: In certain areas of the Holy Roman Empire between 1530 and 1730, the percentage of male victims ranged from 13% to 27%. In some specific regions like Carinthia, men formed the majority at 68% of those accused.
While popular memory often associates witchcraft almost exclusively with women, the historical reality in Central Europe shows a different distribution:
: In many Catholic territories, the number of male witch cases rose markedly in the 17th century as the traditional female witch stereotype began to break down. The Social Profile of the Male Witch
: Accusations often targeted men who did not fit the era's ideal of traditional masculinity; being called a witch was frequently an attack on a man's virility or social standing. Common Accusations and Legal Context
: Approximately one in four (25%) accused witches in Central Europe was male.
The historical guide to male witches in Central Europe, particularly based on the seminal work Man as Witch: Male Witches in Central Europe by Rolf Schulte, reveals that men were a significant but often overlooked demographic in the early modern witch trials. Statistical Overview
: Most were poor peasants or artisans, representing a sample of the ordinary population rather than social elites.