The Malleus Maleficarum: 'Hammer of Witches'
- celineobrien
- Oct 4, 2019
- 4 min read
Hello again!
I’m excited to be back and writing. I have just started my final year at university, so please bare with me. Things have been a little slow as of recent, but I’m going to try and update regularly. I love the transition to autumn and all things spooky, so I thought I’d kick October off with a fascinating topic...
The Malleus Maleficarum (Latin for the ‘Hammer of Witches’) is considered the most famous treatise on witchcraft. Published in 1487, it is the oldest print of the period. The MM was written by two German Dominican men named Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger. Effectively an 15th century instruction manual, the Malleus Maleficarum provided steps on how to hunt, prosecute and execute potential witches. The 15th century was not the height of the European witch hunts, but the publication of the manual encouraged mass hysteria in latter centuries. It elevated sorcery to criminal status by condemning them as heretics.
Historians have debated how much Sprenger contributed to the MM as his name was added years after its publication. Weirdly, every edition after 1519 named Sprenger as Kramer’s collaborator. There is no evidence to determine if he contributed in the first place or to what extent. The pair were both members of the Dominican order and Inquisitors of the Catholic Church. The MM was submitted to the Faculty of Theology at the University of Cologne in 1487. It sold more copies than any other book (except for the bible) up until the year 1678.
So, why would two men publish a book on witchcraft?
Witchcraft has a lengthy and complex history. 15th century Europe certainly believed in witches (and deemed women suspicious). A few years prior to publication, Kramer attempted his first prosecution in Austria. His witch hunt was unsuccessful, partly due to his own fault. The bishop of Tyrol wanted to press charges about Kramer himself (involving actions of illegal behavior). But also, Kramer’s obsession with one of the accused witches’ sexual habits (Helena Schueberin) made him look guilty. Thus, the bishop exiled Kramer and publicly dismissed him as ‘senile’ and ‘crazy’. It has been commonly acknowledged that the creation of the book was a form of revenge.
What was in the book?
Primarily, the contents were divided into three sections. At the beginning, the authors include their justification for the book (essentially their introduction, Latin ‘apologia auctoris’). In it, the authors justify their publication by explaining that sorcery is a method of satan. After this, the Papal Bull is included. Known as ‘summis desiderantes affectibus’, Pope Innocent VIII acknowledges that sorcery exists through Satan. This was not an official endorsement of the book as such, but it’s a legitimization and confirmation of their work. Next, the three major sections are explained. The Malleus Maleficarum proclaims there are three elements in which are necessary for witchcraft. These being ‘the evil intentions of the witch, the help of the Devil, and the permission of God’.
The first section is aimed at the people who refute the reality and prevalence of witchcraft in society. The second section becomes more like a manual, as it describes the various forms of witchcraft and the remedies involved. The final section instructs men in power (judges and magistrates) how to combat witchcraft. It also discusses the concept of witchcraft in terms of theology and philosophy. Kramer and Sprenger concluded that witchcraft is real because the devil is real. Later in the book, the authors study trials and cases. Finally, the manual ends on a legal note. This section offers advice from the beginning to the end of the prosecution. They claim that 'women who did not cry during their trial were automatically believed to be witches' (Mackay, 2006). The recommended procedures included using torture to obtain confession, and the only resolution against witchcraft was the death penalty. During the 15th century, it was common to burn heretics at the stake and the Maleficarum encouraged the same action.
Was the manual popular?
With it's strong influence across Europe, the MM remained of key note for several centuries after its publication. It was not the only book written about witchcraft in the medieval period, but it is certainly the most famous. The publication became popularized more so after Gutenberg’s printing revolution, and it circulated much more via printing press than hand copy. It was used by medieval courts in Europe, but also by royal courts during the renaissance. During the 16th & 17th centuries, the MM's powerful effect on trials and executions was unparalleled. Part of this was due to the belief that witchcraft now counted as heresy (a crime against God). In the 14th century, it was rare for anyone to be persecuted for witchcraft. The minority who were convicted would have received minor penalty punishments, such as undertaking public penance. However, the 15th century believed vicariously in witches and that was widely accepted in society. It was believed to be a dangerous phenomenon, and punishments were extreme and final.
Was it just women?
No, but 99% yes. The manual explicitly reveals that witches are mainly women, and therefore this is aimed at them. It bases this on the dichotomy between good and evil in women, and how it tends to be extreme. Trials often included tales of the woman’s vanity, tendencies towards lying and having weak intellect. Kramer and Sprenger wrote that women’s lust is at the basis of their sorcery, which explains why Kramer was obsessed with sexual accusations towards accused witches. Much of their ‘evidence’ for the weakness of women came from Cicero, Socrates and Thomas of Aquinas.
As a conclusion, the Malleus Maleficarum has fascinated me within the last few years. It's a complex subject, and there are so many stories ascribed to witchcraft. If you are interested in more witch related topics, please let me know in the comments! I'd love to know what you thought of this one, or what you would like to hear about next.
Thank you!
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