Trials of werewolves in the Franche-Comte in the early modern period
This thesis examines the judicial, intellectual, experiential and legendary background of criminal proceedings against some thirty-six individuals accused of offences relating to werewolves in Franche-ComtĂ©, a Francophone province of the Holy Roman Empire, between 1521 and 1664. Chapter One examines correlations between problems with natural wolves, social crises and accusations against werewolves; legislation to control wolves and werewolves and definitions of the latter resting on perceived abnormality in the former are also considered. Chapter Two outlines medical, pharmacological and cultural interpretations offered during and since the early modern period to account for the experiences confessed by werewolves; these hypotheses are compared and contrasted with the data from trials in Franche-Comt& Chapter Three traces the emergence and evolution of demonological theories of illusory transformations, examining their interaction with the trials, their place in the wider context of early modern speculation about the causes of extraordinary phenomena, and considerations of culpability. Chapter Four looks at the characteristics of inquisitorial procedure, the law of proof and the rules of torture; four werewolves
Oates, Caroline Frances
History
Trials of werewolves in the Franche-Comte in the early modern period. This thesis examines the judicial, intellectual, experiential and legendary background of criminal proceedings against some thirty-six individuals accused of offences relating to werewolves in Franche-ComtĂ©, a Francophone province of the Holy Roman Empire, between 1521 and 1664. Chapter One examines correlations between problems with natural wolves, social crises and accusations against werewolves; legislation to control wolves and werewolves and definitions of the latter resting on perceived abnormality in the former are also considered. Chapter Two outlines medical, pharmacological and cultural interpretations offered during and since the early modern period to account for the experiences confessed by werewolves; these hypotheses are compared and contrasted with the data from trials in Franche-Comt& Chapter Three traces the emergence and evolution of demonological theories of illusory transformations, examining their interaction with the trials, their place in the wider context of early modern speculation about the causes of extraordinary phenomena, and considerations of culpability. Chapter Four looks at the characteristics of inquisitorial procedure, the law of proof and the rules of torture; four werewolves
examines judicial intellectual experiential legendary background criminal proceeding thirty individual accuse offence relate francophone province holy roman_empire examine correlation problem natural social crisis accusation legislation control definition latter rest perceived abnormality former also_consider outline medical cultural interpretation offer since account experience hypothesis compare_contrast data trial trace emergence evolution theory illusory transformation examine interaction trial place wider_context early_modern speculation cause extraordinary phenomenon consideration culpability four_look characteristic inquisitorial procedure law proof rule