Witchcraft

Witchcraft, in various historical, religious and mythical contexts, is the use of certain kinds of alleged supernatural

Supernatural

The supernatural refers to forces and phenomena which are not observed in nature, and therefore beyond ...

or magical powers. A witch is a person who practices witchcraft, and may be male or female. In historical, mythological and demonological contexts a male "witch" is more frequently termed a wizard, sorcerer, warlock, or simply a magician.

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Timeline

866 Pope Nicholas I forbids the use of torture in prosecutions for witchcraft.

1676 In France, Marie-Madeleine-Marguerite d'Aubray, Marquise de Brinvilliers is executed for poisoning his father and brothers. Case also scares the king Louis XIV to start a series of investigations about possible poisonings and witchcraft, later called the Poison affair

1692 The Salem witch trials begin in Salem Village, Massachusetts Bay Colony with the charging of three women with witchcraft.

1727 Last execution for witchcraft in Scotland.

1745 Last execution for witchcraft in France

1775 Last official execution for witchcraft in Germany

1776 Austria abolishes death penalty and torture and decriminalizes witchcraft

1782 In Switzerland, Anna Goldi in sentenced to death for witchcraft - the last legal witchcraft senten July 1 - American privateers attack Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

Encyclopedia

Witchcraft, in various historical, religious and mythical contexts, is the use of certain kinds of alleged supernatural

Supernatural

The supernatural refers to forces and phenomena which are not observed in nature, and therefore beyond ...

or magical powers. A witch is a person who practices witchcraft, and may be male or female. In historical, mythological and demonological contexts a male "witch" is more frequently termed a wizard, sorcerer, warlock, or simply a magician.