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The Grim Lives of Famous Executioners in Medieval Society
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Justice played an important role in the everyday life of medieval society and into the Early Modern era. Righteousness was held in high regard during these times, and criminals were often punished quite harshly in an effort to deter other perpetrators and steer them from the path of crime. Political enemies were punished too, as were traitors and heretics. And to do all this punishing and killing, an official executioner had to be employed. Throughout the medieval period and beyond, the executioners played a fundamental role in society and dispensed the King’s justice with deadly efficiency. Many, however, suffered from the social stigma that was brought with their employment, even though they gained riches and high ranks during their careers. Who were they? And what were their stories?
By the Edge of the Sword (or Ax)
An executioner in the Middle Ages was a person with great responsibilities, but also with great privileges too. To kill condemned criminals was not an easy task: it weighed heavily on one’s conscience and carried with it a lot of social stigma as well. But the difficulty of this job was repaid heavily by monarchs: executioners could earn a whole lot of money and attain lofty positions in society, including a noble status. Because of this, many individuals arose to become (in)famous in their respective nations.
The executioner Franz Schmidt executing Hans Fröschel on May 18, 1591. This drawing in the margins of a court record is the only surviving fully reliable portrait of Franz Schmidt. (Public Domain)
Franz Schmidt, also known as Meister Franz (1555-1634) was one of the most prominent executioners in medieval Germany. Inheriting the calling from his own father, he became the chief headsman of the city of Hof, in Bavaria. After excelling at the job for several years, he advanced his position, and became the chief headsman of Nuremberg, a major city at the time. During the course of his 45-year career, he performed exactly 361 executions, all of which he detailed in his diary, which survive to this day.
Meister Franz performed executions in various ways, as was his duty. He’d kill the most violent criminals on the breaking wheel, while other criminals were executed by the rope, sword, or more rarely by drowning and burning. The burning punishment was only reserved for homosexuals and those counterfeiting money and occurred only twice in his entire career. And even though his employment at the time carried a lot of social stigma, Meister Franz nevertheless earned a significant amount of money and could live comfortably throughout his life.
The Butcher of Bohemia
One of the most famous executioners of the middle ages was Jan Mydlář (1572-1664), from Bohemia, modern Czech Republic. Living and working in the capital, Prague, he had a long career of being the headsman on the behalf of the House of Habsburg, one of the most important noble dynasties in Europe. Mydlář was a well-known figure, notorious for his grim appearance. During his executions, he wore a specially crafted red hood-like mask which covered his face and truly made him a dreadful presence in these already horrifying events.
Jan Mydlář’s most famous event was the execution of 27 leaders of the Bohemian Revolt, which occurred on June 21st, 1621, at the Old Town Square in Prague. Caused by religious and political disputes, the revolt was a popular uprising of the Bohemian estates against the rule of the Habsburg dynasty that eventually began the Thirty Years' War. After the revolt ended, it was down to Mydlář to dispense justice. The stakes were high, however. This was no ordinary execution - he had to behead 27 men, and all of them with a single stroke. If he were to need two strokes, he’d lose his job and reputation. To complete all these executions, he used 4 swords in total, and it took him 5 hours to do it.
Mydlář’s grim work earned him a fearsome reputation, but he nevertheless enjoyed prominence. His descendants were also executioners. With his unique red mask, he became a lasting symbol and was featured on the debut EP of the popular thrash metal band, Sodom.
Execution of 27 Bohemian Revolt leaders, Old Town Square, Prague, 21 June 1621 (Public Domain)
Bloodshed in Britain
Similarly, in England, the executioners were always very busy. From the earliest origins of that nation, the job of the chief executioner was occupied. One of the earliest known English executioners was Thomas de Warblynton, also known as Thomas of Warblington. Being the first documented English headsman, he is known to have advanced his position in society significantly, all thanks to his grim employment.
Early English medieval documents mention him as the chief executioner of the most brutal punishments - in particular the sentence of drawing and quartering. But thanks to these punishments, Thomas earned the position of a petty noble, and held estates and servants.
His is the perfect example of how medieval executioners could perform their brutal duties but still reach a lavish standing in society. Thomas de Warblynton eventually became the sheriff of his own county, and had significant earnings. And all that because he quartered condemned criminals.
Upon his passing, his estates and riches, and likely his employment as well, were passed on to his heir, John de Warblynton, in the 44th regnal year of King Edward III. And so his descendants enjoyed the same privileges too.
Symbolic robed figure of a medieval public executioner at Peter and Paul Fortress, Saint Petersburg, Russia (Andrew Butko/CC BY-SA 3.0)
From Bloodshed to Riches
Justice always prevails. In the Middle Ages and beyond, this was always known. But even so, justice had to be displayed somehow. And the most common way to do this was with a sword. However, not everyone was able to perform these duties, as it weighed heavily on the conscience, and carried social stigma. But those select few stepped up to the job and carried out these duties with a strong sense of righteousness.
Famous executioners were not necessarily accepted in society, and carried a lot of weight on their souls, but even so - they served their King and country, punished those deserving of death, and earned a lot of money while doing it.
Top image: The grimmed Executioner Of The Death Penalty in black costume and mask With A Huge Sharp Ax On a scaffold. Source: Vlyaks/Adobe Stock
References
Harrington, J. F. 2013. The Faithful Executioner: Life and Death in the Sixteenth Century. Random House.
Thompson, B. E. R. 2009. Capital Punishment. Greenhaven Publishing LLC.
Webb, S. 2011. Execution: A History of Capital Punishment in Britain. History Press.
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