Heinrich Kramer was a German churchman and inquisitor active in the late 15th century. He is best known for co-authoring the infamous witch-hunting manual, Malleus Maleficarum, in 1487. This book played a significant role in the witch hunts across Europe, promoting the persecution of those accused of witchcraft. Kramer was born around 1430 and served as a cleric in the Catholic Church. His work, alongside Jacob Sprenger, sought to provide a theological basis for the identification and punishment of witches. The Malleus Maleficarum became a key text in the witch trials that followed, influencing attitudes towards witchcraft for centuries.