Anton Praetorius

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Lippstadt
Lippstadt

Anton Praetorius was a German religious person and writer. He was born 1560 in the town of Lippstadt – he died 6 December 1613 near Heidelberg in Germany. He worked for the Christian Church as a Protestant pastor.

Contents

[edit] Life and writings

Heidelberg Castle Wine Barrel
Heidelberg Castle Wine Barrel

Anton Praetorius was the son of Matthes Schulze. He later changed his name to Praetorius. Praetorius wrote a poem about the Heidelberg Wine Barrel [1] in the Heidelberg Castle in city of Heidelberg in October 1595.

In 1596 he worked as a pastor in the church in Birstein near Frankfurt am Main. There Praetorius worked for a prince and wrote church songs and books of religion in the year 1597.

[edit] Persecution of witches

Chase of Witches
Chase of Witches

Praetorius fought against torture and against the chase of witches. Some women were accused to be witches. People thought that witches can do harm to others. So these women were arrested and put in prison.

[edit] Fight against the chase of witches

Praetorius Bericht Zauberey 1602
Praetorius Bericht Zauberey 1602

In 1597 Anton Praetorius protested against the torture of women accused of witchcraft.

File_Birstein_Witchcraft_Trial_1597
File_Birstein_Witchcraft_Trial_1597

Praetorius was so shocked about the torture of the accused woman that he demanded a stop. His protest was successful.

In 1598 he wrote a book to protest against torture and the prosecution of witches. The book was published again in 1602, 1613 and in 1629. Praetorius described the terrible situation of the prisoners and protested against torture.

[edit] Bibliography (in German)

  • Hartmut Hegeler: Anton Praetorius, Kämpfer gegen Hexenprozesse und Folter, (fighter against the persecution of witches and against torture) Unna, 2002
  • Hartmut Hegeler und Stefan Wiltschko: Anton Praetorius und das 1. Große Fass von Heidelberg, (the 1. Great Wine Barrel in the Castle of Heidelberg) Unna, 2003

[edit] External links