The Infamous Medieval Witch Case of Alice Kyteler...

In 1324 Dame Alice Kyteler was the first Irish woman to be accused of witchcraft. Had she really used the dark arts to acquire her wealth or was she just your every day serial killer? In this video we will delve into the deadly story of a woman who became known as the ‘Witch of Kilkenny’.
0:00 Introduction
0:31 He’s the One
1:14 Two’s Company
2:17 Third and Fourth Time Unlucky
3:27 Witch!
5:00 The Zealous Bishop
6:05 Charges
7:30 Serial Killer
8:43 The First of Many
10:13 The Luck of the Irish
🎶🎶 Music by CO.AG: / @co.agmusic
Narrated by James Wade
Written by Lisa E Rawcliffe
Edited by James Wade & Amber Watson
Thank you for watching.
DISCLAIMER: All materials in these videos are used for entertainment purposes and fall within the guidelines of fair use. No copyright infringement is intended. If you are, or represent the copyright owner of materials used in this video, and have an issue with the use of said material, please email us at [e-mail]
Copyright © 2022 Top5s All rights reserved. In this video, we've compiled information from a variety of sources, including documentaries, books, and websites, all with the aim of providing an engaging viewing experience. While we strive to ensure accuracy, we acknowledge that there may be variations in the authenticity of the content. We encourage viewers to delve deeper and conduct their own research to corroborate the information presented.

[@thewasatch208]

Makes one wonder what other stories were just as mad but were forgotten

[@jingles123456789ify]

Considering that oral stories were still probably way more popular that written ones, I think it's likely that a lot of interesting, crazy stories were forgotten

[@Maartwo]

Such is the nature of human existence. A good reminder that our lives and experienced don't truly matter, so we should have perspective and remain humble.

[@luisandrade2254]

@@jingles123456789ify i dont. Most of the stories were eventually written or preserved through family or town records it’s just that historians didn’t bother to write them and the powerful didn’t bother to publicize them

[@blenderbanana]

Check out Robert III of Artois. A French Royal, who was exiled for his crimes in France; but returned a decade later at the head of an English Army to kick off the 100 Year War.

[@Psychic_pot_plant]

My dad comes from Kilkenny and there is a pub there called Kytler’s inn which is dedicated to her. We go there every time to have a pint, it’s a very cool place and it has a very witchy vibe.

[@Ninnjette-]

I would love to see that! Sounds really cool

[@EsmeraldaWolfsbane7777]

Sounds really cool

[@-Varwen-]

I’ve been there and I loved it!! Had great food

[@UmarAli-tq8pl]

That's like dedicating a pub to Jeffrey Dahmer, lmao.

[@liannamurphy1063]

It's her old house

[@jessicafernanda11]

I love stories like this, its not about a nobleman or a knight, its about someone, an ordinary person just like us

[@mbrackeva]

Just like us ordinary serial killing witches?

[@hensonlaura]

We ordinary children of witches who inherit one fortune after another?

[@janewright315]

She was wife of a wealthy moneylender, not a normal person. Likely frankly someone wanted her money, same as lizbet bathory. Pretty clear from the first she had strength and chutzpah, and then especially men didn't like that.

[@luisandrade2254]

I wouldn’t call a serial killer or extremely wealthy woman “an ordinary person just like us”

[@fiddleback1568]

Speak for yourself, I'm a Hereditary Peer Titled Lord.

[@nattamused9074]

It’s wild that one of her accused accomplices confessed to demonic witchcraft, and refused to repent, even being willing to be martyred for her allegiance to her Satanic religion. People usually don’t lay their lives down for a lie.

[@professorracc.9780]

They were probably practicing paganism

[@rumplstiltztinkerstein]

What's the difference between doing that for Satanic religion and doing the same for God?

[@nattamused9074]

@@rumplstiltztinkerstein That is a very worthy question. Personally, I don’t have a solid enough grasp on a true answer to be able to answer simply. Here is an interesting quote from G.K. Chesterton, “A martyr is a man who cares so much for something outside him, that he forgets his own personal life. A suicide is a man who cares so little for anything outside him, that he wants to see the last of everything. One wants something to begin: the other wants everything to end.” It seems to me, that there is a big difference between submitting to martyrdom for the sake of Christ, vs. for the sake of hedonist religion, mainly because of the “why” behind it.

