Just like other countries, few people had been executed for witchcraft in Sweden during the early Middle Ages. In the 15th century, only a handful men had been sentenced to death for sorcery, and in the 16th century women also began to be prosecuted. The first known woman to be executed for witchcraft in Sweden was named Birgitta, and was accused of trying to resurrect a dead man. She was sentenced to death in 1550.
Towards the end of the century, witch trials became more common, but only around ten people were executed.
This changed in the 17th century however. Karl IX implemented Mosaic laws in Sweden, in which witchcraft was punishable by death. The king himself sentenced a woman accused of vampirism to be burned at the stake – but due to missing sources we don’t know if the punishment was carried out.
In the early 17th century, the witch hunt was most intense in Götaland, where an executioner known as Master Håkan had knowledge about how to spot and expose witches. He knew how to perform the “floatation test”, in which the suspect was lowered into water, and if she/he could float – he/she was a witch. He also didn’t mind torturing his victims to make them confess.
One of his victims were Elin from Horsnäs. She was accused of witchcraft in 1600 and was subjected to the floatation test, which she passed – meaning she didn’t float. So she was set free.
But in 1611 she was accused of multiple offences, such as love magic, murder and making livestock ill. Master Håkan was summoned. This time, she did float when subjected to the test, and was thus found guilty. The executioner shaved her hair and tortured her until she confessed of murdering her husband with arsenic – probably because it would give her a quicker death than sorcery. She was executed in the fall of 1611, but the sources doesn’t state how.
Master Håkan was also involved in the torture and executions of Britta Arfvidsdotter and Ingeborg Boggesdotter in 1618-19. Britta was a “wise woman”, who knew of healing practices. She had tried to cure a sick man but failed, and on his deathbed he accused her of making him sick with witchcraft. Both Britta and Ingeborg failed the floatation test, and according to court documents, Ingeborg did not even get wet.
Ingeborg’s case is also one of the first where “Blåkulla” is mentioned – a legendary place where witches supposedly feasted with the Devil. During interrogation she confessed to having sex with the Devil, making a pact with him and practicing dark magic against villagers. Both women were convicted and executed for witchcraft. It’s unknown in what manner, but Master Håkan usually beheaded his victims before their bodies were burned.
In the next post we’re going to explore the darkest period of the Swedish witch trials, known as “The Great Noise”.
Sources:
Harrisson, Dick. Häxprocesserna
Harrison, Dick. Ondskans tid