Chapter 1: The Accusation

On the night of August 7, 1620, an elderly woman in Germany was violently removed from her bed and confined within a linen chest. Overcome with fear and panic, she was locked in a small, dark room and accused of witchcraft. The sole reason for this heinous act? She was the mother of Johannes Kepler, the renowned mathematician and astronomer.

Johannes Kepler is best known for formulating the three laws of planetary motion. Throughout his life, he contributed significantly to science by inventing a rudimentary vacuum cleaner, utilizing logarithms for astronomical calculations, developing a method for determining the volume of irregular objects, and enhancing telescope designs. His accomplishments are impressive, to say the least.

In addition to his scientific achievements, Kepler penned what is considered the first science fiction novel in 1593, titled “Somnium, Sive Astronomia Lunaris,” or “Dream on the Astronomy of the Moon.” This work anticipated the future of space exploration, including a journey to the moon, though it was published posthumously. His adversaries, unable to directly harm him due to his influential position, targeted his 74-year-old mother instead.

Katharina Kepler, often described as a difficult and outspoken woman, was also an herbalist who instilled in her son a deep appreciation for nature. She took the time to introduce him to celestial phenomena like comets and eclipses. When she was apprehended at her son’s brother’s home in Leonberg and faced with 49 allegations of practicing forbidden arts, Johannes rushed to her defense.

This intervention likely saved his own life. While he was in Germany supporting his mother, the Catholic authorities executed 27 Protestant leaders in Linz, Austria—Kepler’s hometown. Had he been present, he would almost certainly have been among the condemned.

Both Johannes and Katharina were ensnared in the conflicts of the Thirty Years War, a tumultuous period marked by the strife between Catholics and Protestants that permeated all aspects of daily life, particularly as the clash between scientific inquiry and biblical teachings intensified.

Chapter 2: The Trial and Its Aftermath

Mrs. Kepler's trial lasted four arduous years, and the threat was very real. In 1615, six women in her town were executed for witchcraft. Johannes had to navigate this perilous situation delicately as he prepared her defense and managed all legal documents. Ultimately, the charges against Katharina were deemed insufficient, but authorities insisted on a dramatic display of what she had narrowly escaped.

James Connor, in his book Kepler’s Witch, describes a harrowing moment when Katharina was taken to the torturer. Aulber, the bailiff of Güglingen, accompanied by a scribe and court representatives, pressured her to confess, brandishing various torture instruments and detailing their gru