Heinrich Kramer facts for kids
Heinrich Kramer (born around 1430 – died 1505) was a German churchman and inquisitor. He was also known by his Latinized name Henricus Institor. Kramer played a big part in starting the period of witch trials in the early modern period. He did this with his famous book, Malleus Maleficarum (published in 1487). This book described witchcraft and suggested ways to find and punish people accused of being witches.
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Life of Heinrich Kramer
Heinrich Kramer was born in a town called Schlettstadt, which is now Sélestat in Alsace. He joined the Dominican Order when he was quite young. Later, he became the head of the Dominican house in his hometown.
Before 1474, Kramer was chosen to be an Inquisitor for several regions. These included Tyrol, Salzburg, Bohemia, and Moravia. He was a very good speaker and worked tirelessly. Because of this, he gained recognition from Rome and became an important helper to the Archbishop of Salzburg.
The Papal Bull and Witch Trials
In 1484, Pope Innocent VIII issued a special document called a papal bull. It was named Summis desiderantes. This bull stated that witches existed and gave the Inquisition the power to go after witches and sorcerers. The main goal of this bull was to confirm Kramer's authority as an inquisitor in Germany. Some people there had questioned his power.
A year later, Kramer went to Innsbruck. He was leading a group whose goal was to "bring witches to justice." The local bishop, Georg Golser, at first gave Kramer permission to hold trials. However, Bishop Golser soon became unhappy with Kramer's actions.
This unhappiness likely came from a case involving a woman named Helena Scheuberin. She was one of 13 citizens in Innsbruck accused of witchcraft. Helena was known as a strong, independent woman who wasn't afraid to speak her mind. When Kramer first arrived, she publicly insulted him. She also didn't attend his sermons and told others not to go either. These actions were later used as evidence against her in the witchcraft accusations.
Kramer stayed in Innsbruck to keep investigating and questioning people. But Bishop Golser wanted him to stop. In 1486, the bishop finally ordered Kramer to leave his area. The trials in Innsbruck were then stopped. Kramer eventually left and went back to Cologne.
Writing Malleus Maleficarum
After the criticism from the bishop, Kramer started writing a book about witchcraft. This book became the famous Malleus Maleficarum, which means "The Hammer of Witches." The papal bull Summis desiderantes, which gave him authority, was put at the beginning of the book. It was first published in 1487.
Kramer tried to get the top religious scholars at the Faculty of Cologne to approve his book. But they refused. They said the book suggested unfair and illegal ways to conduct trials. They also felt it didn't fit with their understanding of Catholic beliefs about demons.
Despite this, Kramer's work became well-known. His reputation grew. In 1491, the city council of Nuremberg asked him for advice on how to handle witch trials. In 1495, he was called to Venice by the head of the Dominican Order. There, he gave popular public talks. Even the Patriarch of Venice attended his lectures.
Kramer also wrote other books. These included Several Discourses and Various Sermons upon the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist (1496) and The Shield of Defence of the Holy Roman Church Against the Picards and Waldenses (around 1500). Many writers later quoted his works. In 1500, Pope Alexander VI appointed him as a special envoy and changed his inquisitor assignment to Bohemia and Moravia.
Historians from the 1600s, like Quétif and Échard, considered Kramer a hero of the Dominican Order. He spent his final days writing and preaching. Heinrich Kramer died in Kroměříž in Moravia in 1505.
Major works
- Malleus Maleficarum, 1487
- Several Discourses and Various Sermons upon the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, Nuremberg, 1496
- The Shield of Defence of the Holy Roman Church Against the Picards and Waldenses, c. 1500
See also
In Spanish: Enrique Kramer para niños
