Jindřich František Boblig z Edelstadtu
Encyclopedia
Jindřich František Boblig z Edelstadtu (German
: Heinrich Franz Boblig von Edelstadt) (born around 1612 in Cukmantl (today Zlaté Hory
, also called Edelstadt) - died on 27 January 1698) was a lawyer and imperial lay inquisitor
who led the witch trials in Bohemia
in the late 17th century. He was active in the Šumperk
region, particularly in the town of Velké Losiny
. Boblig was responsible for burning of approximatelly 100 people accused of witchcraft
. The list of executed included two priests who attempted to stop the trials, and Kryštof Lautner, Dean of Šumperk.
in Zlaté Hory, was ennobled and received the mark of nobility " z Edelstadtu" (von Edelstadt, of Edelstadt) in 1591. His son Jindřich Boblig studied laws, probably in Vienna
, but he didn't complete his studies and later was titled only as juris candidatus. Until his participation in the witch trials of the Šumperk region, he probably led a law practice in Olomouc
.
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
: Heinrich Franz Boblig von Edelstadt) (born around 1612 in Cukmantl (today Zlaté Hory
Zlaté Hory
Zlaté Hory is a town in the Jeseník District, Olomouc Region, Czech Republic, on the border with Poland. It has a population of 4,447 . The town was founded in 1224.Administrative parts: Rejvíz, Horní a Dolní Údolí and Ondřejovice...
, also called Edelstadt) - died on 27 January 1698) was a lawyer and imperial lay inquisitor
Inquisitor
An inquisitor was an official in an Inquisition, an organisation or program intended to eliminate heresy and other things frowned on by the Roman Catholic Church...
who led the witch trials in Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
in the late 17th century. He was active in the Šumperk
Šumperk
Šumperk is a town and district in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. It is called "The Gate to Jeseníky mountains."- History :Šumperk was founded by German colonists in 1269. The German name Schönberg means "beautiful hill", and the name Šumperk is a Czech garbling of the original German...
region, particularly in the town of Velké Losiny
Velké Losiny
Velké Losiny is a village and municipality in Šumperk District in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. It covers an area of , and has a population of 2,832 and lies approximately north-east of Šumperk, north of Olomouc, and east of Prague...
. Boblig was responsible for burning of approximatelly 100 people accused of witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
. The list of executed included two priests who attempted to stop the trials, and Kryštof Lautner, Dean of Šumperk.
Biography
Little is known about his early life. His father, BurgomasterBurgomaster
Burgomaster is the English form of various terms in or derived from Germanic languages for the chief magistrate or chairman of the executive council of a sub-national level of administration...
in Zlaté Hory, was ennobled and received the mark of nobility " z Edelstadtu" (von Edelstadt, of Edelstadt) in 1591. His son Jindřich Boblig studied laws, probably in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, but he didn't complete his studies and later was titled only as juris candidatus. Until his participation in the witch trials of the Šumperk region, he probably led a law practice in Olomouc
Olomouc
Olomouc is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic...
.