Execution by the Wheel

Execution by the Wheel

  • Interesting Facts and information about Execution by the Wheel in the Medieval and Middle Ages
  • Execution by the Wheel
  • Torture devices during the Middle Ages
  • Facts, Information and history of tortures
  • Implements used for the the Wheel execution
  • Medieval Torture Devices And Methods

Execution by the Wheel

Facts and Information about the methods, devices and instruments of execution used during the
 Medieval period of the Middle Ages

   
  

Execution by the Wheel
The Medieval period of the Middle Ages was violent, and blood thirsty. In these barbarous times the cruel and pitiless  torturers were induced to inflict the horrors of tortures, including the Wheel. Tortures were sometimes followed by execution. Torture and execution methods, devices and instruments were used to inflict the deliberate, systematic, cruel and wanton infliction of physical and mental suffering. There were no laws or rules to protect the treatment of prisoners who faced executions such as being executed on the wheel.

Method of inflicting the terrible death by the Wheel
Different types of torture and execution were used depending on the victim's crime and social status. There were also different tortures and execution methods used according to the customs of each country. In France execution by the Wheel was practised and described as follows:

the Wheel may in truth be considered the most horrible penalty ever invented. This punishment dates from the remotest ages. In almost all cases, the victim had previously to undergo various accessory tortures: sometimes his right hand was cut off, and the mutilated stump was burnt in a cauldron of sulphur; sometimes his arms, thighs, or breasts were lacerated with red-hot pincers, and hot oil, pitch, or molten lead was poured into the wounds. After these horrible preliminaries, a rope was attached to each of the limbs of the criminal, one being bound round each leg from the foot to the knee, and round each arm from the wrist to the elbow. These ropes were then fastened to four bars, to each of which a strong horse was harnessed, as if for towing a barge. These horses were first made to give short jerks; and when the agony had elicited heart-rending cries from the unfortunate man, who felt his limbs being dislocated without being broken, the four horses were all suddenly urged on with the whip in different directions, and thus all the limbs were strained at one moment. If the tendons and ligaments still resisted the combined efforts of the four horses, the executioner assisted, and made several cuts with a hatchet on each joint. When at last, for this horrible torture often lasted several hours - each horse had drawn out a limb, they were collected and placed near the hideous trunk, which often still showed signs of life, and the whole were burned together. Sometimes the sentence was, that the body should be hung to the gibbet, and that the limbs should be displayed on the gates of the town, or sent to four principal towns in the extremities of the kingdom. When this was done, "an inscription was placed on each of the limbs, which stated the reason of its being thus exposed."

Execution by the Wheel
Each section of this Middle Ages website addresses all topics and provides interesting facts and information about the events and traditions in bygone Medieval times including the Wheel. The Sitemap provides full details of all of the information and facts provided about this terrible but fascinating subject of the Middle Ages!

Execution by the Wheel

  • Middle Ages Torture
  • Medieval Methods of Tortures
  • the Wheel
  • Torture devices during the Middle Ages
  • French methods of execution
  • Facts, Information and history of tortures
  • Implements used for tortures
  • Medieval Torture Devices And Methods
  • devices during the Middle Ages

Execution by the Wheel

the Wheel - Middle Ages - Devices - Devises - Crime, Punishment And Tortures In The Middle Ages - Dislocation - Methods Of Tortures - Dislocation - devices during the Middle Ages - Devices In The Middle Ages - Torture Instruments In The Middle Ages - Medieval Tortures - Medieval  - Dislocation - Instrument - Instruments - Device - Technique - Techniques - Facts - Information - Info - the Wheel - Machines - Tools - Equipment - Effectiveness - History - Humiliation - Implement - Implements - Medieval Torture - Medieval Torture Devices And Methods - Instrument - Instruments - Device - Technique - Techniques - Facts - Information - Info - Dungeon - Machines - Tools - Equipment - Effectiveness - History - Humiliation - Implement - Implements - Devises - the Wheel - Written By Linda Alchin