The Worst Medieval Torture Techniques Explained By Historian

History Hit

26 Feb 202426:51

EducationalLearning

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TLDRMatt Lewis, co-host of the 'History Hits Gone Medieval' podcast, presents a harrowing exploration of medieval torture and execution methods. The video delves into brutal practices such as hanging, drawing, and quartering, where victims like William Wallace suffered slow strangulation followed by gruesome dismemberment. Impalement, popularized by Vlad the Impaler, involved victims being pierced on a pole, sometimes surviving for days. Crushing was used to coerce pleas in court, as demonstrated by the tragic case of Margaret Clitherow. Beheading, considered a noble's 'privilege,' offered a swifter death, though it could still be botched, as with Margaret Pole. The wheel, or 'breaking wheel,' shattered bones and left victims to die on the spokes. Boiling in oil or water was reserved for heinous crimes, with Richard Roose being a notable victim. Soaring, or being split in half by a saw, was another slow, agonizing death. Burning at the stake was reserved for heretics and witches, with Joan of Arc's execution being a famous example. Flaying, or skinning alive, was a punishment that left victims in extreme pain, often symbolized by holding their own skin. The 'wooden horse' of the Spanish Inquisition caused severe internal damage and was used as late as the US Civil War. Lewis's narrative provides a chilling reminder of humanity's capacity for cruelty throughout history.

Takeaways

💀 The medieval period was notorious for its brutal and terrifying forms of torture and execution, often reserved for the worst crimes against the state.
🈲 Hanged, drawn, and quartered was a particularly gruesome punishment used for treason, involving hanging until near death, disembowelment, and dismemberment.
🔥 Burning at the stake was a common method for executing those accused of heresy, aiming to destroy the body completely as a symbol of purifying sin.
🩸 Impalement was a painful execution method, where victims were pierced on a stake, sometimes surviving for days in extreme agony.
⛏️ Crushing was used to force individuals to plead in court, involving placing heavy stones on a board over the victim to inflict severe pain.
🎭 Beheading was considered a more 'merciful' execution for nobility, aiming for a quick death compared to other methods.
🛡️ Breaking on the wheel, or the Catherine wheel, involved attaching victims to a large wheel and systematically breaking their bones with an iron bar.
🌊 Boiling to death was a punishment for certain severe crimes, with victims being submerged in a container of water and boiled alive.
🪓 Being sawn in half was a particularly brutal execution that involved cutting victims in two from the groin upwards, often while they were still alive.
🐴 The 'wooden horse' or Spanish donkey was a torture device used during the Spanish Inquisition to punish and extract confessions through extreme discomfort and pain.
📚 These historical methods of execution and torture reflect the cruel and creative ways humans have devised to inflict pain and suffering throughout history.

Q & A

What is the first form of execution discussed in the video?
-The first form of execution discussed is 'hanged, drawn, and quartered,' which was a brutal punishment used primarily for cases of treason during the medieval period.
How did the method of 'drawing' in 'hanged, drawn, and quartered' originally involve the condemned?
-Originally, 'drawing' involved tying the condemned's ankles to a horse and dragging them through the streets to the place of execution.
What was the purpose of keeping the person conscious during the hanging process in 'hanged, drawn, and quartered'?
-The purpose was to ensure the person suffered and remained conscious for the rest of the execution process, as the subsequent acts of punishment were intended to increase their pain.
Who is one famous historical figure known to have been executed by 'hanged, drawn, and quartered'?
-William Wallace, the Scottish independence fighter, was executed by this method in 1305.
What is the process of 'drawing' in 'hanged, drawn, and quartered'?
-Drawing involves tying the person onto a flat surface and using a sharp instrument to cut them open from below the chest to the groin, with the intention of pulling out their internal organs.
How did the executioners ensure the person remained conscious during the 'drawing' process?
-Executioners might place a lighted brazier or fire next to the person being executed, so their intestines and bowels could be thrown onto the fire, ensuring the person remained conscious of their suffering.
Which historical figure is known for using impalement as a form of execution?
-Vlad the Impaler, a ruler in Wallachia around the mid-15th century, is infamous for using impalement as a form of execution.
What was the purpose of using a breaking wheel as a form of execution?
-The breaking wheel, or St. Katherine's wheel, was used to break the victim's bones using a large cartwheel, often starting with the legs and moving up the body, with the intention of causing extreme pain and a slow, agonizing death.
How was the punishment of boiling to death used in the medieval period?
-Boiling to death was used as a punishment for extreme cases of murder and, in some regions, for coin forgery. The condemned would be submerged in water and boiled alive.
What form of execution was used to target religious dissenters during the medieval period?
-Burning at the stake was used for cases of heresy, where religious dissenters were tied to a stake and burned to death.
What is the historical context of the 'wooden horse' or 'Spanish donkey'?
-The wooden horse, also known as the Spanish donkey, was a torture device used during the Spanish Inquisition to force confessions of heresy. It involved the victim being lowered onto a pointed piece of wood, causing extreme pain and potential long-term damage.

