ABSTRACT
In 1848, a local French historian described Nicolas Remy as “the Torquemada of Lorraine,” a persecutor who had written his book Daemonolatreiae libri tres (1595) as an “inquisitor’s relaxation”. This chapter revisits recent research on Remy’s position in the ducal administration, his legal influence, and his direct or indirect impact on the Lorraine witch trials. The Dukes of Lorraine never succeeded in ruling an integrated territory with clear boundaries, and the duchy’s 400,000 subjects had more than one linguistic identity. During the reign of Duke Charles III more ordinances were enacted, new taxes were imposed, and older ones increased. Like his friend Thierry Alix, Remy climbed high on the social and political ladder in the ducal service. Alain Culliere argues that the careers of both Alix and Remy must be seen in the context of their loyal service to the state-building agenda of Charles III.