[@rumplstiltztinkerstein]

@@nattamused9074 That makes sense. But I don't think that matters. The person is dead one way or the other. What they feel or want is irrelevant afterward. Jesus died for a reason. But no one knows what that reason really was. He was replaced by a fantasy that doesn't represent who he really was. Buddha wanted to help the poor and improve society, but after he died he was replaced by a religion. Their wishes, their ideas, their feelings and desires died with them. Dying for the nation is not much different as well. The individual admits that they are less important than the role they are in. It is a desperate last attempt at improving the lives of their loved ones. But in the end it doesn't matter. Thousands of Russians and Ukrainians are losing their lives for the safety of their families. And for what? There was no reason to die in the first place. If the death was pointless, the sacrifice is just as well. There was no need for a war to even begin with.

[@nattamused9074]

Looks like we’re just going to have to agree to disagree.

[@Judykag]

I love this channel. Obviously you do tons of work and research.✌️

[@bigwendigo2253]

I wish he’d do more long videos like his Black Plague one. That was an awesome video!

[@Judykag]

@@bigwendigo2253 yes! I agree

[@janewright315]

Does he? Really?

[@warrenny]

@@janewright315 I feel your thoughts. Essentially these channels have subscriptions to history outlets such as Magellan TV and regurgitate what they watch. I suppose not as bad as being a heretic (pun). More entertaining than your typical curriculum based lecture, but certainly not as much "research and work" as a talk given by an expert who did actual field work or a dissertation on a subject. Either way you look at it, it's fun to learn something new.

[@jacknock3640]

I'm absolutely addicted to your channel!

[@ImTheCrew]

Watch later! Thanks you for continuing posting bangers. ❤

[@unpopularopinion1032]

Omg…she killed Kenny?!?!?

[@Ethan-ee8rv]

That bastard!

[@daniellekennedy8118]

I await your weekly offerings with great anticipation. They are so informative, and the presentation is so witty. They are a real highlight of the day. Please keep up the good work!

[@brianedwards7142]

The twist at the end was sweet.

[@pentegarn1]

My family has a oral history that our family started during fertility rites on May 1st where woman would dance the May pole dance and then run into the forests chased by the God Robin. I assume these were men wearing masks? If the woman became pregnant after these rites Robin was considered the father. These children would usually be born under the horned sign of Capricorn and were called "Sons of Robin" or "Robin's Sons" and that where, over time, the last name Robinson comes from. Some of us embrace and adore this oral history...the Xtians in our family not so much. lol The oldest mention I see of Robin is during the witch trial of Alice Kyteler. We then see him pop up as Robin Goodfellow in William Shakespeare's writing in the 1500s. Our family is mostly from England, but we also spread across Scotland. No one seems to be able to answer if Robin is Anglo Saxon in origin or more Celtic. Or both? People in the family still say we have "Fairy blood". Which is weird because we have a lot of psychics in the family and even seem to be followed around by what modern people would call UFOs (not metallic flying saucers but more colored beach ball sized lights.) and other strange phenomena like fairy encounters

[@clmannheimer]

My late fiancé's surname was Kilkenny. He would have loved this!

[@ChuckyIGeRI]

Love your Videos, thank you for the Entertainment!

[@Stickyownz]

The best channel and videos on KZbin!

[@gooddeal3186]

Another great video.

[@bruhistantv9806]

"My son's got to have money." "Unfortunately, forensics isn't developed yet - but nobody ever had 4 spouses die in a row, so uhh you're a bit sussy. Arrested and executed."

[@swift-nick8594]

I love your videos mate. Look forward to them all week. Am a fellow Englishman (Yorkshire - from which I'm sure you'll get the origin of my username) and although our history is really messed up I still feel proud that it's our history to tell. Was there any place more bizarre than Britain in medieval times?! Doubt it! Also love the Paranormal. Have read about Alice Kytler before, and although I thought I knew plenty about her story, you just taught me loads more! Thank you.

