Anne Pedersdotter
Encyclopedia
Anne Pedersdotter was an alleged Norwegian
witch. Her case was one of the most documented of the many witch trials in Norway in the 16th and 17th centuries. Together with Lisbeth Nypan
, she was perhaps the most famous victim of the accusation in Norway
.
as the daughter of an official, sister of the official of Trondheim, Sören Pedersson.Bergen
where they lived.
In 1575, Anne was accused of having killed her husband's uncle, Bishop Gjeble Pedersson, by sorcery
to make her husband bishop, but she was freed from the charges through her husband's connections, when he managed to get her a pardon from the King of Denmark
. The year after this, she became a wealthy widow, freed from taxes by the king, but once accused of witchcraft, she was always considered a witch. She lived isolated, and she reacted with hostility and by arguing with people, and the rumours became worse and worse over the years.
In March 1590, she was finally accused a second time. She refused to attend the trial and was fetched to it by force. During the trial, she was accused of having murdered six people by making them sick by magic; the witnesses were friends and neighbours, and her maid Elina accused her of having used her as a riding horse to a witches' Sabbath where the witches planned to burn down the city, and others claimed they had seen her in the presence of demons.
During the trial, Anne displayed "willpower, clearsight and skill". On the accusation of having killed a child, she replied; "Many children die in the town, I have not killed them all". Despite protests from some ministers in Bergen clergy, she was sentenced to death. In Norway, witches were generally burned alive, and Anne received this sentence. On the way to the execution, she cried out her innocence several times.
Anne Pedersdotter was burned alive at the stake in the city of Bergen on the 7 April 1590. Her case is regarded as the starting point of the many witch trials in Norway in the 17th century, especially in Finnmark
from 1621.
, a drama in four acts by Norwegian playwright, Hans Wiers-Jenssen
was performed in 1909. This inspired La fiamma
(1934) an opera by Italian composer Ottorino Respighi
and the film Day of Wrath
(1943) directed by Danish filmmaker Carl Theodor Dreyer
. Pedersdotter was also the subject of Anne Pedersdotter, an opera by Norwegian composer Edvard Fliflet Bræin
with libretto by Hans Kristiansen. In 1977, Norwegian author Vera Henriksen
released the novel Skjærsild featuring aspects of the story.
In 2002, a memorial called the Witch Stone (Hekse-steinen på Nordnes) was erected at the place of execution in the Nordnes
neighbourhood of Bergen as a monument to the victims of witch trials in Norway. The inscription translates to 350 bonfire victims to miscarriage of justice 1550-1700.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
witch. Her case was one of the most documented of the many witch trials in Norway in the 16th and 17th centuries. Together with Lisbeth Nypan
Lisbeth Nypan
Lisbeth Nypan was an alleged Norwegian witch. She and Anne Pedersdotter were the best-known victims of the charge in Norway....
, she was perhaps the most famous victim of the accusation in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
.
Biography
Anne Pedersdotter was born in the city of TrondheimTrondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
as the daughter of an official, sister of the official of Trondheim, Sören Pedersson.
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
where they lived.
In 1575, Anne was accused of having killed her husband's uncle, Bishop Gjeble Pedersson, by sorcery
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
to make her husband bishop, but she was freed from the charges through her husband's connections, when he managed to get her a pardon from the King of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. The year after this, she became a wealthy widow, freed from taxes by the king, but once accused of witchcraft, she was always considered a witch. She lived isolated, and she reacted with hostility and by arguing with people, and the rumours became worse and worse over the years.
In March 1590, she was finally accused a second time. She refused to attend the trial and was fetched to it by force. During the trial, she was accused of having murdered six people by making them sick by magic; the witnesses were friends and neighbours, and her maid Elina accused her of having used her as a riding horse to a witches' Sabbath where the witches planned to burn down the city, and others claimed they had seen her in the presence of demons.
During the trial, Anne displayed "willpower, clearsight and skill". On the accusation of having killed a child, she replied; "Many children die in the town, I have not killed them all". Despite protests from some ministers in Bergen clergy, she was sentenced to death. In Norway, witches were generally burned alive, and Anne received this sentence. On the way to the execution, she cried out her innocence several times.
