witch hunter

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 A witch hunter is an individual who pursues people accused of witchcraft, often as part of a larger, organized witch hunt. In both historical accounts and modern fiction, the term can refer to real figures from the European witch trials or to fictional characters who combat supernatural forces. 

Historical witch hunters

The historical figures known as witch hunters emerged during the peak of witchcraft persecutions in early modern Europe, from roughly 1450 to 1750. These individuals were often paid to identify, interrogate, and prosecute suspected witches. 

Notable historical examples include:

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• Matthew Hopkins (c. 1620–1647): A notorious English witch-hunter who called himself "Witchfinder General," though the title was self-proclaimed. During the English Civil War, he and his associate John Stearne were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people in East Anglia. Hopkins used torture techniques like sleep deprivation and employed methods such as the "swimming test," where a suspect was bound and thrown into water to see if they would float.
• Heinrich Kramer (c. 1430–1505): A German inquisitor and the author of the Malleus Maleficarum (Hammer of the Witches). Published in 1487, this treatise became a notorious guidebook for identifying and prosecuting witches.
• Jindřich František Boblig of Edelstadt (1612–1698): A Polish inquisitor famous for his ruthless prosecution of the Šumperk witch trials, a significant witch hunt that took place in Moravia in the 1670s. 

Witch hunters in popular culture

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Fictional portrayals of witch hunters are a common trope in fantasy, horror, and action genres. These figures often possess special skills or are part of an organization dedicated to eliminating supernatural threats.

Notable examples from media include:

• The Last Witch Hunter (2015): A fantasy action film starring Vin Diesel as Kaulder, an immortal witch hunter cursed with eternal life. He must prevent a newly resurrected Queen Witch from unleashing a plague upon the world.
• The Witcher franchise: The main character, Geralt of Rivia, is a "witcher"—a mutant with supernatural abilities trained to hunt and kill monsters. The games and books also feature human Witch Hunters from the Eternal Fire, a religious faction hostile to all magic users.
• Witch Hunter Robin (2002): A Japanese anime series about a special task force known as the STN-J, which hunts witches who pose a threat to society.
• Witchfire (2023): A first-person shooter game where players take on the role of a sinner-turned-witch-hunter fighting dark fantasy creatures.
• Solomon Kane: The titular character in a series of pulp stories by Robert E. Howard. Kane was a Puritan witch-hunter and adventurer who fought supernatural creatures and evil forces throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. 

The metaphorical meaning

Beyond historical and fictional contexts, the term "witch hunt" has evolved to become a metaphor for investigations or campaigns that target individuals or groups with unpopular views, often without credible evidence. This modern usage refers to public harassment, political persecution, and mass hysteria, drawing a parallel to the sensationalized nature of historical witch trials.