Anna Göldi: Europe's last witch

• Anna Göldi: Europe's last witch

The witch-hunt has claimed the lives of thousands of women - young and old - between XIV and XVIII centuries. Mass hysteria over witchcraft spread throughout Europe, the UK and the US. Denunciations poured in abundance: neighbors, relatives, their own spouses. By the XVIII century, with the advent of the Enlightenment, the witch hunt began to decline. The last woman in Europe, which was executed on charges of witchcraft, called Anna Göldi. And today, it is dedicated to a museum.

Anna was born in 1734 in a place called sennwald in Switzerland. About her early life, historians know very little, it is clear - no one was interested biography undistinguished girl from a poor family. It is known that from an early age Anna began to earn a servant in the country to earn at least some money.

While not married, she became pregnant by a visiting soldier, but the baby died, not having lived and day. For that time it was common - infant mortality was high. In addition, hardly Anna could afford during pregnancy nourishing nutrition, hygiene and rest. But the authorities have accused Anna Göldi that she killed her baby. However, and it might not be unreasonable - a woman and then got rid of the children born out of wedlock, bringing them to the frost. Anna was sentenced to punishment in the pillory, and six years of house arrest. Obviously, Anna Göldi it would mean death - the inability to leave the house and earn money would inevitably lead to the starvation death of a woman. Anna fled to Glarus. There she found a job in the family of Zwicky. From the owner of the house, she gave birth to a son, though, of course, about any possibility to get married and speech could not be.

Finally, at age 46, she falls into a family doctor and magistrate, a very well respected married man in Jakob Tschudi. Apparently, Anna remained fairly attractive woman, because, according to some accounts, she and Jacob were sleeping together. Probably occurred between lovers tiff. Jacob suddenly accused her maid that she allegedly put her in the milk and bread, sharp needles, because he witnessed his daughter vomited metal objects. However, when all was limited to dismissal.

is probably an angry and offended Anna threatened his former patron to tell everyone about their relationship, but for Jacob it would be a serious blot on his reputation. Frightened, he suddenly announced that his daughter continuing to wring from himself needle and convulses, despite the fact that Anna Anna Göldi in his house no more. And that means only one thing. Witchcraft.

The authorities of the canton of Glarus initiated a reward for her capture by the publication in the "Neue Zürcher Zeitung". Catching the accused, she was tortured, hung by his thumbs and adhering to the soles of heavy stones. Under torture, he confessed to Anna in his communication with the devil, who allegedly came to her in the form of a large black dog. In the trial of Anna attended including Council of the Protestant Church, which formally had no legal authority.

The judges considered educated pundits, but no one was confused, something he was accused Anna was simply not feasible. Jakob Tschudi was a respectable man, who had power and money, while Anna was a simple servant with a dubious reputation.

Anna was accused of poisoning and sentenced to death by decapitation. It was a formal accusation, as Anna Göldi was judged as a witch. In addition, according to the law, the poisoning, which did not lead to someone's death, carries the death sentence.

June 13, 1782 at the age of 48 years, Anna Göldi was sentenced to death by the City Council in Glarus and decapitated the same day. Official statements and court records, which spoke of witchcraft as soon as the ships were destroyed.

Nevertheless, the charge was considered a witch-hunt and triggered public outrage across Switzerland.

Later Swiss Parliament acknowledged Anna Anna Göldi case a miscarriage of justice. It happened in 2008, after 226 years.

With the help of journalist Walter Hauser, author of several articles and books about Anna Göldi, in 2007 in Mollis Canton of Glarus has opened a museum dedicated to Anna Anna Göldi.