page_title: Witch trials in France
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Witch trials in France / History
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: Exorcisme de Magdelaine Bavent
context_page_description: The Witch trials in France are poorly documented, mainly because a lot of the documents of former witch trials have not been preserved, and no number can, therefore, be given for the number of executions of witch trials in France or the true extent of it. While there is much secondary information about witch trials in France, the poor state of documentation often makes them hard to confirm.
context_section_description: During the first half of the 16th-century, a few cases of witch trials are noted to have taken place in France. In 1539 a witch trial resulted in four executions in Beaujolais; in 1553 a "Faustian magician" was executed in Poitiers; and in 1558 and 1562 witch trials were conducted in Nevers and Toulouse respectively both of whom resulted in three executions.
  In France, no national witchcraft law was introduced, and the procedure of such a trial was therefore up to the local court and judge to decide. The book Demonomanie by Jean Bodin, which was published in 1578, was to have a great impact upon the witch trials in France.
caption: Exorcism of Madeleine Bavent during the Louviers possessions
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