The Possession of Marthe Brossier

Marthe Brossier was a young peasant woman from Romorantin who claimed to be possessed by a demon. Her case became a national controversy when skeptics accused her of fraud, and the debate reached the court of King Henry IV.

The Possession

Marthe began displaying possession symptoms in 1598. She convulsed, contorted her body, spoke in strange voices, and claimed to be inhabited by a demon. Her father took her on a tour of churches, where exorcisms were performed before large crowds.

The Investigation

Bishop Michel de Marillac was ordered to investigate. He subjected Marthe to tests: reading fake Latin to see if she reacted, presenting false relics, and other trials. Marthe passed some tests and failed others, leading to ambiguous conclusions.

The Medical Examination

Physicians examined Marthe and reported she was a fraud, attributing her symptoms to natural causes. The Catholic League clergy insisted she was genuinely possessed. The case became a battleground between rationalists and traditionalists.

The Royal Intervention

King Henry IV ordered Marthe arrested to end the controversy. She was eventually released but forbidden to perform further public demonstrations. The case faded without resolution.

Assessment

The Marthe Brossier case represents an early skeptical investigation of possession. The willingness to test rather than simply accept claims marked a shift in how such cases would be evaluated in the future.