Petronilla de Meath
Encyclopedia
Petronilla de Meath was the maidservant of Dame Alice Kyteler
, a fourteenth century Irish
noblewoman. After the death of Kyteler's fourth husband, Kyteler was accused of practicing witchcraft
and Petronilla was accused of being her accomplice. Petronilla was tortured and forced to proclaim that she and Kyteler were guilty of witchcraft. Petronilla was then flogged and eventually burned at the stake on 3 November 1324, in Kilkenny
, Ireland. She was the first case in Ireland's history of death by fire for the crime of heresy
.
The accusations were principally against Dame Alice Kyteler and came from the children of her late husbands by their previous marriages. They were intended to secure Dame Alice's wealth for that branch of the family. Kyteler escaped to England, and Petronilla's young daughter was taken to England after her mother's death, where she was subsequently raised by Kyteler.
Petronilla de Meath is honoured in Judy Chicago's feminist art work The Dinner Party
.
Alice Kyteler
Dame Alice Kyteler , was a woman who was the earliest person accused and condemned for witchcraft in Ireland. She fled the country, but her servant Petronella de Meath was flogged and burned at the stake on November 3, 1324....
, a fourteenth century Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
noblewoman. After the death of Kyteler's fourth husband, Kyteler was accused of practicing 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...
and Petronilla was accused of being her accomplice. Petronilla was tortured and forced to proclaim that she and Kyteler were guilty of witchcraft. Petronilla was then flogged and eventually burned at the stake on 3 November 1324, in Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
, Ireland. She was the first case in Ireland's history of death by fire for the crime of heresy
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
.
The accusations were principally against Dame Alice Kyteler and came from the children of her late husbands by their previous marriages. They were intended to secure Dame Alice's wealth for that branch of the family. Kyteler escaped to England, and Petronilla's young daughter was taken to England after her mother's death, where she was subsequently raised by Kyteler.
Petronilla de Meath is honoured in Judy Chicago's feminist art work The Dinner Party
The Dinner Party
The Dinner Party is an installation artwork by feminist artist Judy Chicago depicting place settings for 39 mythical and historical famous women. It was produced from 1974 to 1979 as a collaboration and was first exhibited in 1979. Subsequently, despite art world resistance, it toured to 16 venues...
.