Galigai, Leonora (d. 1617)

views updated May 17 2018

Galigai, Leonora (d. 1617)

Wife of the Maréchal d'Ancre Concinoc, who was killed by King Louis XIII's men April 24, 1617. The queen's niece and foster sister, she was believed to be a sorceress and was said to have bewitched the queen, becoming one of her favorites. She was found with three volumes full of magic characters, in addition to charms and amulets. At her trial, it was established that the marshal and his wife had consulted magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers, had made use of waxen images, and had brought sorcerers from the town of Nancy to sacrifice cocks.

It is said that she was condemned on her own confession and beheaded and burned. When President Courtin had asked her by what charm she had bewitched the queen, she had replied, proudly, "My spell was the power of a strong mind over a weak one."