Anne Pedersdotter was burned alive at the stake in the city of Bergen on the 7 April 1590. Her case is regarded as the starting point of the many witch trials in Norway in the 17th century, especially in Finnmark
Finnmark
or Finnmárku is a county in the extreme northeast of Norway. By land it borders Troms county to the west, Finland to the south and Russia to the east, and by water, the Norwegian Sea to the northwest, and the Barents Sea to the north and northeast.The county was formerly known as Finmarkens...
from 1621.
Legacy
Anne PedersdotterAnne Pedersdotter (play)
Anne Pedersdotter is a play written in 1908 by Norwegian playwright Hans Wiers-Jenssen...
, a drama in four acts by Norwegian playwright, Hans Wiers-Jenssen
Hans Wiers-Jenssen
Hans Wiers-Jenssen was a Norwegian novelist, playwright, stage producer and theatre historian. Wiers-Jenssen was employed at the theatres Christiania Theatre, Nationaltheatret and Den Nationale Scene.-Personal life:...
was performed in 1909. This inspired La fiamma
La fiamma
La fiamma is an opera in three acts by Ottorino Respighi to a libretto by Claudio Guastalla based on Hans Wiers-Jenssen's 1908 play Anne Pedersdotter, The Witch. The plot is loosely based on the story of Anne Pedersdotter, a Norwegian woman who was accused of witchcraft and burnt at the stake in...
(1934) an opera by Italian composer Ottorino Respighi
Ottorino Respighi
Ottorino Respighi was an Italian composer, musicologist and conductor. He is best known for his orchestral "Roman trilogy": Fountains of Rome ; Pines of Rome ; and Roman Festivals...
and the film Day of Wrath
Day of Wrath
Day of Wrath is a black-and-white film, made in 1943, by Danish director Carl Theodor Dreyer. The film is an adaptation of Anne Pedersdotter by the Norwegian playwright Hans Wiers-Jenssen, based on an actual Norwegian case in the sixteenth century.-Plot:Day of Wrath is set in a Danish village in...
(1943) directed by Danish filmmaker Carl Theodor Dreyer
Carl Theodor Dreyer
Carl Theodor Dreyer, Jr. was a Danish film director. He is regarded by many critics and filmmakers as one of the greatest directors in cinema.-Life:Dreyer was born illegitimate in Copenhagen, Denmark...
. Pedersdotter was also the subject of Anne Pedersdotter, an opera by Norwegian composer Edvard Fliflet Bræin
Edvard Fliflet Bræin
Edvard Fliflet Bræin was a Norwegian composer and conductor. He is best remembered for the composition Ut mot havet and the opera Anne Pedersdotter.-Personal life:...
with libretto by Hans Kristiansen. In 1977, Norwegian author Vera Henriksen
Vera Henriksen
Vera Margrethe Henriksen, , is a Norwegian novelist, playwright and non-fiction writer. She is particularly known for her historical novels and plays set in the Middle Ages.-Biography:...
released the novel Skjærsild featuring aspects of the story.
In 2002, a memorial called the Witch Stone (Hekse-steinen på Nordnes) was erected at the place of execution in the Nordnes
Nordnes
Nordnes is a peninsula and neighbourhood in the city centre of Bergen, Norway. Bergen Aquarium is located at the tip of the peninsula. The Norwegian Institute of Marine Research and Fredriksberg Fortress are also located on Nordnes....
neighbourhood of Bergen as a monument to the victims of witch trials in Norway. The inscription translates to 350 bonfire victims to miscarriage of justice 1550-1700.
Other sources
- Hagen, Rune Blix (2003) Hekser. Fra forfølgelse til fortryllelse (Oslo: Humanist Forlag AS) ISBN 9788292622636 Norwegian
- Gilje, Nils (2003) Heksen og humanisten : Anne Pedersdatter og Absalon Pederssøn Beyer (Bergens historiske forenings) Norwegian