The word werewolf comes from the Old English word werwulf, a compound of wer "man" and wulf "wolf". The werewolf, or lycanthrope, is a human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf (or wolf-like creature) after being placed under a curse, or attacked by another werewolf.
The belief in werewolves is said to have developed parallel to the belief in witches around the Late Middle Ages, and was widespread throughout much of Europe.
The hunt for ~ and persecution of ~ werewolves is integral to the witch hunt phenomenon. Accusations of lycanthropy were unusual, but did appear during witchcraft trials. Werewolf trials started in Switzerland, and spread to Germany, France, Austria and the Balkans. Between 1527 and 1725, there were at least 18 trials that involved people being accused of lycanthropy as a part of their alleged witchcraft. Some trials did not involve witchcraft, and instead were focused on general wolf-related crimes; for example wolf riding or wolf charming.
The first werewolf trial happened in 1521 but was not related to witchcraft. It was the trial of two serial killers who having been tortured by the Church confessed to being werewolves. In 1692, a man named Thiess claimed to be a “good” werewolf. He openly admitted ~ without torture ~ to being a werewolf, and said they were the Hounds of God who helped combat witches and demons.
It is believed that many of the accused were actually suffering from a rare mental illness called “clinical lycanthropy”, in which the sufferer believes they are able to turn into a feral animal.
During the time witch and werewolf trials took place, things were pretty shaky (the Protestant Reformation was sweeping through the land) and the Church used the interrogations of “witches” and “werewolves” to bolster their power and influence.
Image is a photo of a piece of art found at The Museum of Witchcraft & Magic, Boscastle.
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