The Domican Rudolf von Schlettstadt’s early 14th century collection recounts the tale of a German knight’s wife who sleeps with what she believes to be him but is instead a demon. She becomes pregnant and gives birth to “to three monsters at once. One monster had teeth like a hog’s, the second had a startlingly long beard, the third had one eye in its face, so reported someone who saw them. But the mother, after the birth of these children, died. The lord, learning that his wife had given birth, quickly arrived. But upon seeing the monsters, he ordered them to be buried immediately.” (My translation.) I can send you the full story if you like though I don’t have the Latin original handy.
Rudolf von Schlettstadt, Historiae Memorabiles, Zur Dominkanerliteratur und Kulturgeschichte des 13. Jahrhunderts, ed. Erich Kleinschmidt (Cologne: Böhlau-Verlag, 1972), pp. 96-98.
John
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: subscribe medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: unsubscribe medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/medieval-religionDear all,
I am seeking any examples or references (preferably with english translations) to demonic pregnancy and possession in the 11-13th century. I have examples of divine/mystical pregnancies, however, I would like to contrast that to a demonic episode!
Best Wishes,
Rachel Allerton
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