The Strasbourg Convent Possession

In 1491, nuns at a convent in Strasbourg experienced one of the earliest documented outbreaks of mass possession. The sisters were seized by convulsions and claimed to be inhabited by demons, setting a pattern that would recur in convents across Europe for the next two centuries.

The Outbreak

The possession began with a few sisters who experienced fits and spoke in strange voices. The condition spread rapidly through the convent, affecting multiple nuns within days.

The Symptoms

Afflicted sisters experienced violent convulsions, foamed at the mouth, and spoke in voices claiming to be demons. They displayed remarkable strength and had to be restrained. The fits occurred repeatedly over several months.

The Response

Church authorities conducted exorcisms. The possessed nuns were isolated when possible to prevent spread. Prayer and fasting were prescribed for the entire community.

The Pattern

The Strasbourg possession established elements that would appear in later convent outbreaks: initial infection, rapid spread, demonic voices, and resistance to exorcism. The closed environment of convents seemed to breed such outbreaks.

The End

The outbreak eventually subsided through continued spiritual intervention. The nuns recovered without formal witch accusations, as the witch trial mania had not yet fully developed.

Assessment

The 1491 Strasbourg possession was an early example of what would become a recurring phenomenon in female religious communities. Whether genuine demonic activity or psychological contagion, the pattern would repeat for centuries.