Johann Georg Fuchs von Dornheim (1586–1633) was the Prince-Bishop of Bamberg from 1623 to 1633. He was known as the "Hexenbrenner" (witch burner) and the "Hexenbischof" (witch-bishop) for presiding over the most intensive period of witch trials in early modern Bamberg.

Biography

Johann Georg Fuchs von

Dornheim Dornheim is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany. The main attraction is the village church where the composer Johann Sebastian Bach was married in 1707. References

Ilm-Kreis Schwarzburg-Sondershausen {{IlmK ...

was born in Wiesentheid on 23 April 1586. Johann Georg was elected Prince-Bishop of Bamberg on 13 February 1623.Profile from catholic-hierarchy.org
/ref> Motivated by the Counter-Reformation, Johann Georg presided over the Bamberg witch trials, which lasted from 1626 to 1631. As a part of the trials, he ordered the construction of a " witch-house," a prison which featured a

torture chamber A torture chamber is a room where torture is inflicted.

adorned with

Bible The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts ...

verses. These trials led to the execution of 300-600 individuals, the most notable of which was Bamberg

burgomaster Burgomaster (alternatively spelled burgermeister, literally "master of the town, master of the borough, master of the fortress, master of the citizens") is the English form of various terms in or derived from Germanic languages for the chie ...

Johannes Junius. Amid the

Thirty Years' War The Thirty Years' War was one of the longest and most destructive conflicts in European history, lasting from 1618 to 1648. Fought primarily in Central Europe, an estimated 4.5 to 8 million soldiers and civilians died as a result of battle ...

, troops under Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden and

John George I, Elector of Saxony John George I (5 March 1585 – 8 October 1656) was Elector of Saxony from 1611 to 1656. He led Saxony through the Thirty Years' War, which dominated his 45 year reign. Biography Born in Dresden, John George was the second son of the Elector C ...

occupied the Prince-Bishopric of Bamberg on 11 February 1632, forcing Fuchs von Dornheim to flee the city. He died in exile in

Spital am Pyhrn Spital am Pyhrn is a municipality in the district of Kirchdorf an der Krems in the Austrian state of Upper Austria. Geography Spital lies in the Traunviertel The Traunviertel (literally German for the ''Traun'' quarter or district) is an Austria ...

, Austria on 29 March 1633.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fuchs von Dornheim, Johann Georg 1586 births 1633 deaths Prince-Bishops of Bamberg People from Kitzingen (district) Bamberg witch trials