Johann Georg Fuchs von Dornheim
Johann Georg Fuchs von Dornheim (1586–1633) was the Prince-Bishop of Bamberg from 1623 to 1633. He was known as the "Hexenbrenner" (witch burner) and the "Hexenbischof" (witch-bishop) for presiding over the most intensive period of witch trials in early modern Bamberg.
Biography
Johann Georg Fuchs von Dornheim was born in Wiesentheid on 23 April 1586.[1]
Johann Georg was elected Prince-Bishop of Bamberg on 13 February 1623.[1]
Motivated by the Counter-Reformation, Johann Georg presided over the Bamberg witch trials, which lasted from 1626 to 1631.[2] As a part of the trials, he ordered the construction of a "witch-house," a prison which featured a torture chamber adorned with Bible verses.[3] These trials led to the execution of 300-600 individuals, the most notable of which was Bamberg burgomaster Johannes Junius.[4]
In the midst of the Thirty Years' War, troops under Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden and John George I, Elector of Saxony occupied the Prince-Bishopric of Bamberg on 11 February 1632, forcing Fuchs von Dornheim to flee the city.
He died in exile in Spital am Pyhrn, Austria on 29 March 1633.
References
- 1 2 Profile from catholic-hierarchy.org
- ↑ Walinski-Kiehl, Robert (January 2004). "Males, “Masculine Honor,” and Witch Hunting in Seventeenth-Century Germany". Men and Masculinities. 6 (3): 256.
- ↑ Trevor-Roper, Hugh. "The Crisis of the Seventeenth Century". Online Library of Liberty. Liberty Fund. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
- ↑ Munzinger, Johannes (1 May 2016). "Unschuldig muss ich sterben (German)". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. p. 4.
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Johann Gottfried von Aschhausen |
Prince-Bishop of Bamberg 1623–1633 |
Succeeded by Franz von Hatzfeld |