Execution by sword. History of
execution. Beheading by sword in medieval times, renaissance, modern age
and execution today. Sword of Justice in action.
Execution by Sword
Execution by sword, axe or by guillotine is a relatively painless and
very fast method of capital punishment if performed well.
Brain is immediately separated from body and spinal cord after
successful stroke. Consciousness is probably lost within a few seconds,
due due to a rapid fall of the intracranial perfusion of blood. The
decapitated body dies from shock and anoxia due to haemorrhage and loss
of blood pressure in less than one minute.
Of course some executions went wrong. Executioner of Mary, Queen of
Scots needed about ten strokes to complete his duty some sources say.
History of Execution by Sword
Execution in Rome
Beheading was a common form of execution in Rome during republic and
imperial times. Method of execution was very specifically explained for
the few crimes that did result in execution. Pompey the Great and Cicero
are famous beheaded Romans.
Execution by sword was a honorable death in Rome. Many officers and
patricians preferred suicide by sword rather then a public execution.
Hanging, crucifixion and ad bestias (to the beasts) were next forms of
capital punishment in Rome.
Execution by sword in Medieval times
Sword was a symbol of honorary death in medieval Europe. Axe was tool of
beheading suitable for commoners. England was an exception, English
executioners often used an axe even for nobles.
Medieval Knight and Nobility caste worn swords as a symbol of their
power. Knights trained with sword from early age, they were promoted by
sword later and they used the sword for rest of their life. They often
died by sword on a battlefield.
Execution by sword was an acceptable and honor death for them. Knights
and nobles often asked for sword and they usually got it. High treason
was an exception, many nobles accused of high treason died by less
honorable death to serve as an example.
Famous beheaded Europeans : William Wallace, Richard Neville, Thomas
Muntzer, Anne Boleyn, Mary, Queen of Scots, Charles I of England, Louis
XVI of France and Marie Antoinette.
Execution by sword in China
Beheading by swords was not preferred punishment in China, hanging and
other techniques were most suitable for Chinese people because of
Konfucianism which says that body is a gift and it must be buried as a
complex.
Execution by sword in Japan
Medieval Japan society was similar to the European. Samurais, Japanese
military caste worn swords as a symbol of their position.
It was very common that all soldiers of defeated army were executed by
sword. Many of them selected sepuka (harakiri) a ritual suicide when they
failed to fill their orders.
Mass executions by swords were performed till end of WW2. Many Chinese,
American and Australian soldiers and civilians were executed by Japanese
swords those times.
Execution by sword in modern days
Many European countries executed last criminals by sword in 19th
century. German nazi regime used execution by guillotine during ww2.
Last criminal was guillotined in France in 1981.
Many Christians and Shias were executed by Al Qaeda in Syrian war.
Saudi Arabia still use the execution by sword.
