1589: Peter Stubbe, Sybil Stubbe and Katharina Trump

Posted on by

On Halloween in 1589, the “Werewolf of Bedburg” was put to a horrible death for a supposed slew of crimes committed in lupine form in the environs of the German city of Cologne.

Our knowledge of the strange case of Peter Stubbe comes primarily from a single surviving account, and with many of the potential supplementary sources lost to the ravages of time and war, interpretations are inevitably speculative.

Stubbe reportedly confessed under (or facing) torture to having practiced witchcraft and claimed to have received a magic belt from the infernal powers enabling him to transform into a wolf. The doomed man owned, during the quarter-century riot of sin that ensued this youthful acquisition, to rape, murder, cannibalism, incest, filicide, slaughtering livestock and keeping a succubus in his bed. (Authorities were unable to recover this potent belt, and sighed that Satan must have reclaimed it.)

For these crimes, he was broken on the wheel, beheaded, then burnt — the latter punishment shared with his daughter and his mistress, apparently implicated as accessories.

Was there a real wolf terrorizing the vicinity? Was Stubbe an actual murderer with a supernatural cover story? Was he nursing a genuine delusion of lycanthropy? Did he back the wrong faith as strife over Protestantism rent Germany? Or was he just unluckily caught up in an instance of demonic hysteria?

Whatever the individual circumstances of Stubbe’s death might have been, it occurred during a surge of panic over the venerable superstition of were-beasts and shapeshifters (particularly pronounced in France) coeval with Europe’s crises of religious and political authority on the eve of the Thirty Years’ War.

Yet this troubled period bore the germ of a modernity whose pervasive social changes would upend, among other things, the idea of a real werewolf. As the sixteenth century closed, both medical and theological understandings of “werewolfism” increasingly located it in the realm of the psychological instead of the supernatural.

Within a few years of Stubbe’s torture, werewolves had left the hands of magistrates for those of doctors … bound eventually for the pens of screenwriters with Halloween fare in mind.

On this day..

No related posts.

203 thoughts on “1589: Peter Stubbe, Sybil Stubbe and Katharina Trump”

  5. To assist you concentrate on design, form, color, and function, Fatima Furniture offers a variety of furnishings like sofa set, bed set, couches and other furniture for your home. Our online furniture shop in the emirate that guarantees on-time delivery and excellent craftsmanship in keeping with the most recent fashions.

  6. The Atomic Wallet is a decentralized cryptocurrency wallet that enables users to securely store, manage, and exchange various digital assets. With a user-friendly interface and support for a wide range of cryptocurrencies, it provides a convenient solution for both beginners and experienced users. The wallet emphasizes security, offering users full control of their private keys. Additionally, Atomic Wallet features built-in atomic swaps for direct peer-to-peer trading without the need for intermediaries.
    atomic wellet |

  10. I am a beautiful and glamorous girl from Pune. I have a stunning physique and an appealing look. I can kill any man with my seductive eyes. I can be your dream companion in Pune. Meet me to enjoy your life with unlimited fun and frolic.

  15. Overcome exam fears with our elite take my online exam for me service. Our expert academic team transforms your stress into success, providing personalized guidance and strategies to excel. With us, you’re not just prepared, but set to surpass expectations, turning exam anxieties into triumphs.

  20. To assist you concentrate on design, form, color, and function, Fatima Furniture offers a variety of furnishings like sofa set, bed set, couches and other furniture for your home. Our online furniture shop in the emirate that guarantees on-time delivery and excellent craftsmanship in keeping with the most recent fashions.

  35. Coinbase Pro Sign In is an advanced feature of Coinbase which is also available as Advance Trade nowadays. It is specially designed to meet the requirements of experienced traders as it has modern tools to trade cryptocurrencies and facilitates traders with top notch functionalities to
    step up their game.

  38. I’m very grateful for the details that you’ve shared. I’m a regular reader. However, I wasn’t required to write an essay. Thank you for providing the details. This is a great piece. It’s useful.

  39. Your article was highly informative. It’s been an excellent site to recommend to my family as well as colleagues, friends and colleagues as well as others within my circle of relatives.

  40. The vast amount of information is the reason this website is so unique. The effort you make to it will pay off hugely. Keep going to do your best to gain momentum.

  41. You’re an excellent writer. I enjoy your writing. This is a beautiful piece. It’s useful. Unique content could be the perfect present for someone satisfied with their knowledge.

  42. This website is incredible. Excellent article. Your suggestions are always valuable to me. It’s surprising how I was able to discover this critical aspect. We are grateful to the author for your sharing the process that you use.

Comments are closed.