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Public executions used to be a form of entertainment and executioners were like rock stars. A good executioner was one that had flair but could kill a victim quickly. This is a look at 7 executioners that became famous for their abilities to dispatch their victims.
7 ) Souflikar
During the Ottoman Empire the job of Bostanci was a prestigious one. The title translates to “Gardener”, and he was one… but he was also expected to prune the Emperor’s court through strangulation. They added another twist to it: the condemned raced the executioner through the gardens to the execution spot. If he managed to beat him, his sentence was reduced to banishment. If he lost, he was strangled on the spot and his body thrown in the river. None were as fast as Mahomet IV’s head executioner, Souflikar, as over the course of 5 years he strangled at least 5,000 people – a rate of almost 3 people a day.
6 ) Richard Brandon
The English were always very picky about who could become an executioner. It had to be someone from a family of executioners that knew how to kill someone quickly but also knew how to vamp for the crowd. Brandon was one of the most famous Common Hangmen of London and became the yardstick against which other English executioners (even Albert Pierrepoint) were measured. He was extremely proud of his ability to sever a head with a single blow, something that was very popular with the crowds – and appreciated by people getting executed – since it generally took a few chops for the average executioner to get through. He refined this skill after years of practice on cats and dogs. He is best known for executing King Charles I, but did so under heavy disguise out of fear of retaliation.
5 ) William Marwood
While Brandon was popular for his skill, Marwood became popular for developing a process that instantly killed his victims. He started out as cobbler but got a job as executioner after showing that a person died instantly if his “long drop” method was used. Before Marwood, people getting hanged would slowly strangle to death and the executioner would have to use his own weight to seal the deal. Marwood added a snapping motion that would instantly break the neck. It wasn’t perfect though, the first few executions often ended with decaptiation.
4 ) Fernando Alvarez de Toledo
The “Iron Duke of Alva” was the chief executioner for King Philip of Spain during the Spanish Inquisition. Stories about his approach would send towns into a panic – and rightfully so: he once executed 8,000 people in a single session at Antwerp. He boasted that he had managed to hang 18,000 Dutchmen in the Netherlands. These stories and his brutal methods – he would brand his victim’s tongue until it couldn’t be taken back into the mouth and would then burn them at the stake – only helped spread rumors that Spaniards were savage radicals.
3 ) Giovanni Battiste Bugatti
“Mastro Titta”, a corruption of “Master of Justice”, is considered a national hero in Italy for performing 516 public executions for the Papal States. While other executioners on this list would show off for the crowds, Bugatti considered it to be a side job. Well known for his brutality – using hammers to crush heads and then quartering the bodies – he approached each execution in a casual and religious manner: he would go to confession and take communion before each victim, offered them a pinch of snuff, and then ended their lives. His blood stained cloak can still be seen in Rome’s Criminology Museum.
2 ) Charles Henri-Sanson
Unlike Bugatti, Henri-Sanson enjoyed working up a crowd before performing executions. He attracted record numbers and was one of the most efficient public executioners in Paris. He once executed 300 people during 3 days of the Reign of Terror and was asked to slow down because residents of a nearby street were complaining that the stench of blood would drive house prices down. He was so skilled that he could guillotine 12 people under 13 minutes. He famously made Marie Antoinette one of those people in front of 200,000 cheering fans.
1 ) Grover Cleveland
The only American president to serve two nonconsecutive terms also carried out two executions while sheriff in Buffalo, New York. He hanged a man that stabbed his own mother and a few months later hanged a murderer. During the 1884 elections his rivals called him “Buffalo’s Hangman” and tried to use the executions against him. Neither the allegations that he had a child out of wedlock, nor the nickname hurt his candidacy. In fact, some historians believe that personally executing criminals made him appear tough on crime.
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61 Comments
Uh…..It's Grover Cleveland. Not Glover.
Uh…..It's Grover Cleveland. Not Glover.
Just a quick comment to say that I just stumbled upon the site and I like it! I particuarly like the header there, and look forward to new posts.
Just a quick comment to say that I just stumbled upon the site and I like it! I particuarly like the header there, and look forward to new posts.
Best work yet, duder. Keep it up.
Best work yet, duder. Keep it up.
How the hell did you leave out Vlad the Impaler?
Wow…Grover was no biz. I did a report on him when I was little, and I'm pretty sure I never uncovered that. http://hoseramaville.myminicity.com/ “>http://hoseramaville.myminicity.com/
Wow…Grover was no biz. I did a report on him when I was little, and I'm pretty sure I never uncovered that. http://hoseramaville.myminicity.com/
Wow…Grover was no biz. I did a report on him when I was little, and I'm pretty sure I never uncovered that. http://hoseramaville.myminicity.com/
Wow…Grover was no biz. I did a report on him when I was little, and I'm pretty sure I never uncovered that. http://hoseramaville.myminicity.com/
Wow…Grover was no biz. I did a report on him when I was little, and I'm pretty sure I never uncovered that. http://hoseramaville.myminicity.com/
Wow…Grover was no biz. I did a report on him when I was little, and I'm pretty sure I never uncovered that.
http://hoseramaville.myminicity.com/
what about bush and cheney?
