Neither Wicked nor a Witch. A German woman who suffered a terrifying death has finally been acquitted of practising black magic – unfortunately the decision is around 400 years too late for Katharina Henot!
Neither Wicked nor a Witch
Katharina was a remarkable woman who was probably the first female postmistress of Cologne a very prestigious appointment at the time. Indeed her high flying career could have been the catalyst which lead to her horrifying demise, as it is thought that, as the head of the city’s post office and a powerful socialite, she may have been the victim of politically-motivated feud.
Katharina was arrested in January 1627 after a local nun claimed that she was a witch and had caused the deaths of several people in the region. Having been accused of witchcraft the defendant stood little chance of being found innocent. As part of the legal process Katharina was severely tortured before her death to such an extent that although she was normally right-handed she had to sign her final denial of witchcraft charges brought against her with her left hand.
Despite her spirited defence the charges she faced and her brother’s desperate attempts to secure her release, she was eventually found guilty. After the verdict the poor woman was paraded through the streets in a wagon and then burned at the stake. Unlike other countries where heretics were more likely to be burned than ‘witches’ Germany embraced witch trials and it is thought that about 25,000 Germans lost their lives during the country’s obsession with the subject. Many of those killed for their supposed crimes seem to have been forgotten by history and so their reputations have never been cleared, meaning they are still guilty in the eyes of the law.
Heroic Priest Harmut Hegeler
Recently, Katharina found an champion in the shape of a priest called Hartmut Hegeler. Hegeler wanted to clear her name as part of an awareness campaign about the continuing persecution of women across the world. Katharina’s case was reopened by Cologne City Council (the same authority that sentenced her four centuries ago). Officials found that she had been convicted on trumped-up charges of sorcery and exonerated her.
Psychics
It shows the battle against injustice and intolerance is one that will never end. Fortunately you can ring one of my skilled Psychics Live 24/7 without fear and with plenty of favour.