On This Day

Urbain Grandier, accused and convicted of sorcery, is burned alive in Loudun, France

Urbain Grandier (1590 – 18 August 1634) was a French Catholic priest who was burned at the stake after being convicted of witchcraft, following the events of the so-called "Loudun possessions".

Urbain Grandier (1590 – 18 August 1634) was a French Catholic priest who was burned at the stake after being convicted of witchcraft, following the events of the so-called "Loudun possessions". Most modern commentators have concluded that Grandier was the victim of a politically motivated persecution led by the powerful Cardinal Richelieu.

The circumstances of Father Grandier's trial and execution have attracted the attention of writers Alexandre Dumas père, Eyvind Johnson, and Aldous Huxley, the playwright John Whiting, filmmaker Ken Russell, composers like Krzysztof Penderecki and Peter Maxwell Davies, as well as historian Jules Michelet and various scholars of European witchcraft.

Historical Significance

Urbain Grandier (1590 – 18 August 1634) was a French Catholic priest who was burned at the stake after being convicted of witchcraft, following the events of the so-called "Loudun possessions".

Events Before

  1. Galileo Galilei recants his "heretical" position that the Earth orbiting the Sun is at odds with the Bible and church te

    Galileo Galilei recants his "heretical" position that the Earth orbiting the Sun is at odds with the Bible and church teaching (Vatican apologizes in 1992 for how it handled the case)

  2. Battle of Liaoluo Bay: Dutch East India Company is defeated by Chinese Ming naval forces in the southern Fujian Sea

    The Battle of Liaoluo Bay took place in 1633 off the coast of Fujian, China; involving the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and the Chinese Ming dynasty's navies.

  3. Michelangelo Rossi's opera "Erminia sul Giordano" premieres in Rome

    Michelangelo Rossi (Michel Angelo del Violino) (ca. 1601/1602 – 1656) was an important Italian composer, violinist and organist of the Baroque era. Rossi was born in Genoa, where he studied with his...

  4. Prince Frederick Henry appoints himself viceroy of Limburg

    Prince Frederick Henry appoints himself viceroy of Limburg

  5. The Heilbronn League formed by Sweden and Protestant German monarchy in the Free Imperial City of Heilbronn

    The Heilbronn League formed by Sweden and Protestant German monarchy in the Free Imperial City of Heilbronn

Events After

  1. Convention of Goa signed between Portugal and England, ending their ongoing conflict in Asia and opening Portuguese por

    Convention of Goa signed between Portugal and England, ending their ongoing conflict in Asia and opening Portuguese ports, including China, to English trade [1]

  2. Playwright William Davenant's court masque "The Temple of Love" is performed at Whitehall featuring Queen Henrietta Mari

    Playwright William Davenant's court masque "The Temple of Love" is performed at Whitehall featuring Queen Henrietta Maria

  3. Oldest US public institution, Boston Latin School is founded

    The Boston Latin School is a magnet Latin grammar state school in Boston, Massachusetts.

  4. Virginia Governor John Harvey accused of treason and removed from office

    Virginia Governor John Harvey accused of treason and removed from office

  5. France's First Minister, Cardinal Richelieu declares war on Spain (Franco-Spanish War 1635–59)

    France's First Minister, Cardinal Richelieu declares war on Spain (Franco-Spanish War 1635–59)

More from the 1630s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on August 18, 1634?
Urbain Grandier (1590 – 18 August 1634) was a French Catholic priest who was burned at the stake after being convicted of witchcraft, following the events of the so-called "Loudun possessions". Most modern commentators have concluded that Grandier was the victim of a politically motivated persecution led by the powerful Cardinal Richelieu. The circumstances of Father Grandier's trial and execution have attracted the attention of writers Alexandre Dumas père, Eyvind Johnson, and Aldous Huxley, the playwright John Whiting, filmmaker Ken Russell, composers like Krzysztof Penderecki and Peter Maxwell Davies, as well as historian Jules Michelet and various scholars of European witchcraft.
Why is Urbain Grandier, accused and convicted of sorcery, is burned alive in Loudun,... significant?
Urbain Grandier (1590 – 18 August 1634) was a French Catholic priest who was burned at the stake after being convicted of witchcraft, following the events of the so-called "Loudun possessions".

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