The 17th century was a time of upheaval and uncertainty in England. Civil wars, religious divisions, and economic struggles gripped the country, creating a fertile breeding ground for fear and superstition. In the midst of this turbulence, one figure rose to infamy: Matthew Hopkins, England's self-proclaimed "Witchfinder General." Between 1645 and 1647, Hopkins was responsible for one of the most notorious witch-hunts in British history, during which hundreds of women, and in some cases men, were accused of witchcraft. Many of them ended their lives at the gallows. But who was this man, and how did he manage to wield such influence during this period of fear and paranoia? The Rise and Persecution of Witchcraft Through History Fears Satanists May Be Attacking Animals in Britain The Making of a Witchfinder Born around 1620 in the small village of Great Wenham, Suffolk, Matthew Hopkins was the son of a Puritan minister. Little is known about his early life, but it is believed that he received a modest education and may have trained as a lawyer. By the time he surfaced in historical records in 1644, Hopkins had moved to Manningtree, Essex, where his first witch-hunting activities began. Read moreSection: NewsMyths & LegendsEuropeHistoryAncient TraditionsRead Later