Torsåker witch trials
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The Torsåker witch trials took place in 1675 in Torsåker, Sweden.
[edit] Laurentius Hornaeus
This began when Laurentius Christophri Hornaeus of Ytterlännäs parish, was told by Johannes Wattrangius, of Torsåker parish, to investigate witchcraft in his parish. Ytterlännäs and Torsåker were both in the Diocese of Härnösand. Hornaeus was zealous in his work — by the time his task was complete 71 people, 65 women (roughly one fifth of all women in the region) and six men, had been beheaded and burned. This was the largest witch hunt in Sweden, and as all executions were held during one day, very likely one of the largest mass killing of accused witches in recorded history.
