1. Morgan Le Fay

She is among the most famous witches in the world. Always portrayed as the enemy of King Arthur,

Morgan is an important figure of the Arthurian tale. She was a powerful sorceress, Arthur’s half sister   (from their mother’s side) and a student of Merlin’s in the art of witchcraft. The first mention of her name comes from the 12 century when Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote the story called “Vita Merlini”.  Here, we encounter Morgan (called Morgen) as the leader of the 9 magical sisters from the Island of Apples who took care of Merlin who had been badly wounded. 

2. Angele de la Barthe 

A wealthy and noble woman of Toulouse, Angéle lived in the 13th century. She was an adept of Catharism, a sect which was considered heretic by the church. Angéle de la Barthe is supposedly the first to ever been executed for witchcraft as part of the Medieval Witch Hunt. She was accused of having sex with the Devil and she supposedly gave birth to his son, a baby eating monster. This accusation came after many babies had disappeared in the area that same period. In order to “encourage” her to confess these sins, she was severely tortured by the Inquisition. Later, de la Barthe was found guilty of being a witch and executed. No record of her trial exists however and many people doubt that she ever existed. 

3. Alice Kyteler

 Alice Kyteler was a wealthy woman who lived in Ireland. At her husband’s death, she was accused of having poisoned him (and that she sacrificed animals to the Devil) by her step children who were after her money.  Many of the accusations against her were rather curious and strangely detailed, such as the magical rituals she performed using some awkward ingredients as hairs from buttocks and clothing items taken from unbaptized babies.  It is said that mysterious items, such as incantations and magical powders were also found at her home. As a result, she was condemned to death but she somehow escaped one night before the execution and was never seen again. 

4. Marie Laveau

This lady is the most representative voodoo practitioner in the world. She lived in Louisiana, the state where the first voodoo dolls appeared and managed to become an icon of this religion. This Voodoo queen was famous for her talent in performing voodoo rituals, as well as for her kindness. It is said that she was once approached by a New Orleans gentleman who asked her to help his son (trialed for murder), to escape from prison. She apparently asked in return the house that the family owned in the city. Even though the young man was almost sure to be convicted, Marie Laveau’s charms functioned and he was set free. 

5. Silver Ravenwolf

Silver Ravenwolf is a contemporary witch. She is the American leader- as well as an elder -of Wicca, a modern Neopagan religion which is believed to be one of the fastest growing on Earth today. Among Wicca practices are magical rituals and witchcraft. A very reputed author of Wicca and Paganism, she is also the director of Black Forest Circle and Seminary, an organization which includes many Wicca clans in America and Canada. This modern witch is without a doubt, much more fortunate then her predecessors as she lives in a world that is ready to accept anything, as long as this ‘anything’ does no harm to anybody.