Johann Fischart: "Daemonomania Magorum". A commentary on the German translation of the demonology of Bodin

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Tobias Bulang
• Subject Area: German Medieval Studies (Medieval German Literature)
• Term: from 2016 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 313271342

This project aims to deliver a comprehensive interdisciplinary commentary on Johann Fischart s "Daemonomania Magorum" (first edition 1581). Fischart s book provides an extended translation of the "Démonomanie des sorciers" (first edition 1580) written by the French jurist and political philosopher Jean Bodin. Bodin s influential work spreads on nearly 800 pages the scholarly discourse on witchcraft including classical, medieval and contemporary sources as well as records of recent witch trials. Bodin s efforts are directed against the writings of the physician Johann Weyer, who claimed in his widely received book "De praestigiis" (first edition 1563) that witches are to be considered sick women suffering from melancholy. Bodin and Fischart include legal, medical, theological, philosophical and philological knowledge into their arguments and refer to the contemporary demonological discourse. Fischart s translation is influenced by specific confessional and patriotic interests, he adjusts the French source by adding remarks and longer digressions. Thus, Fischart s text represents transcultural and interdisciplinary transformations in early modern Europe. As such, the "Daemonomania Magorum" has not yet been properly appreciated by recent research. Neither is the text available in a sufficient philological state. Our commentary intends to offer an interdisciplinary access to the text for readers of different fields of research. Without a commentary it is all but easy to understand the argumentation of the text, since Bodin and Fischart s ideas are obscured by multiple digressions. The text also requests a wide knowledge of historic discourses from the modern reader. We plan to provide a highly consultable commentary, which evaluates the sources and makes demonological hermeneutics comprehensible. Also it is intended to show the philological productivity of Fischart s translation and give hints for further interpretation. The project can be based on preliminary works such as our critical edition of the text and already accomplished parts of the commentary.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants