The 16th century under the Counts of Hohenems in Liechtenstein was a time of misery, plague, war, poverty and persecution. One of the darkest moments was the witch-hunts. Like the rest of Europe, the little county had succumbed to the mass hysteria of suspicion and accusations of witchcraft against neighbors, family and friends. The people, brutalized by hardships, became use to cruelty and horror. Their minds began to seek dark explanations for the drought, bad harvests, sickness, sudden death or fire. They looked at their neighbors who appeared not to have suffered the same misfortunes and whispered "witchcraft". As always, there were those who were quick to take advantage and soon the whispers became outraged cries.
Under pressure from the local population the judges of the County of Vaduz sought permission to look into the problem. The moment that permission was granted, accusations flooded in. Families were torn apart. Neighbors settled old grudges with cries of witchcraft. The disease spread and few were immune. In the beginning the judges were lenient but the people were not satisfied. They hungered for vengeance and threatened rebellion if the judges did not do more in the fight against evils of witchcraft. The judges, in fear of their own safety, took harsher measures. Torture and execution became common. Swept up in the mania, many confessed rather than face prolonged torture. The flames grew higher.
A flat grassy meadow between Steg and the Samina valley called the Hahnenspiel was where witches were said to gather after midnight to dance and generally carry in the way of witches. Other places were also shunned as meeting places of the devil and his followers. Witches also gathered at the high Heuberg above Triesen where they dance with "Fitzli Butzli", the devil dressed in a green coat. In Vaduz itself, there once existed a great lime tree under which witches were said to dance with their evil lord.
Whole families were burned or beheaded as it was thought back then that witchcraft was hereditary. In August of 1648, 14 unfortunate souls were executed in the Vaduz. In 1668, the Faehrmann Spiegler, owner of the ferry at Ruggell was accused and executed.
The situation was so bad in Liechtenstein that there was even a group who made it their business to draw up list of people they dislike and accuse them of witchcraft. They were called the Brenner, or burners. Based in Triesenberg and Triesen, they spread out across the little land seeking victims. It seems one important requirement to be branded a witch was to have substantial property. Apparently, the property of executed witches was divided up among the accusers. The Brenner grew richer with each burning or beheading.
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