The Valais Witch Trials: The Evolution To Witchcraft Phenomenon

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Recommended: Religious factors that affected the Salem witch trials

Consequently, the evolution to witchcraft phenomenon began when two young girls began to experience fits and mysterious maladies in a small Puritan community. A doctor concluded that the children were suffering from the effect of witchcrafts. Under the compulsion of the doctor, the girls began to name the allegedly responsible for their suffering. After the allegedly of the girls, three women became the first Salem residents to be charged with the capital crime of witchcraft. Later on, only one of them confessed to the crime and subsequently aided the authorities in identifying more Salem witches. With the encouragements from adults in the community, the girls who were joined by other Salem residents, accused more local residents of witchcrafts. …show more content…

It was considered as the first series of witch trials in Europe, but it was believed to have been at least three-hundred and sixty-seven people. The delegates from seven districts in Valais demanded that the authorities initiate an investigation against alleged witches and sorcerers. Anyone denounced as a sorcerer by more than three people was to be arrested. If they were to confessed, they were to be burned at the stake as heretics, and if they did not confess, they would be torture until they did so. The events began in Val d'Anniviers and Val d’Herens in southern Valais, within one and a half years, between one and two hundred people had been burned to death. The trials were poorly documented, there were several eyewitness but they were seemed as lacks of incomplete coverage. Some of the accusations were, flying through air, and plundering wine cellars, killing of cattles and curing the sickness by passing it on to someone else, cannibalism and the abduction and consumption of children meeting with Satan,would teach them magic only if they renounce Christianity, curses and conspiracy. Some were instead decapitated or tortured to death before being burned at the stake or admitting to

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