Maleficium is a Latin term meaning "wrongdoing" or "mischief"[1] and is used to describe malevolent, dangerous, or harmful magic, "evildoing"[2] or "malevolent sorcery".[3] In general, the term applies to any magical act intended to cause harm or death to people or property.
The term appears in several historically important texts and circumstances. Notably the Formicarius, and the Malleus Maleficarum.
The Knights Templar were also accused of maleficium. The Trial of the Knights Templar set a social standard for the popular belief in maleficium and witchcraft which contributed to the great European witch hunt.[citation needed]
References
- ^ Notre Dame University http://www.archives.nd.edu/cgi-bin/lookup.pl?stem=maleficium&ending= (accessed December 6, 2008)
- ^ Stephens, Walter (2003). Demon Lovers: Witchcraft, Sex, and the Crisis of Belief. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 198. ISBN 9780226772615. http://books.google.ca/books?id=JPSoPGmNW50C&pg=PA198&lpg=PA198&dq=maleficium&source=web&ots=K9ymOYKVLc&sig=6BC0ATugZMpQ64m958vbcxWJ5ak&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result#PPA198,M1.
- ^ Encyclopedia Britannica Online http://search.eb.com.libproxy.sdsu.edu/eb/article-214883 (accessed December 3, 2008)
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