[@luisandrade2254]

Britain in the Victorian era was far crazier but the craziest place of all time was probably the Middle East in before the ottoman conquest it was so wild it’s hard to keep track

[@thefool1086]

@@luisandrade2254 also the holy roman empire

[@luisandrade2254]

@@thefool1086 it actually wasn’t as wild as people say it was very run of the mill for a medieval state. But because their maps were insane map nerds on the internet like to act like the HRE was the craziest thing ever

[@andrewkellar6511]

Thanks for the interesting tales of old!!

[@honorladone8682]

Thank you I'VE been enchanted! Philadelphia USA

[@Subjectively]

I mean, can you blame her? Marrying into the family "Outlaw" in the city of "Kilkenny" comes with certain expectations

[@conaldempsey8342]

The outlaw bit absolutely, but kilkenny is an anglacisation of "Cill Chainnigh" as in church of Canice (known to Scots as St Kenny)

[@peachrenard2320]

I'd mostly just like to know what was going on that enabled her to convince a man to leave his stuff to her child instead of their own.

[@renato7184]

Probably witchcraft or really good sex

[@bruhistantv9806]

good pussy really breaks a niqqa

[@Tommy-zk4sz]

butt stuff

[@phuck8627]

i dont think she did she probably changed his will on her own somehow, she could have bribed whoever was in charge of the stuff

[@Pooka_or_Puck]

The collapse of the roof was my favorite part.

[@donnadunlop7853]

Thankyou 🖤🖤

[@parrotjunglecolada8270]

Yup I believe this one was a real evil witch

[@erraticonteuse]

"Alice was the only child of Flemish immigrants who were thought to have settled in Flemish Town, Kilkenny during the mid-13th century." Hang on, I already have several questions.

[@ReactionVideoDotAvi]

If it's the name and nationality making it sound weird, imagine instead this: "Alice was the only child of Chinese immigrants who were thought to have settled in Chinatown, London".

[@erraticonteuse]

@@ReactionVideoDotAvi I would also have very many questions about how that came about in the mid-13th century (probably more). Why so many Flemish people in Kilkenny at the time? Enough to name a whole village after them? What was bringing them all there??

[@DarkRitualBear]

Maybe it was all the witchcraft bringing them there!

[@scrounder]

@@erraticonteuse There was mass migration of Flemish people, mostly weavers, to Great Britain and Ireland during the medieval period for various reasons, from flooding and overcrowding in Flanders to religious persecution. In this part of the world at that time, the textile trade was exploding and there was plenty of work for weavers from Belgium. I am from a part of England which was a major hub for textiles, many influences still remain with place names having Flemish or French etymology. A modern-day interpretation of the legend, "The Green Children of Woolpit" surmises that the children were Flemish immigrants who couldn't speak English.

[@aleksdreeve8878]

She mastered the two handed guzzle combo and they thought she was a witch. What power. Cool

[@andrefromelpasotexas3236]

Yea she was hittin em with the glug glug 3000

[@danikonyn]

She was sucking the soul out of those men

[@Poodleinacan]

Damn, that was wild! Remarried 3 times!... At that time?

[@joanhoffman3702]

Some women don’t need “magic” to bewitch a man. Example: Alma Mahler Gropius Werfel. See Tom Lehrer’s song “Alma” for more info. From what I’ve read about her, she was not a nice person to her husbands.

[@jacobgard9404]

I wonder if this inspired George RR Martin’s Lady Rohanne Webber

[@elizabethmcglothlin5406]

Ahem...it would be interesting to know how old those husbands were...

[@cecemepls0]

those charges, along with the details of potions and their ingredients were……oddly specific lmao Id be curious as to how they came to those conclusions 😂

[@thehonorshow]

I believe she was a witch... the woman who said that she made her a witch too when being tortured I wondered about but when she REFUSED to repent and got burned at the stake... that takes commitment it was true

[@themildlyconcernedkitten623]

That was a wild question "witchcraft or serial killer?"

[@aczikere9949]

You always have note of nonchalance in your voice, it gives the videos a certain atmosphere

[@Idk-fy8pk]

Finally some Irish medieval history 💃

[@pete3122]

Nice one 👍🏻

[@phinhnanthasone1231]

To her step-children, she was the worst new mother possible, at least financial

[@randomliamsquares765]

My home city of Kilkenny ❤

[@stephenbryant5251]

Yay! 🎉

[@michaelhayes4537]

"Oh, Bartholomew, I feel like Saint Augustine of Hippo after his conversation by Ambrose of Milan." Homer Simpson.