Outlines

00:00

😨 Medieval Executions: Hanged, Drawn, and Quartered

Matt Lewis introduces a graphic exploration of medieval torture and execution methods, starting with the brutal punishment of being hanged, drawn, and quartered. This was a common punishment for treason, involving stages of drawing the victim to the place of execution, hanging them to either break the neck or strangle slowly, and then disemboweling the still-conscious victim. The process was designed to maximize suffering and often involved additional humiliations, such as burning the removed organs in front of the victim. Notable examples include the execution of William Wallace in 1305.

05:00

🤕 Impalement: A Gruesome History

The video continues with a discussion on impalement, a method famously used by Vlad the Impaler. Various forms of impalement are described, including transverse and the more prolonged, spinal impalement, which could keep victims alive for days. The practice was not only used by Vlad but also by English figures like John Tiptoft, the Earl of Worcester. Impalement was a global practice, intended to instill fear and humiliate victims, used from antiquity into the 19th century.

10:01

🏰 Crushing and Other Torturous Executions

The script details the practice of crushing, where victims had heavy stones placed on a board over their bodies to force a plea in court or extract a confession. The infamous case of Margaret Clitherow, who was crushed to death along with her unborn child for refusing to plead, is highlighted. The paragraph also touches on beheading as a relatively 'merciful' execution method reserved for the nobility, with a quick and less painful death compared to others.

15:01

🛡 Breaking Wheels and Slow Deaths

The brutal practice of breaking on the wheel is described, where victims were laid on a large cartwheel and their limbs were systematically broken with repeated strikes. Depending on the crime, the severity and speed of the breaking varied. The victims were then left to die slowly, sometimes over days, wedged onto the wheel. The paragraph also briefly mentions boiling to death, another form of execution used for severe crimes.

20:01

🔥 Burning at the Stake and Other Medieval Tortures

The paragraph delves into burning at the stake, a punishment for heresy and witchcraft, where victims were tied to a stake and burned alive. The infamous burning of Joan of Arc is cited as a notable example. The text also covers flaying alive, where victims were skinned while conscious, and the use of the 'wooden horse' or Spanish donkey during the Spanish Inquisition as methods of torture to extract confessions.

25:02

🏇 A Glimpse into the Cruelty of Human Punishment

The final paragraph reflects on the cruelty and ingenuity humans have displayed in their methods of punishment throughout history. It mentions the use of the wooden horse during the US Civil War and emphasizes that medieval people were not unique in their brutality. The video concludes with an invitation to follow the History Hits Gone Medieval podcast for more historical content.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Hanging, Drawing and Quartering

A brutal form of execution used during the medieval period, primarily for those accused of treason. It involved multiple stages: first, the victim was hanged, but not to the point of death; then they were disemboweled while still alive; and finally, they were beheaded and their body cut into quarters. This was considered the most severe punishment and was used to deter others from committing similar crimes. An example from the script is the execution of William Wallace in 1305.

💡Impaling

A form of execution where a person was pierced by a long, sharp object, such as a stake or pole. It was used by various cultures, notably Vlad the Impaler, and involved either a quick death by impalement through the torso or a slow, agonizing death by being pierced through the lower body and left to hang until death from starvation or blood loss. The script references both Vlad the Impaler and the English Impaler, John Tiptoft, as historical figures known for using this method.

💡Crushing

A method of execution that involved placing a heavy load on top of the victim, gradually increasing the weight until the person was crushed to death. It was used to force individuals to enter a plea in court to avoid property forfeiture. The script mentions the case of Margaret Clitherow, who was crushed to death along with her unborn child after refusing to plead in court.

