Real Crime/Paranormal/Conspiracy Theories Book III

The Loudun Possessions

The Loudun possessions were anotorious witchcraft trial in Loudun, France in 1634. A convent ofUrsuline nuns said they had been visited and possessed by demons.Following an investigation by the Catholic Church, a local priestnamed Father Urbain Grandier was accused of summoning the evilspirits. He was eventually convicted of the crimes of sorcery andburned at the stake.

The case contains similar themes toother witchcraft trials that occurred throughout western Europe inthe 17th century, such as the Aix-en-Provence possessions (France) in1611 or the Pendle witches (England) in 1612 before reaching the NewWorld by the 1690s.

Background

In its continuing efforts toconsolidate and centralize power, the Crown under Louis XIII orderedthe walls around Loudun, a town in Poitou, France, to be demolished.The populace were of two minds concerning this. The Huguenots, forthe most part, wanted to keep the walls, while the Catholicssupported the monarchy. In May 1632, an outbreak of the plague inLoudun claimed many lives. Together, the events contributed to anatmosphere of anxiety and apprehension in the divided town.

Urbain Grandier

Urbain Grandier was born at Rouvèretowards the end of the sixteenth century. In 1617 he was appointedparish priest of St-Pierre-du-Marché in Loudun; and a canon at theChurch of Sainte-Croix. Grandier was considered to be a good-lookingman, wealthy, and well-educated. An eloquent and popular preacher, heincurred the envy of some of the local monks. As he did not supportCardinal Richelieu's policies, he was in favor of retaining thetown's wall.

It was widely believed that Grandierhad fathered a son by Philippa Trincant, the daughter of his friend,Louis Trincant, the King's prosecutor in Loudun. According toMonsieur des Niau, Counselor at la Flèche, Grandier had aroused thehostility of a number of husbands and fathers, some quiteinfluential, by the dishonor he had brought to their families throughrelations with the female members of their households. (However,Niau's views may be understood as those of a participant in thesubsequent proceedings who fully endorsed them.)

Around 1629, Jacques de Thibault,possibly a relative of Philippa, was quite vocal in expressing hisopinion of Grandier's conduct with women. When Grandier demanded anexplanation, Thibault beat him with a cane outside the Church ofSainte-Croix. In the course of the resulting trial, Thibault raisedcertain charges in his defense, causing the magistrates to turnGrandier over to the ecclesiastical court. The Bishop then prohibitedGrandier from performing any public functions as priest for fiveyears in the Diocese of Poitiers, and forever in Loudun. Grandierappealed to the court at Poitiers. As a number of witnesses retractedtheir statements, the case was dismissed without prejudice should newevidence be presented.

Loudon Ursulines

The Ursuline convent was opened inLoudun in 1626. In 1632 prioress Jeanne des Anges presided overseventeen nuns, whose average age was twenty-five. The first reportsof alleged demonic possession began about five months after theoutbreak of plague (disease) in 1632, as it was winding down. Whilephysicians and wealthy property owners had left town, (the physiciansbecause there was nothing they could do), others attempted to isolatethemselves. The convents had shut themselves behind walls, the nunsdiscontinued receiving parlor visitors. Grandier visited the sick andgave money to the poor.