On 31 October, stories of witches return to public attention. Behind the familiar imagery, however, lies a complex and often painful history: that of accusations, trials and persecution, shaped by law, religion, local communities and the exercise of power.
Contra sagas approaches this history through scholarly research rather than legend. Our new website is intended as a meeting place for historians and other researchers, as well as for everyone interested in understanding the historical realities behind witch trials.
From Zagreb to an international conversation
On 13–14 October 2026, Zagreb hosted the international conference Contra sagas – Early Modern Witch Trials in the Habsburg Monarchy (16th–18th Centuries). Scholars from across Europe gathered to examine witch trials, magical beliefs and judicial practices from different regional and methodological perspectives.
The conference was organised by the Department of History of the Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, in cooperation with the Department of History of Matica hrvatska, the Croatian Institute of History and the Centre for Innovative Studies of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb.
A new home for Contra sagas
This website brings together information about the 2026 conference, its programme and participants, photographs and relevant research resources. It will also serve as a platform for news, scholarly exchange and future activities.
Our work continues beyond the conference. An English-language volume of scholarly contributions is planned for 2027, with the aim of making the research and discussions accessible to a wider international audience.
As October gives way to November, we invite you to explore the website and join us in looking beyond the familiar image of the witch to the people, sources and histories that shaped the witch trials of early modern Europe.
Welcome to Contra sagas.