That morbid triviality apart , this macabre method acting of implementation has mostly been consigned to ancient story , with its manyeuphemisms(“the patriotic haircut , ” “ sneeze into the basket ” ) glossing over a spectacularly sanguinary display that persisted for centuries . And while the guillotine — name after Dr. Joseph - Ignace Guillotin , who in 1789 recommended the use of a gravity - assisted blade for a cut of meat thatshould feel“like a cool breath on the back of the neck”—was effective , there were alternative approaches , too . Take a look at eight facts about the unkindest snub of all .
1. The Halifax Gibbet was a guillotine prototype.
Before Guillotin successfully lobby for the guillotine , another variationon the gravity blade survive . Dubbed the Halifax Gibbet , it was a pop penalisation for petty theft in 16th- and 17th - one C England and comprise of two 15 - understructure pillar with a hard wooden block congeal between them . The engine block held a blade on the bottom and was held in place by a thole attached to a rope . attract the pin make the stoppage to fall , and the prisoner to quit exist . For added dramatic event , a sawhorse was sometimes used , running off and draw a rope attached to the tholepin .
If this doesn’tsound much differentthan its successor , it wasn’t — preserve for the fact that little attention was pay to the stipulation of the often - ho-hum blade and that its victim were actually have their neck crushed rather than sever .
finally , public sentiment disagree with decapitation as a penalization for stealing , andOliver Cromwellhad it dismantle . Cromwell , of course , was himself beheaded posthumously by political rivals and had his noggin stuck on a spike heel . you’re able to call in a non - working replica of the gallows-tree in Halifax today .
2. Beheadings were subject to bribes.
executioner who wield axis vertebra had the welfare of titrating the fury they could impose . Sometimes , this stand for either purposely drawing out or shortening the woe endured by the condemned . Jack Ketch , a 17th - century axe man in London , is perhaps the most glaring example . It ’s believe Ketch accepted payoff from the soon - to - be - dead to ensure a quick end . alike , he also engage money from a person ’s enemies to make the implementation a prolonged spectacle . Most infamously , Ketch botched the Duke of Monmouth ’s beheading in 1685 , light upon the duke with an ax five times before being forced to finish the problem with a knife . One ( possibly apocryphal ) item : The duke was so annoyed by the first and largely harmless ax swing music thathe get hold of his head off the chop blockto shoot Ketch an annoyed expression .
3. Some could dodge the blade by winning a foot race.
The implementation of the Ottoman Empire were tint with a arcdegree of psychological torture . Those wondering if they would be condemned to death were given a drink to sip ; if it was white , they were fine . If it was red , it was time to break down . For the wealthy or one of smart set ’s elite , that meant a beheading — but there was a workaround . If the dupe couldoutrunthe public executioner in a foot race , they ’d effectively get a pardon .
The dash was about 300 cubic yard and wound its path around Topkapi Palace in Istanbul . If successful , the prisoner would just be banished . Few come through , since the executioners jazz the background well than the prisoners . The practice hold out into the 18th century .
4. Executioner’s hoods weren’t a thing.
Pop polish is awash in depictions of old - timey executioner wearing hoods to protect their identities , presumptively so they would n’t have to fear reprisal from the recently - beheaded . While masks did survive , it was actuallymore commonfor regions toboastof their executioners rather than essay to hide their indistinguishability . In the Middle Ages , land like Scandinavia mutilated the ears of their professional killers or branded their cheek , making them manifest .
Executioners were probably better off with the mask . In France and other places , they were often vilify , forced to live apartfrom regular society . Even their offspring were expect to fraternise only with the offspring of other executioner before getting one-time enough to inherit the family business .
5. Beheadings inspired Madame Tussaud.
What to do with a impertinently - chop head ? If you ’re pioneer waxwork specialist Marie Tussaud , you take it as divine guidance . Tussaudlearned her tradein part by creating cast of decapitated heads that had lolled into basket following the closure by compartment — at one point , she write in her memoirs , balancing a flaming head on one genu to well capture its feature . Tussaud was almost beheaded herself after being get for being a royalist during France ’s Reign of Terror . After being freed , shecontinuedher body of work , eventuallymoving to Londonto open up her now - renowned museum .
6. Some swords had inscriptions.
Beheadings by ax were vulgar owing to their instrument ’s heft : A clean cut was gestate when handle a toilsome tool with both hand . But swords were also used , and some bore inscriptions suitable of a Hallmark carte . One steel on display at the Cleveland Museum of Artreads , “ When I raise this blade , so I wish that this pitiful evildoer will receive eternal life . ”
7. Cephalophores continued using their heads.
For as long as there have been beheadings , so there ’s beenmythology aroundthose who can at least shortly hold out death . Some Christian ideal , nickname cephalophores , were reputedly capable of bind their own head aloft after beheading . One such saint , Justus , spoke some words of prayer and asked to be reunify with his female parent before expiring . Another , St. Denis , was say to have carried his oral sex six mil , preaching all the while . Whilethere ’s debatewhether wisp of cognisance persist after beheading , recollective - distance walking is probably out of the doubtfulness .
8. One man laughed at his own beheading.
For the most part , getting your mind chop up off was no walkover . ForLord Simon Fraser , it still held a small amusement . In 1747 , the Scottish lord was rig to be beheaded in London for betrayal during the Jacobite revolt . Before being forced onto the chop up blockage , Fraser was articulate to have mocked his public executioner . He alsolet out a chucklewhen a podium holding watcher collapsed , killing nine of the hoi polloi who had assembled to watch him die . Sometimes all you’re able to do is laugh .
