Why were the witches burned? The history of the most brutal execution of the Middle Ages

Why witches were burned, and not executed in any other way? The answer to this question is given by history itself. In this article, let's try to figure out who was considered a witch, and why burning was the most radical way to get rid of sorcery.

Who is this witch?

Witches were burned and persecuted back in the time of the Roman Empire. At its climax, the struggle against witchcraft reached the XV-XVII centuries.

What had to be done to get the man accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake? It turns out that in medieval times, in order to get accusations of witchcraft, it's enough to be a beautiful girl. Any woman could be blamed and on quite legitimate grounds.

Witches considered those who had on their body a special mark in the form of a wart, a huge mole or just a bruise. If a cat, an owl or a mouse lived with a woman, she was also considered a witch.

Sign of involvement in the witching world was both the beauty of the girl, and the presence of any bodily ugliness.

The most important reason to be in the dungeons of the Holy Inquisition could be a common denunciation with blaming blasphemy, bad words about power, or behavior that causes suspicion.

Interrogations the representatives of the holy Inquisition arranged so expertly that people confessed everything that was demanded of them.

Burning witches: geography of executions

When and where were the executions carried out? In what century did the witches burn? The avalanche of outrages falls on the Middle Ages, and the countries in which Catholic faith was involved were mostly involved. For about 300 years the witches were actively subjected to destruction and persecution. Historians say that about 50 thousand people were convicted of witchcraft.

Inquisitor's fires were burning all over Europe. Spain, Germany, France and England - these are the countries where witches were massively burned, in thousands.

To the category of witches, even young girls, up to 10 years of age, were reckoned. The children perished with the prophets on their lips: they cursed mothers who allegedly taught them the art of witchcraft.

The very processes of legal proceedings were carried out very quickly. Those accused of witchcraft were interrogated soon, but with the use of sophisticated torture. Sometimes people were condemned by whole parties and mass witches were burned at the stake.

Torture prior to execution

Torture applied to women who were accused of witchcraft was very cruel. In the history of recorded cases when the suspects forced to sit on a chair for days, docked with sharp spikes. Sometimes the witch was shod in large shoes - there was poured boiling water.

In history, the test of a witch's water is known. Suspect simply drowned, it was believed that the witch can not be drowned. If a woman after being tortured with water turned out to be dead, it was justified, but to whom was it easier?

Why was the preference given to burning?

Execution through burning was considered a "Christian type of execution", because it occurred without the shedding of blood. Witches were considered criminals worthy of death, but, since they repented, the judges asked to be "merciful" to them, that is, to kill without bloodshed.

In the Middle Ages, witches were burned, also because the Holy Inquisition was afraid of the resurrection of the convicted woman. And if the body is burned, then what is the resurrection without a body?

The very first case of burning the witch was recorded in 1128. The event took place in Flanders. The woman, who was considered an ally of the devil, was accused of the fact that, after she poured water on one of the rich people, he soon fell ill and died.

At first, the cases of executions were rare, but gradually acquired a mass character.

The execution procedure

It should be noted that the justification of the victims was also inherent in the Middle Ages. There are statistics indicating that the number of acquittals of the accused corresponded to half of the trials. The woman suffering from torture could even receive compensation for her suffering.

A condemned woman was awaited execution. It should be noted that the execution has always been a public spectacle, the purpose of which is to frighten and intimidate the public. The townspeople hastened to be executed in festive robes. This event attracted even those who lived far away.

Obligatory during the procedure was the presence of priests and authorities.

When all were assembled, a cart appeared with the executioner and future victims. To the witch, the public did not have sympathy, they laughed at it and teased it.

The unfortunates were chained to the pillar with chains, overlaid with dry branches. After the preparatory procedures, a sermon was obligatory, where the priest warned the public against communication with the devil and witchcraft. The role of the executioner was to set fire to a fire. The servants followed the fire until the victim left a trace.

Sometimes bishops even competed among themselves, who of them will manage to execute more executions of women who are accused of witchcraft. This type of execution for the anguish experienced by the victim is equated with the crucifixion. The last burnt witch was recorded in history in 1860. The execution took place in Mexico.