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11 Historical 'Werewolves' That Terrorized Villages Around The World

Lea Rose Emery
Updated July 3, 2024 49.9K views 11 items

You might think of werewolf stories as something only told for fun around the campfire, but that hasn't always been the case. Historically, many slayings, crimes, and generally horrific incidents have been attributed to werewolves. People truly believed in the existence of these creatures. In fact, in the 16th and 17th centuries in Europe, werewolf trials accompanied witch trials - and sometimes they were even one and the same. 
 
It's even more surprising to note the number of people who confessed to being werewolves or lycanthropes. Some were likely tortured into confession, but others believed themselves to be real werewolves. The idea that someone could transform into an animal was a popular one, and people thought they could make a deal with the devil in order to obtain that power.

Is there any truth behind the enduring legend of the werewolf? Or were these creatures just convenient scapegoats for mysterious misdeeds? Whatever you think, there's no denying that these historical encounters with werewolves are fascinating and downright spooky. Keep reading if you dare, but be warned: these real-life werewolf stories will have you worried about the next full moon.

  • 'The Werewolf Of Châlons' Cooked His Victims For Dinner In The 1500s

    'The Werewolf Of Châlons' Cooked His Victims For Dinner In The 1500s

    In the 1500s, a French tailor was convicted of luring in, torturing, and slaying his victims before cooking and eating them for supper. He was also accused of turning into a werewolf to terrorize the town by night. Although there was no exact victim count, he was believed to have slain dozens.

    As the story goes, the tailor made no attempt to defend himself - instead, he cursed until his last breath when he was burned at the stake. The court was apparently so shocked by his evil acts that the court documents were burned as well.

  • Peter Stubbe Claimed He Was A Werewolf Serial Killer In 1589

    Peter Stubbe Claimed He Was A Werewolf Serial Killer In 1589

    Peter Stubbe was one of many self-confessed werewolves. In 1589, he claimed that his wolfskin belt allowed him to transform - and he also said he had slain over a dozen victims. As one story went, the devil "transformed [him] into the likeness of a greedy, devouring wolf, strong and mighty, with eyes great and large, which in the night sparkled like unto brands of fire, a mouth great and wide, with most sharp and cruel teeth, a huge body and mighty paws."

    Stubbe's tale should be taken with a large grain of salt: he confessed after prolonged torture. He was ultimately decapitated on Halloween 1589, and his body was burned at the stake. 

  • In 1685, The Mayor Became 'The Wolf Of Ansbach'

    In 1685, The Mayor Became 'The Wolf Of Ansbach'

    In 1685, the people of Ansbach were angry and scared as their livestock was attacked by a wolf - and that was before it started taking lives. The locals were convinced it was their deceased mayor back to torment them by returning in wolf form.

    The townspeople eventually slew the wolf. They then dressed it as the mayor and put the carcass on display before moving it to a local museum.

  • Hans The Werewolf Said He Was Bitten By A Man In Black

    Hans The Werewolf Said He Was Bitten By A Man In Black

    Estonia held a number of werewolf trials in the 17th century, including that of Hans the Werewolf. Many accused werewolves claimed to have made a deal with the devil to gain their shapeshifting powers, but 18-year-old Hans said that a man in black had bitten him. He confessed that he had hunted as a werewolf for the past two years.

    Although Hans didn't claim to have made an actual pact with the devil, the court still considered him guilty of sorcery and sentenced him to be executed.

  • Gilles Garnier, 'The Werewolf Of Dole'

    Gilles Garnier, 'The Werewolf Of Dole'

    The French seemed to be obsessed with werewolves and one of their most famous cases was the Werewolf of Dole. Gilles Garnier was a hermit who lived out on the outskirts of his town with his wife.

    When children in the town started to go missing and turned up mutilated, the townspeople set off on a wolf hunt. They eventually decided Garnier was to blame. He confessed to being given an ointment by a demon that allowed him to turn into a wolf, and said he had slain - and eaten - at least four children. He was burned at the stake.

  • Jacques Roulet, 'The Werewolf Of Angers,' Mutilated A Boy In 1598

    Jacques Roulet, 'The Werewolf Of Angers,' Mutilated A Boy In 1598

    A mutilated boy was found in the French woods in 1598, with the unfortunate Jacques Roulet discovered nearby. Roulet, hurt and disrobed, was detained and confessed to the murder of the boy and others before him. 

    Roulet claimed he had an ointment that could transform him into a wolf. Unlike many cases of lycanthropy, he wasn't executed - on an appeal he was proclaimed insane and put in an asylum.