The Gaufridi Possession Trial

The Aix-en-Provence possession case of 1609-1611 set a terrible precedent: Father Louis Gaufridi was convicted and burned as a witch based on testimony extracted from demons during exorcism. The case influenced witch trials across Europe.

The Possessed

Madeleine de Demandolx, a nun at the Ursuline convent, began experiencing visions and convulsions in 1609. Under exorcism, she identified her former confessor, Father Louis Gaufridi, as the source of her affliction.

The Accusations

The demons possessing Madeleine accused Gaufridi of seducing her at age fourteen, introducing her to Satan, and signing a pact with the Devil. They provided detailed accounts of witches’ sabbaths and demonic rituals.

The Trial

Gaufridi was arrested and tortured. He confessed to witchcraft and the Devil’s pact. He recanted the confession, but it was too late. The demons’ testimony was accepted as evidence alongside his forced confession.

The Precedent

The court ruled that demon testimony, extracted during exorcism, could be used in legal proceedings. This horrifying precedent opened the door to witch trial abuses for decades. Accused persons could now be convicted on the word of spirits.

The Execution

On April 30, 1611, Louis Gaufridi was burned alive at Aix-en-Provence. His death launched a new era in witch prosecution.

Assessment

The Aix-en-Provence case represents the dark intersection of possession, exorcism, and law. Whether Madeleine was genuinely possessed or mentally ill, the legal precedent set by her case cost countless innocent lives.