Christman Genipperteinga

Christman Genipperteinga (died June 1581) was a possibly fictitious German serial killer and bandit of the 16th century. He reportedly murdered 964 individuals over a 13-year period, from 1568 until his capture in 1581. Although records of Genipperteinga's alleged crimes first emerged shortly after his death, starting in 1581, historians are uncertain of Genipperteinga's existence. Similar tales of other serial-killing bandits were circulated in the Holy Roman Empire during and after his alleged life.

Life and alleged crimes The earliest known and most commonly cited account of Christmann Genipperteinga appeared in 1582, written by Caspar Herber, a resident of Lochem an der Mussel (Cochem) and printed by Caspar Behem in Mentz (Mainz).

Genipperteinga was born in Körpen (Kerpen), a town two German miles ( km) from Cologne. prior to his execution, Genipperteinga settled near Bergkessel (Bernkastel), in a wooded upland area called Fraßberg. On a mountain, he took residence in a man-made mining cave, rumored to have been dug by dwarves. Genipperteinga discovered that the high position gave him a good view of the roads going to and from Lützburg, as well as those leading to or passing by Trier, Metz, Diedenhofen, Genipperteiga furnished the cave, initially with bare necessities such as a bed and weapons, He is alleged to have told his former prisoner either "You perjuring whore, this is the oath you swore to me?" and was kept conscious throughout with "strong drink" administered by his torturers each day.

Historicity Whether Genipperteinga actually existed remains uncertain. The sensational story is not attested to in contemporary local records, and the only accounts of his life come from a series of late 16th century pamphlets, all derivative from a 1581 publication by Caspar Herber of Cochem. No other publications of or references to Caspar Herber survive. Genipperteinga is one of the most prominent of a series of 16th-century German alleged serial killers, and his story shares attributes with those of a handful of other bandits. Genipperteinga's story entered local folklore, and was reprinted in altered forms on several occasions as late as the 19th century. while claims of cannibalism appeared in some later versions of his life story. Similarly, it was claimed later that Genipperteinga was taught dark magic by Peter Nirsch, another possibly apocryphal bandit, having supposedly served as an apprentice to him for two years, and that both practiced rituals for the Devil, believing this would grant them invisibility during their crimes.