Sweden's 1600s Witch Hunts: The Great Noise and Its Aftermath

In the late 1600s, Sweden was gripped by a wave of witch trials that swept through the country, peaking with the infamous 'Great Noise' (Det stora oväsendet) in 1668–1676. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Sweden's unique path in the wider European witch craze, focusing on the trials in Dalarna and the tragic story of Märet Jonsdotter, a child witness turned target. They discuss how Sweden's legal system, with its emphasis on confession and its unusual reliance on child testimony, fueled the hysteria. Lucas explains the role of the Riksdag, the influence of Lutheran orthodoxy, and how King Charles XI eventually intervened to stop the executions. The conversation also touches on the aftermath: how Sweden's witch hunts ended earlier than in many other parts of Europe, and the lingering questions about belief, power, and memory. Specific names and places include: Märet Jonsdotter, Gertrud Svensdotter, Elin i Skinnarby, Lars Elvius, Johan Gyllenstierna, Mora, Älvdalen, Torsåker, Härjedalen, and the Riksdag of 1671.

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