Now, this is a story all about how My life got flipped-turned upside down And I liked to take a minute Just sit right there I'll tell you how I became the prince of a town called Bel Air In west Philadelphia born and raised On the playground was where I spent most of my days Chillin' out maxin' relaxin' all cool And all shootin' some b-ball outside of the school When a couple of guys Who were up to no good Startin' making trouble in my neighborhood I got in one little fight and my mom got scared She said 'You're movin' with your auntie and uncle in Bel Air' I begged and pleaded with her day after day But she packed my suite case and send me on my way She gave me a kiss and then she gave me my ticket. I put my walkman on and said, 'I might as well kick it'. First class, yo this is bad Drinking orange juice out of a champagne glass. Is this what the people of Bel-Air Living like? Hmmmmm this might be alright. But wait I hear they're prissy, wine all that Is Bel-Air the type of place they send this cool cat? I don't think so I'll see when I get there I hope they're prepared for the prince of Bel-Air Well, the plane landed and when I came out There was a dude who looked like a cop standing there with my name out I ain't trying to get arrested I just got here I sprang with the quickness like lightening, disappeared I whistled for a cab and when it came near The license plate said fresh and it had dice in the mirror If anything I can say this cab is rare But I thought 'Naw forget it' – 'Yo homes to Bel Air' I pulled up to the house about 7 or 8 And I yelled to the cabbie 'Yo homes smell ya later' I looked at my kingdom I was finally there To sit on my throne as the Prince of Bel Air
Now, this is a story all about how
My life got flipped-turned upside down
And I liked to take a minute
Just sit right there
I'll tell you how I became the prince of a town called Bel Air
In west Philadelphia born and raised
On the playground was where I spent most of my days
Chillin' out maxin' relaxin' all cool
And all shootin' some b-ball outside of the school
When a couple of guys
Who were up to no good
Startin' making trouble in my neighborhood
I got in one little fight and my mom got scared
She said 'You're movin' with your auntie and uncle in Bel Air'
I begged and pleaded with her day after day
But she packed my suite case and send me on my way
She gave me a kiss and then she gave me my ticket.
I put my walkman on and said, 'I might as well kick it'.
First class, yo this is bad
Drinking orange juice out of a champagne glass.
Is this what the people of Bel-Air Living like?
Hmmmmm this might be alright.
But wait I hear they're prissy, wine all that
Is Bel-Air the type of place they send this cool cat?
I don't think so
I'll see when I get there
I hope they're prepared for the prince of Bel-Air
Well, the plane landed and when I came out
There was a dude who looked like a cop standing there with my name out
I ain't trying to get arrested
I just got here
I sprang with the quickness like lightening, disappeared
I whistled for a cab and when it came near
The license plate said fresh and it had dice in the mirror
If anything I can say this cab is rare
But I thought 'Naw forget it' – 'Yo homes to Bel Air'
I pulled up to the house about 7 or 8
And I yelled to the cabbie 'Yo homes smell ya later'
I looked at my kingdom
I was finally there
To sit on my throne as the Prince of Bel Air
How the hell did you leave out Vlad the Impaler?
Wow…Grover was no biz. I did a report on him when I was little, and I'm pretty sure I never uncovered that. http://hoseramaville.myminicity.com/ “>http://hoseramaville.myminicity.com/
what about bush and cheney?
In the Grover Cleveland story, it should say hung not hanged.
Now, this is a story all about how My life got flipped-turned upside down And I liked to take a minute Just sit right there I'll tell you how I became the prince of a town called Bel Air In west Philadelphia born and raised On the playground was where I spent most of my days Chillin' out maxin' relaxin' all cool And all shootin' some b-ball outside of the school When a couple of guys Who were up to no good Startin' making trouble in my neighborhood I got in one little fight and my mom got scared She said 'You're movin' with your auntie and uncle in Bel Air' I begged and pleaded with her day after day But she packed my suite case and send me on my way She gave me a kiss and then she gave me my ticket. I put my walkman on and said, 'I might as well kick it'. First class, yo this is bad Drinking orange juice out of a champagne glass. Is this what the people of Bel-Air Living like? Hmmmmm this might be alright. But wait I hear they're prissy, wine all that Is Bel-Air the type of place they send this cool cat? I don't think so I'll see when I get there I hope they're prepared for the prince of Bel-Air Well, the plane landed and when I came out There was a dude who looked like a cop standing there with my name out I ain't trying to get arrested I just got here I sprang with the quickness like lightening, disappeared I whistled for a cab and when it came near The license plate said fresh and it had dice in the mirror If anything I can say this cab is rare But I thought 'Naw forget it' – 'Yo homes to Bel Air' I pulled up to the house about 7 or 8 And I yelled to the cabbie 'Yo homes smell ya later' I looked at my kingdom I was finally there To sit on my throne as the Prince of Bel Air
Uh, no, it shouldn't. Study the English language before trying to correct people. When you're speaking about hanging a person, the proper past tense IS 'hanged', not hung. The curtains were hung, the murderer was hanged. This is why Tarot has a card named 'The Hanged Man' and not 'The Hung Man' – though a hung man would have a completely different meaning altogether!