[@wanderinghistorian]

"They were accused of consorting with the terrible demon named... Robin."

[@leadingauctions8440]

It seems KZbin made you censor her name?

[@Ethan-ee8rv]

4:09 Vault Boy??? 😮

[@TheWarboss7]

Name of the intro song?

[@willb1157]

ah - karma and it's favourite step-sister; Irony. "The roof collapsed due to the weight of lead..." well, it satisfied me.🤜

[@kleokleopatra3536]

ALICE was lucky and smart to flee -to stil be able to do so !!!!l

[@WhiteErFox]

Ahaaa, a witch that had her origines in my region. I must look more upon her...wait, I must search more upon her...nono, that didn't sound right... I must research more about her!! That's it! Well, thanks again in any case for uploading!

[@foxtailedcritter]

"Or is she just your everyday serial killer." Man I know this is the medieval ages but that's heavy. Put aside k!ll!ng someone being insane alone imagine being caught for murder in the middle ages let alone theft of a horse.... I might be a wuss but if I was born back then I wouldn't even cuss or even forge a coin.

[@orgixvi3]

Defacing God has a song about this story called Death Followed Like a Plague

[@TERMINUSxNATION]

When the roof collapses due to lead😹👌👍

[@rubyorchids6826]

10:00 hahaha

[@nazlsenay7312]

...

[@toadamine]

"Supernatural powers" = no gag reflex... 🤣👌

[@NinjaGrrrl7734]

The last one must have given the man so much schadenfreude. Like eating all the cake but getting none of the calories.

[@ItsGroundhogDay]

Sounds like she was a witch to me, or she was really hot.

[@EsmeraldaWolfsbane7777]

😂😂

[@h.huffen-puff4105]

🤦‍♀️

[@lexigrimhaive]

Alice's own son William testified against her? How does that make sense? And having arsenic in you at that time didn't automatically mean poisoning: they didn't know how poisonous it was and used it in all kinds of things.

[@yahnservices1978]

Marriage has always been a dangerous gamble. Lose your assets or your life.

[@hensonlaura]

Historically, it's women who are the victims, used as a pawn, dominated by men of power, so as one (a woman) I find stories like this refreshing and a little gratifying 🤗.

[@yahnservices1978]

@@hensonlaura "Men of power" is not only a fraction of the population but they dominated men too. Men and boys had a higher mortality rate andwere forced to die in wars. You gloat because you are evil and biased, just admit it and don't whine about misoginy because you are the source of it. I'll remember your evil comment next time I see a woman in need, thank you for the free heads up🤗.

[@UmarAli-tq8pl]

@@hensonlaura that's kind of sick, ngl.

[@Sirzhukov]

@@hensonlaura men were as exploited, though, just nobody gives a damn about it. It was and is a norm to exploit males. I find in bizarre that stories about serial killers feel like a vengeance porn to you.

[@alventuradelacruz522]

@@hensonlaura you are crazy To think like that

[@rond5379]

Actually she was a real life witch. By definition a witch is a person that deceives by telling a story (AKA placing someone under a spell). Isn't that what con men and con women do? At least that's the definition of witch in the Torah. All of that magical stuff came with Christianity.

[@avrilone]

LOVE your video’s! Some much of the world has been open to me now. Can’t wait for next video! Cheers!

[@mclovinv1919]

What a crafty genius. Even if she did kill her husbands, I burst out laughing when she got away in the end.

[@mclovinv1919]

@Sanctus Paulus 1962 Slightly less, unless they were queen, women were hardly seen in a position of prestige like this. Plus men didn’t get put on trial for being a witch.

[@mclovinv1919]

@@nunyabusiness5614 ok

[@Sirzhukov]

Are you a teenager or a female? How would you squeal if someone poisoned you?

[@peachrenard2320]

Even though she must have been clever to convince her husbands to leave stuff to her child instead of their own children, I don't think it's very cool that she got away. (Mostly, I'd like to know how she actually managed to convince them.)

