Who is the hangman? Profession of executioner in the Middle Ages

Medieval Europe left a huge bloody trace in world history. And all because the death penalty in those days was put on a par with the entertainment programs, so no weekend did not pass without this "entertainment". The execution of the death sentence could not have taken place, had not the executioners been. They carried out torture, chopped off their heads and prepared guillotines. But who such a hangman: cruel and heartless or forever damned unhappy man?

Ungenerous vocation

The executioner was considered an employee of the judicial system, authorized to carry out the punishment and death penalty by the ruler of the state. It would seem that the profession of the executioner could well be honorable with this definition, but everything was different. He was not free to change the line of activity, go to public places.

They had to live outside the city, where prisons were located. All the work he does from the beginning to the end, that is, he prepared the necessary tools, and after completing the case, he buried the corpse. Their work required good knowledge in anatomy.

There is a myth that they wore black masks. In fact, they did not hide their face, and they could be recognized by a black robe and a highly developed musculature. Hide the face did not make sense, because everyone already knew who the hangman is and where he lives. They closed their face only during the execution of kings, so that their faithful servants would not take revenge afterwards.

Social position

Paradoxical situation: citizens with delight watched the executioner, but at the same time they looked at him. Maybe the people would treat them with great respect, if they had a decent financial situation. They received a small salary. As a bonus, they could take all the things that were executed. Often worked as exorcists. In the Middle Ages, they were sure that, by torturing one's body, one could cast out demons, it was to the benefit of professional torturers.

But the executioner - what a profession, if it does not have certain privileges. He could absolutely free to take on the market what he needed. This peculiar privilege is due to the fact that no one wanted to take money from the hands of the murderer. At the same time, such people were necessary to the state, and therefore traders followed this rule.

Another way to earn money for them was trade in unusual things. These included the body parts of executed people, skin, blood, various potions. The alchemists were sure that special potions could be created from such ingredients. They also bought the rope of the gallows, according to some legends, it could bring luck to its owner. Doctors bought up the body completely and conducted their own studies of the body and viscera of a person on them. Mages bought skulls for their rituals.

Who such a hangman by his position, you could understand by coming to church. Like any other Christian, he was admitted to it, but he had to stand at the entrance and receive the last communion.

The Blood Dynasty

Who would have thought of starting such a trade? The profession of the executioner in the Middle Ages was inherited from father to son. As a result, whole clans were formed. Almost all the butchers who live in the same region were related by kindred ties. After all, for such a man, representatives of other estates would never give their beloved daughter.

The low position of the executioner was able to tarnish the entire bride's gender. Their wives could only be the same daughters of executioners, gravediggers, swindlers or even prostitutes.

People called the butchers "slutty sons" and were right, because they often became the wives of executioners. In tsarist Russia, the dynasties of the executioners were not created. They were chosen from former criminals. They agreed to a "dirty" job in return for food and clothing.

Subtlety of Mastery

At first glance, it may seem that this is quite a simple job. In fact, it required a lot of knowledge and training to decapitate criminals. On the first attempt, it was not easy to cut off a head, but when the executioner knew how to do it, it was believed that he had achieved a high level of skill.

Who is the executioner as a professional? This one who understands the structure of the human body, knows how to use all sorts of devices for torture, has enough physical strength to wield an ax and dig graves.

The Curse of the Executioner

There was a legend in the people that the accursed was the executioner. Who knew this, understood that nothing to do with magic and the supernatural was not there. This was due to the public's view of the life of people engaged in non-noble crafts. By tradition, becoming an executioner, it was no longer possible to refuse this work, and if a person refused, he himself was recognized as a criminal and executed.

So becoming a torturer-executioner by birth, a man was forced to engage in "dirty" work all his life. No free will. Living away from people, the inability to change jobs and the limited choice of a companion of life. For centuries, more and more hereditary murderers were born in the dynasties of executioners.