Anna Klemens (1718-1800) was a beggar in her village of Horsens, Denmark. She was the last woman lynched for sorcery in all of Scandinavia.
She was beaten to death by a group of 6 men in an effort to “spill her witch blood” after extensive interrogation and torture. Ordering these men to commit this heinous murder was a “cunning woman” aka “quack doctor” named Anna Pauline Holck. Holck travelled from village to village claiming to cure bewitched people.
Holck was executed for the murder (beheaded), and the men were banished (really???).
These beatings were quite common, because legal courts had stopped executing witches in Denmark around 1722. Small towns across the country began taking matters into their own hands- as was the case with Dorte Jensdatter.
I’m going to do some more digging into this Holck woman- she sounds horrible. Intriguing, but horrible.
Poor poor Anna! I do hope you find more about this Holck woman and I hope you can tell us she met with her just desserts!
What was the story/reasoning for making Anna Klemens to be the witch? And btw I love your site!
She was a beggar, a bit of an outcast. I believe Holck profited from accusing women of witchcraft, and Anna really didn’t have anyone close to defend her.
Thank you for the question AND the compliment! 🙂
Very interesting.. And yes of course. And sorry the site kinda fumbled with my phone so there’s the two comments.;)
What is the story/reasoning for Anna to be declared the witch? I must agree the Holck mistress sounds interesting kinda like an early ages sociopath/ serial killer.