[@peachrenard2320]

@@mclovinv1919 Actually there were cases of men being put on trial for witchcraft. It just didn't happen as often.

[@benchippy8039]

I’m guessing dame Alice was willing to do things the other girls wouldn’t! A well ‘educated’ woman can make men do crazy things

[@hensonlaura]

Ew. You had to make it gross, ya pig.

[@benchippy8039]

@@hensonlaura I know… low hanging fruit

[@lebowskiduderino89]

Hang on! Where's my pencil?!? Ok...human fat.....skull from robber....Lord's prayer.....what was the other thing?

[@marcusaurelius394]

Why did we stoped having those trials again?

[@EsmeraldaWolfsbane7777]

Because accusing people of something with no evidence whatsoever is ignorant, no matter what everyone thinks their religion is the greatest and that causes hatred and war, discrimination just because someone thinks something is evil doesn't make it true. Not all witch's worship the devil some do for sure I don't and haven't met any who, being a witch means I don't have to follow rules of the church, mosque, and temple it is an ancient and misunderstood practice unfortunately.. I guess all religions are better since the world seems to be doing so well, 🙄it's the fakery that gets me every time most people who claim to be religious are out doing nothing for anyone only themselves...

[@hensonlaura]

That's funny dude.

[@OrangeCanna9468]

Poor Petronella

[@hensonlaura]

She refused to repent; seems like she did just what she wanted.

[@stephaniehowell1109]

The truth: she was a successful female in a time when women were seen as inferior, mere property of men. Male egos felt threatened by this. So, they called her a Witch. Right?

[@THEFlea1991]

Maybe so. One has to wonder about her claimed accomplice, though. To refuse to deny being a witch, and preferring death instead…

[@katbrown1449]

They wanted a monopoly on superstition and the profits thereof. Slow cap old church. Slow clap.

[@-JA-]

🫢👍

[@lukeyLuke55]

"everyday serial killer"? Wtf are you talking about. No one says that lol

[@maryannlockwood7806]

I find it quite ironic that in the Bible, Satan‘s responsible for about 10 to 12 deaths, while God is responsible for countless millions of deaths. I guess it’s all how you look at it.💁🏻‍♀️

[@sensational_cellar8606]

Always so many mispronunciations in these videos

[@THEFlea1991]

True, the one negative I’ve found with them. I’ve learned quite a bit though nontheless

[@t.m.p8187]

tbf ive never heard of this person before I literly just typed in a name and found this youtube account, I don't think I've concentrated so much on one video before

[@guitarpop]

It's pronounced kuh-ven not cõven

[@KellieDoll28]

He got it right :)

[@EsmeraldaWolfsbane7777]

As a Witch 🧹 I appreciate this, thank you, very interesting and I have read so many similar stories

[@yodasmomisondrugs7959]

If your good I would call myself a healer not a witch. Witches are considered evil in ALL cultures and practice bad medicine as my dads people would say, hence why we call them witches.

[@hensonlaura]

Do you really believe you are doing anything other than play-acting? My God! With the information of the ages at your fingertips, you choose to pretend to be a WITCH! The stubborn determination it takes to ignore reality & turn to fantasy: is it hiding from fear, the pretending you have this method of control over life? Or is it ego and being able to feel you have influence over things you really don't? 🤔 Or maybe just attention seeking. I am genuinely curious! All three are dead common human impulses, nothing unusual. The witch choice (I've known a few) always seemed to me an embarrassment. It is fantasy & ridiculous for an adult. You invite the secret scorn of every logical person you meet. The fantasy is worth being known by your peers & community as ridiculous? I cannot see how that could be true. I AM glad you live in an educated society, that ignores such posturing. Millions live where they can be killed if they allow anyone to think they were a witch (Africa, Middle East). I'm curious. Do you try to help your witchy brethren, who suffer persecution in backward places? Edit: A little bizarre that you appreciate a story about a murderess accused of witchcraft because of her ability to lure & destroy people for money, in relation to yourself - because you call yourself a witch. Is that what you wish you could do? 😬 That is what's unsettling, the desire to manipulate things artificially. That person cannot be trusted and nothing supernatural about that.

[@DalkSarraroZerkulin]

Very smug