sometimes treated him with deference. Further records on his life … Read more
Sabbatai Zevi (סַבְּתַי צְבִי), active in the 17th century, was a Jewish mystic in the Ottoman Empire. He proclaimed himself the Messiah in 1665 and gathered followers in various Jewish communities. He was forced to convert to Islam under Sultan Mehmed IV and later lived under strict surveillance. He died in 1676 in Ulcinj (present-day … Read more
Jacques Raollet was an individual from the Maumusson parish near Nantes who was prosecuted for lycanthropy. Parliamentary records from Angers indicate he confessed to transforming into a wolf and attacking passersby. Accounts mention distinct physical traits at his arrest, including notably long nails and an overwhelming odor. Early modern trials for werewolfery often combined legal, … Read more
Marie de Ranfaing was a widow from Lorraine who experienced severe afflictions after refusing a physician’s marriage proposal, as detailed in exorcism records from the seventeenth century. Clergy concluded she was possessed by demons, with exorcisms conducted under bishops of Nancy and Toul. The physician confessed to administering a supposed magical philtre. Contemporary documentation cites … Read more
The Marquis de Rambouillet, a companion of Louis XIV during the Flanders campaign, allegedly appeared in a vision to his friend the Marquis de Précy. This occurred soon after Rambouillet’s reported death in battle, warning Précy of a similar fate in a future engagement. Historical anecdotes recount that Précy later died in combat, fueling ongoing … Read more
Marie de la Ralde was apprehended for witchcraft at the age of eighteen, having begun involvement in sabbats at ten. A sorceress named Marissane allegedly introduced her to these gatherings. In testimonies, she claimed to witness the devil manifest in various forms, sometimes resembling a tree trunk or a dark figure. She noted hearing eerie … Read more
In 1685, Marguerite Daniel, connected to René Rondeau of Plessé under the Marquisate of Blin, experienced a prolonged childbirth during which her child exhibited continuous crying episodes—occurring several times a day and in varying intensities. The account, with references to specific liturgical dates such as Candlemas and Good Friday, is preserved in local folklore and … Read more