Punishment in France By Andrew Follmann

Torture Torture was seen for a long time as a viable way to extract information and to punish the condemned. Three main methods of torture were: humiliating torture, torture meant only to inflict pain, and torture meant to kill a person.

Humiliation The Brank (Scold’s Bridle) Pillory Burning the Dead Galley Rowers

The Brank Humiliating and uncomfortable Used exclusively women who were a ‘public nuisance’ Prevented speaking

The Pillory Placed in public places Laughed and jeered at by passersby Encased the head and hands

Burning the Dead Often as a means of final humiliation for the accused, the executioner was to burn the bodies of those who died of natural causes before they could be executed.

Galley Rowers This punishment acted as a type of slavery, as the criminal was sentenced to a life at sea to row the boats of war. Punishments were for deserting were to sever the nose and cut off the ears of the deserter and force him to immediately resume working.

Pain Most common method of torture, used for extracting information and to punish the condemned. Iron Balls Torture Thumbscrews Water Torture Dislocation The Brodequins

Iron Balls Torture Ordinary and Extraordinary torture Ordinary: Hang the accused by the wrists, with a heavy iron ball at each foot. Extraordinary: The criminal’s body was in the middle of a room, with all four limbs stretched in opposite directions, the accused had to support his body weight because of a sharp stake underneath him.

Thumbscrews Fingers and toes put in. They are slowly crushed. Popular because it is portable.

Water Torture Subject is force fed 4 gallons of water. If you don’t drink the water you will drown. If you do, then you will have your stomach burst.

Dislocation Ordinary: Lifted to the center of the room with 180lbs fastened to his feet Extraordinary: Lifted to ceiling with 250lbs attached to feet. Let down with short jerks, dislocating both arms and both legs.

The Brodequins Wood binds victims legs together, wedges hammered between, legs crushed.

Execution This method was used to kill someone in the most painful manor possible. Methods include: Quartering and Burning.

Before Execution Before the condemned are executed they must say that they falsely said or did something against the king or challenged someone’s honor. He also had to confess his sins to God and man.

Executioner The Executioners job came with a price. Often they were forbidden to live within the precincts of the city, and in sometimes had to wear a yellow or red coat. This job was not all bad, some perks were that he could take a handful of grain from each load of that entered the market. He also benefited from several taxes and fines.

Quartering (Before) Seen by many as the most horrendous form of torture. Before quartering the prisoner had his hand cut off, and the stump was burnt in a pot of boiling sulfur. His arms, breasts or thighs were mutilated with red hot pincers, and burning oil or molten lead were poured into his wounds.

Quartering First a four ropes were fastened to the criminals limbs, and each rope was attached to a horse. The horses moved in short quick jerks meant to dislocate and cause extreme pain to the victim. After hours of this, the torturers ordered the horses to all pull at the same time to rip the limps apart from the body. Then the limbs were retreived and placed next to the stump of a body which still showed signs of life, and it was all burned together.

Burning Alive Very common method of execution. Tied to a stake surrounded by sticks and straw.