Joachim Guttejahr – A Sorcerer as a Repeat Offender from the Early Seventeenth Century Cover Image

Joachim Guttejahr – „czarownik recydywista” z początku XVII wieku
Joachim Guttejahr – A Sorcerer as a Repeat Offender from the Early Seventeenth Century

Author(s): Jacek Wijaczka
Subject(s): Local History / Microhistory, 17th Century
Published by: Instytut Historii im. Tadeusza Manteuffla Polskiej Akademii Nauk
Keywords: Joachim Guttejahr; Sorcerer; Olszanica; 17th century;

Summary/Abstract: Based on primary sources, the article presents two lawsuits against Joachim Guttejahr, charged with sorcery. Guttejahr was a Mennonite living in Olszanica (Ger.: Ellerwalde), a village in the Duchy of Prussia. We do not know a final sentence; however, we can research the content of accusations and the proceedings of the lawsuits and learn about the atmosphere of daily life in a few neighbouring villages. We also learn about the reactions of the local population in the crisis situation caused by changing climate conditions, which brought about the low harvests and threatened the existence of many families in the neighbourhood. We can also follow up the process of growing suspicion against a person seen by the local community as a witch or sorcerer. The author uses a microhistory methodology to analyse and present the abovementioned phenomena.

  • Issue Year: 66/2022
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 115-135
  • Page Count: 21
  • Language: Polish
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