💡Beheading

A relatively quick and 'merciful' method of execution compared to others, usually reserved for nobility. The condemned would kneel with their neck on a block, and an executioner would strike off their head with a sword or axe. Beheading was considered less painful and more dignified than other forms of execution. The script refers to it as a 'benefit of nobility' and mentions famous executions, including that of Anne Boleyn.

💡Wheel (Breaking Wheel)

Also known as the 'breaking wheel,' this method involved the use of a large wheel on which the victim was beaten with a blunt object, aiming to break their bones. It was sometimes used in conjunction with crucifixion, where the victim's broken body was then attached to the wheel and left to die slowly. St. Catherine of Alexandria is a notable figure associated with this form of execution, and the term 'Catherine wheel' is derived from her martyrdom.

💡Boiling to Death

An execution method where the victim was submerged in a liquid, typically oil or water, and heated until death by boiling. It was used for severe crimes such as murder and coin forgery. The script recounts the case of Richard Roose, a cook who was boiled to death in one of his own cauldrons for attempting to poison a bishop.

💡Sawing

Also known as 'sawing in half,' this execution method involved cutting the victim in two using a saw, often starting from the groin and moving upwards. It was a prolonged and agonizing process that could take hours, depending on the skill of the executioner. The script describes this as one of the most painful and cruel forms of execution.

💡Burning at the Stake

A method of execution where the victim was tied to a stake and surrounded by combustible materials, which were then ignited. This was particularly associated with heresy and witchcraft during the medieval period. The script mentions the execution of Joan of Arc, who was burned at the stake as a heretic.

💡Flaying

The process of removing the skin from a person while they are alive. It was an extremely painful and brutal form of punishment, often used as a form of torture before execution. The script references St. Bartholomew, who is often depicted holding his skin, symbolizing his martyrdom by flaying.

💡Wooden Horse (Spanish Donkey)

A torture device used during the Spanish Inquisition, where the victim was forced to sit or lay on a wooden frame with a pointed end, causing severe pain and potential long-term damage. It was used to extract confessions of heresy. The script notes that this method was also used during the US Civil War.

💡Medieval Torture

The use of physical pain or suffering to punish or extract information from individuals during the medieval period. The script explores various forms of medieval torture, highlighting their brutality and the historical context in which they were used.

Highlights

Matt Lewis introduces a variety of brutal and terrifying forms of torture and execution from the medieval period.

Hanging, drawing, and quartering was a punishment for treason and involved stages of suffering while conscious.

William Wallace, the Scottish independence fighter, was executed by this method in 1305.

Impalement, famously used by Vlad the Impaler, involved victims being pierced on a spike, sometimes surviving for days.

Crushing was used to extract a plea in court, with victims placed under heavy stones to coerce a response.

Beheading was considered a more 'merciful' execution for nobility, aiming for a quick and clean death.

The wheel, or breaking wheel, involved the deliberate breaking of bones starting from the legs and moving up the body.

Boiling to death was used for severe crimes like murder and coin forgery, with victims submerged in a cauldron of boiling liquid.

Soaring, or being cut in half using a saw, was a prolonged and agonizing method of execution.

Burning at the stake was associated with heresy and involved the victim being tied to a stake and burned alive.

Flaying involved the removal of a person's skin while they were conscious, a punishment that could lead to death from shock or blood loss.

The wooden horse was a torture device used during the Spanish Inquisition, designed to inflict severe pain on the victim.

Many of these medieval torture methods have long histories, with some still being used or referenced in more modern times.

Matt Lewis is the co-host of the History Hits Gone Medieval podcast, providing in-depth insights into historical torture and execution methods.

The video serves as a grim reminder of the creative cruelty humans have inflicted on each other throughout history.

Execution methods were often designed to maximize pain and humiliation, with public spectacles serving as a deterrent to others.

The use of fire, sharp instruments, and heavy objects were common themes in the brutal executions of the medieval period.

Transcripts

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Medieval Torture Execution Methods Historical Punishment Treason Punishments William Wallace Vlad the Impaler Cruelty in History Human Rights Criminal Justice Historical Analysis Podcast Content Gruesome Executions