In the Grover Cleveland story, it should say hung not hanged.
Mostly because it was never proven that Vlad III executed anyone on his own.
Mostly because it was never proven that Vlad III executed anyone on his own.
Exactly why he is number 1, you don't expect an American president to be an executioner.
Exactly why he is number 1, you don't expect an American president to be an executioner.
Because this isn't a political blog and because neither of them have personally executed anyone.
Because this isn't a political blog and because neither of them have personally executed anyone.
Items get hung, people get hanged.
Items get hung, people get hanged.
Uh, no, it shouldn't. Study the English language before trying to correct people. When you're speaking about hanging a person, the proper past tense IS 'hanged', not hung. The curtains were hung, the murderer was hanged. This is why Tarot has a card named 'The Hanged Man' and not 'The Hung Man' – though a hung man would have a completely different meaning altogether!
Mostly because it was never proven that Vlad III executed anyone on his own.
Exactly why he is number 1, you don't expect an American president to be an executioner.
Because this isn't a political blog and because neither of them have personally executed anyone.
Items get hung, people get hanged.
Still would go with Albert Pierrepoint, but thats 'cos I'm English
Still would go with Albert Pierrepoint, but thats 'cos I'm English
Thanks for the link — and the nifty post. I don't know that I'd say Mastro Titta himself was especially brutal, as opposed to (some of) the punishments meted out by the Papal States through him. If anything, he seems like he was pretty businesslike about stuff like smashing a guy's head with a freehanded hammer blow (nauseating description of this, via Dumas, here). ” target=”_blank”>http://www.executedtoday.com/2008/02/23/1838-andrea-rondola-but-not-peppino/“>here). Nothing personal and all, just doing my job …
Thanks for the link — and the nifty post. I don't know that I'd say Mastro Titta himself was especially brutal, as opposed to (some of) the punishments meted out by the Papal States through him. If anything, he seems like he was pretty businesslike about stuff like smashing a guy's head with a freehanded hammer blow (nauseating description of this, via Dumas, here). Nothing personal and all, just doing my job …
Thanks for the link — and the nifty post. I don't know that I'd say Mastro Titta himself was especially brutal, as opposed to (some of) the punishments meted out by the Papal States through him. If anything, he seems like he was pretty businesslike about stuff like smashing a guy's head with a freehanded hammer blow (nauseating description of this, via Dumas, here). Nothing personal and all, just doing my job …
Thanks for the link — and the nifty post. I don't know that I'd say Mastro Titta himself was especially brutal, as opposed to (some of) the punishments meted out by the Papal States through him. If anything, he seems like he was pretty businesslike about stuff like smashing a guy's head with a freehanded hammer blow (nauseating description of this, via Dumas, here). Nothing personal and all, just doing my job …
Thanks for the link — and the nifty post. I don't know that I'd say Mastro Titta himself was especially brutal, as opposed to (some of) the punishments meted out by the Papal States through him. If anything, he seems like he was pretty businesslike about stuff like smashing a guy's head with a freehanded hammer blow (nauseating description of this, via Dumas, here). Nothing personal and all, just doing my job …
Thanks for the link — and the nifty post. I don't know that I'd say Mastro Titta himself was especially brutal, as opposed to (some of) the punishments meted out by the Papal States through him. If anything, he seems like he was pretty businesslike about stuff like smashing a guy's head with a freehanded hammer blow (nauseating description of this, via Dumas, here). Nothing personal and all, just doing my job …
Wow, I had no idea about Grover Cleveland, you would think that information would hurt his candidacy for president.
Photoshopped
Thanks for the link — and the nifty post. I don't know that I'd say Mastro Titta himself was especially brutal, as opposed to (some of) the punishments meted out by the Papal States through him. If anything, he seems like he was pretty businesslike about stuff like smashing a guy's head with a freehanded hammer blow (nauseating description of this, via Dumas, here). ” target=”_blank”>http://www.executedtoday.com/2008/02/23/1838-andrea-rondola-but-not-peppino/“>here). Nothing personal and all, just doing my job …
Wow, I had no idea about Grover Cleveland, you would think that information would hurt his candidacy for president.
Photoshopped
"study the english language before trying to correct people" … grammar nazi bitch.
"study the english language before trying to correct people"
…
grammar nazi bitch.
"study the english language before trying to correct people" … grammar nazi bitch.
uh… how did Grover made it to the list anyway? Comparing to the other executioners listed there he's done practically nothing
uh… how did Grover made it to the list anyway? Comparing to the other executioners listed there he's done practically nothing
Prisoners are hanged. I'm just hung.
Prisoners are hanged. I'm just hung.
How about Jack Ketch? Executioner during the Monmouth Rebellion and executioner of The Duke of Monmouth. He was so bad he often had to finish the job with a knife.
How about Jack Ketch? Executioner during the Monmouth Rebellion and executioner of The Duke of Monmouth. He was so bad he often had to finish the job with a knife.
umm…is it just me…or does the picture of (no.5) william marwood look like a portrait on a dollar bill?
ya a little
ha ha aha you rock!!!! nice tha