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The concepts of witchcraft and magic have long been shrouded in mystery and perceived as perilous. Throughout history, those believed to possess supernatural abilities were either revered as divine figures or condemned as evil entities.
Success often breeds envy, and for some, the only explanation for another's achievements is the use of witchcraft. Here are 10 instances where prominent historical figures faced accusations of sorcery.
10. Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn's influence on British history is unparalleled. When Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon's marriage did not produce a male heir, the king concluded that divine punishment had been cast upon him for marrying his brother's widow.
The king, having already fathered several illegitimate children, was convinced that a new wife would grant him the son he desired. That wife turned out to be Anne Boleyn.
After the Pope denied Henry's request to annul his marriage to Catherine, Anne persuaded him to sever ties with Rome and declare himself the head of the Church of England. This decision led to England's transformation into a Protestant nation and the dissolution of monasteries. Anne was crowned queen, and everything seemed to proceed as planned.
However, when Anne bore a daughter followed by a stillborn son, Henry once again felt cursed. He accused Anne of bewitching him through “sortilege”—a form of sorcery and witchcraft.
The queen's adversaries eagerly fueled the accusations, alleging she bore witch's marks such as moles and an extra finger on one hand. Though never formally tried for witchcraft, these claims tarnished her reputation and ultimately led to her execution by the sword.
9. Joan Of Arc
Joan of Arc accomplished extraordinary feats in her brief lifetime, achievements so astounding that they raised suspicions among many.
By the age of 19, she had traded her peasant attire for armor and led troops to lift the siege of Orleans. Claiming to receive divine guidance from saints and archangels, her counsel was sought by kings and nobles alike.
To her English foes, she was perceived as a vessel of malevolence. One critic labeled her as “a follower and instrument of the Devil . . . who practiced deceitful magic and sorcery.”
After her capture by the Burgundians, she was handed over to the English. They accused her of heresy but emphasized her supernatural abilities to portray her as a witch or a pawn of Satan.
Thus, the voices she claimed to hear were deemed demonic rather than divine. Her knack for identifying strangers was attributed to infernal powers, and her accurate predictions that secured military triumphs were seen as gifts from the Devil.
Convicted of heresy, she was imprisoned, as only a second conviction warranted execution. Joan's downfall came from her insistence on wearing men's clothing. By donning military attire in prison, she committed heresy once more, leading to her sentencing and eventual death at the stake.
8. The Clintons
Something about Hillary and Bill Clinton seems to cause people to go witch mad. One website has a multipart series on the couple’s connections to dark forces. It accuses Bill of using Haitian voodoo to win his election, Hillary of being the Whore of Babylon, and the pair of performing bizarre rituals for their own nefarious purposes.
You might think that this was on the outer fringe of beliefs. But at the 2016 Republican convention, one attendee accused Hillary of being a member of the Illuminati and a witch. A photograph of her playfully trying on a witch’s pointed hat was taken as proof positive of her satanic associations.
Another sartorial mistake was wearing a bird-shaped brooch that either symbolized her attachment to the New World Order or was a sign of loyalty to the Antichrist. Who knew jewelry could have so many meanings?
When Hillary talked about having conversations with figures from history like Mahatma Gandhi, she meant holding imaginary discussions to shape her thinking. Of course, some people took this literally and she was accused of communing with spirits.
7. Backwards Masked Music
Backmasking is a technique where hidden messages are embedded in songs, only becoming clear when played in reverse. This method has been used to include playful secrets for dedicated fans, such as Weird Al’s insertion of “Wow, you must have an awful lot of free time on your hands” in one of his songs. Over the years, some individuals have dedicated excessive time to uncovering alleged satanic messages concealed in rock music.
The Styx track “Snowblind” was accused of containing a backward, subliminal message: “Satan moves through our voices.” Although the band dismissed the notion of being Satan’s messengers as absurd, the controversy led to significant backlash. This prompted Arkansas to enact legislation requiring labels to disclose if a record included backmasking.
Fans searching for satanic themes in Soundgarden’s tracks “665” and “667” will find no such content. Instead, they’ll discover a reversed message celebrating Santa.
6. The British Royal Family
Some have speculated that the British royal family might be shape-shifting reptilian beings, but an older legend ties them to demons and witches. The counts of Anjou, a prominent French noble family, were known for their exceptional battle skills and fierce tempers, leading many to question the source of their power. The explanation? A demonic connection.
During the 12th century, stories circulated that an early count of Anjou had wed a mysterious woman. This enchanting figure always avoided church services and never participated in mass.
One day, her wary husband insisted she stay for the consecration of the Host. At the ceremony’s most sacred moment, she ripped off her cloak, floated into the air, and vanished through a window, never to return.
This count and his demonic wife are said to have founded the Plantagenet dynasty. Richard I often quipped about his infernal lineage: “We come from the Devil, and we’ll end by going to the Devil!” Perhaps even today, a trace of demonic heritage flows through the veins of the Windsor family.
5. Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II, canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church, is widely regarded as a towering figure of the 20th century. Many praise his steadfast opposition to Communism as one of his most significant achievements.
However, others hold a more skeptical view, particularly due to the sexual abuse scandals that surfaced during his later years, which continue to tarnish the reputation of Catholicism. Additionally, some individuals believed he was the Antichrist.
During Pope John Paul II’s 1988 address to the European Parliament, Ian Paisley, a famously outspoken Protestant, disrupted the speech by shouting, “I denounce you as Christ’s adversary and the Antichrist, along with your false teachings.”
While Paisley’s protest may have been symbolic rather than a genuine accusation, some conspiracy theorists have pointed to various events in the Pope’s life as evidence of his supposed demonic nature. These include claims about his birth coinciding with a solar eclipse and interpretations of his funeral rites as signs of his infernal origins.
4. Christine O’Donnell
Few politicians find themselves needing to start a campaign ad with the declaration, “I’m not a witch.” Yet, that’s exactly what Christine O’Donnell did in 2010, following what some interpreted as an admission of involvement in witchcraft.
Back in 1999, during an appearance on Bill Maher’s show Politically Incorrect, she made a statement that would later haunt her:
I dabbled into witchcraft—I never joined a coven. [ . . . ] I hung around people who were doing these things. [ . . . ] One of my first dates with a witch was on a satanic altar, and I didn’t know it. I mean, there’s little blood there and stuff like that. [ . . . ] We went to a movie and then had a little midnight picnic on a satanic altar.
Bill Maher later expressed regret for turning her political campaign into a joke, but the harm was already done. In today’s political landscape, it appears that while many scandals can be overcome, admitting on national television that you’re not a witch is not one of them.
3. Beyonce
Achieving success in the music industry demands not only talent but also a significant amount of luck, and perhaps a touch of sorcery. In 2018, Beyonce faced allegations from a former drummer who claimed the singer employed “extreme witchcraft” against her, casting spells of sexual harassment. The drummer also alleged that Beyonce had enchanted her kitten.
Kimberly Thompson’s court filing sought a restraining order against the global music sensation. Thompson asserted that Beyonce’s alleged actions caused her to lose numerous jobs, suffer home thefts, experience the death of her pet kitten, endure magic spells on her romantic partners, and face multiple failed relationships.
According to Thompson, Beyonce had cursed her kitten, compelling it to attack her—a claim reportedly verified by two psychics. Thompson further alleged that Beyonce possessed the ability to inhabit others’ bodies to observe her intimate encounters.
Unsurprisingly, the restraining order was denied. This outcome was attributed either to the absence of anyone in court to advocate for the case or to Beyonce’s alleged magical prowess securing her victory once again.
2. Pope Sylvester II
While a small amount of knowledge might pose risks, an excessive amount could lead to accusations of sorcery. Legend has it that Pope Sylvester II was not only a brilliant scholar by nature but also one blessed with supernatural abilities.
It is believed that he traded his soul to the Devil in exchange for forbidden wisdom. Tales claim that Sylvester was “the most skilled necromancer in France, commanding the obedience of air demons who fulfilled his every demand, day and night.”
One of the most notable feats of his dark arts was a mystical statue that provided accurate answers to his yes-or-no inquiries. Reports suggest that Sylvester journeyed to Muslim-controlled Spain to study under the Saracens.
From one of their most renowned philosophers, he allegedly stole a tome of magical incantations, mastering the art of trading his soul to the Devil. Harnessing these newfound abilities, he crafted his prophetic “brazen head,” relying on its counsel to ascend to the papal throne.
It is far more plausible that Sylvester studied in Spain under mentors privy to knowledge unfamiliar to the rest of Europe. Many of his contemporaries viewed him as tainted by this non-Christian education.
1. Stevie Nicks
Since the 1970s, Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac has been linked to witchcraft. Her composition “Rhiannon,” performed by Fleetwood Mac, tells the tale of a Welsh witch-goddess. Since its debut, fans have persistently questioned whether the singer herself is a witch.
The song includes evocative lines such as: “Rhiannon rings like a bell through the night, and wouldn’t you love to love her? Takes to the sky like a bird in flight, and who will be her lover?” These lyrics are often interpreted as depicting a witch soaring through the heavens on a broomstick.
Flight indeed played a role in the inspiration. Nicks stumbled upon the name “Rhiannon” in a book at the airport and crafted a tale about a woman as free as a bird. Despite this ordinary origin, her signature long black dresses led many to conclude she was, in fact, a witch.
After years of refuting claims about her witch-like persona, Nicks embraced it in 2014 when she was invited to portray a fictionalized version of herself on the TV series American Horror Story, where she appeared as a benevolent white witch.
