Christina Morhaubt

Christina Morhaubt née Merkhlein (died 4 August 1627) was a victim of the Bamberg witch trials.

She was married to the city Councillor and mayor of Bamberg, Johann Morhaubt and had two sons. After a bad harvest, which was rumored to be caused by magic, a witch panic erupted in Bamberg in 1626. Christina Morhaubt was arrested 9 April 1627. Her arrest developed into the arrest of people belonging to the city's upper classes, which brought in a considerable fortune in confiscated goods for the city government. She confessed under torture to have been converted to a witch by her mother Dorl Greifin eleven years prior. Her confession resulted in the arrest of her maids Kunigunth Weberin, who pointed out Christina's son Hans, and Ellin Helena von Kronach, who pointed out the wives of mayor Georg Neudecker, mayor Johannes Junius and mayor Dietmeyer and Katherina Haan, the wife of Councillor Georg Haan. When her son, the fourteen year old Hans Morhaubt was interrogated in June, he pointed out his younger brother Martin and several members of the Haan family as members of the witch coven: he was to be considered such an important witness that he was kept alive until January 1628, used to point out more people to be arrested and to give testimony against Georg Haan and his daughter.

Christina Morhaubt was judged guilty as charged and burned alive in August 1627. Her son Hans Morhaubt was likely executed in April 1628.

References

• Britta Gehm, Die Hexenverfolgung im Hochstift Bamberg und das Eingreifen des Reichshofrates (RHR) zu ihrer Beendigung, Olms-Verlag, Hildesheim, 2000, S. 136–138; 2. Auflage 2011, ISBN 978-3-487-14731-4