If he lived in the same town I'm presuming he would know most of the people he had to kill. Executioner- No way, is that you Glenn? Prisoner- Yeah. Executioner- It's me , Dave from primary school! Prisoner- WOW! Haven't seen you in a while, how you doing? Executioner- Good, good. Steady job, 2 kids.
This actually happened in England, the state hangman Albert Pierrepoint had to dispatch a man he knew and had dueted with in the pub, this is what he said in his book-"At twenty seconds to nine the next morning I went into the death cell. He seemed under a great strain, but I did not see stark fear in his eyes, only a more childlike worry. He was anxious to be remembered, and to be accepted. "Hallo, Tosh," he said, not very confidently. "Hallo Tish," I said. "How are you?" I was not effusive, just gave the casual warmth of my nightly greeting from behind the bar."
The last executioner in the UK, Albert Pierrepoint, followed his father & uncle into the role, and his hangings included Lord HawHaw and the Butcher of Belsen. But it was a part time role in the 1940/50s, and he ran a pub called Help the Poor Struggler near me. Above the bar it had a sign saying ‘no hanging around’.
@@Morfeusm more likely far less "noble", albeit many during those times justified it as such. Remember that history is usually written by the victors, and people wishing to justify their actions or feeling entitled to their mindset despite it being predominately barbaric & intolerant throughout history. "Noble" is a construct of accepted social mores - times change. What may have been noble prior often isnt in modern times.
If any of them whipped out a phone, someone would scream "WITCH!" and they would be next in line. People knew to keep their phones well hidden in those days.
Haven’t watched the video but I want to share what an executioner was in my country sweden during the medieval times. So in my country under the medieval period, An Executioner were often a person who had been sentenced to death or another serious crime and got the alternative from the state to become an Executioner as an alternative sentence. After they accepted the offer their ears were Cut off so that if they would ever try to escape their work they could easily be identified, On top of that a new executioner were often tasked with Executing their predecessors. their headwear was a Cap with earflaps that (Funnily enough) covered their earless sides. I’m Swedish so there might be quite a few spelling mistakes in my comment so I apologize for that but either way I hope you enjoyed my comment and the History I shared :)
Rockstar??? Nope. You had to live your life in isolation. Nobody that knew what you did, would want to have anything to do with you. You were seen as unclean, because that little fameous line that say "Shall not kill".
"The Hangman's Daughter" by Oliver Potzsch is a superb novel. It goes into great detail of 16th century society. They are recognized for their historical accuracy. The author is a descendant of a hangman., totally fascinating. There are sequels.
Those damned men must have had a horrific life. Loathed by everyone, forced to end people's lives to earn a living, thriving on others' death and suffering, praying every time that the person condemned to death before you is guilty otherwise you unrightfully terminated his sacred right to have a life.... What a terrible time to be alive
Well I don't think it was as bad. Take into account that it could be seen indeed as a holy duty. Why would you doubt he was guilty? God is good and loving, and would never let death sentence fall upon an innocent man. You are executing God's will. Medieval mindset was completely different that ours; our own interpretations of their lives are a modern mind in a Middle Ages setting, which was obviously not the case.
@Anthony Goedhart actually, she’s not an idiot. I’m a history teacher, by profession. The Middle Ages was very different. Technology isn’t the only thing that was different. Her point was that one wouldn’t second guess the innocence due to the religious beliefs and various superstitions of the time. Overall, however, because mindsets, traditions, professions, social class, etc etc etc.were different throughout history, we absolutely cannot “judge” events based on our beliefs and understandings today. In other words, we have to look at the events in context of history. That’s a huge aspect that all historians consider.
Actually you forgot to mention a very important part of Frantz‘s dedication to his job. All his life he worked to restore his family‘s honor that was taken from them when his father was ordered to become an executioner in order to get his own children out of the necessity to take up the „dishonorable“ work as executioner, who were part of the lowest class of medieval society. He tried to be as obedient and reliable as possible to earn back honor for his name, in which he eventually succeeded. Unfortunately none of his children survived to benefit from their father‘s lifelong pursuit.
Forgiveness does not mean you escape the responsibility of your guilt...it means the one wronged no longer holds righteous malice against you for the offense because you understand what you have done. In order for justice to be served, the offense MUST be paid for. That's why someone sentenced to die still does even if the victim's family has forgiven them. Someone has to give up their life for the life that was taken, period.
@@JamesRDavenport I think you would find that most people will repent while living, too. Besides, a lot of people lost their heads over stupid shit, and still do.
I've read "The Faithful Executioner" (the book that had all of his journal entries). A little slow at times, but overall very interesting. If you're into stuff like that or just have a morbid curiosity, I recommend checking it out.
"If the swordsman can't get the job done in three blows the crowds are known to grab him and force him to take the place of the condemned..." LOL, what a savage! Imagine pulling that UNO reverse card on the swordsman.
"The heyday of the medieval executioner was in the 16th century." So the video starts with some misconception. In the 16th century the medieval was just over. The limitations of this period may be fuzzy and diffucult to define, generous historians may demand the medieval lasting until the first half of the 16th century to expire some time between 1500 and 1550. But Franz Schmidt was born 1555 and died only in the 17. century, so his active period definitely wasn't part of the medieval.
I totally agree. I wrote something similar. To me the medieval period ended in 1485. Good to see someone else spotted it! The Renaissance was vastly different from medieval life!
that depends on what the judges choose a lowly peasent like you would proberly be hanged... and may i add that sometimes it took a few days to die cause well shoddy work and such? and your body wouldnt be burred before a few weeks have passed by. So it could scare all the people who passed... so yeah! Then theres the wheel and other methods of execution remember sword and axe was mainly only nobles... normal citizens ahahahahha much worse.
If you axe politely, the executioner will put you on his wheel and give you a break! If you're rude to him, don't be surprised if he leaves you hanging!
I love weird history! You guys do really really good work, and I love the narrator. He needs a raise! I never thought I’d learn so much about history on TH-cam. Thank you team weird history!!!
This executioner in particular is special because he was literate. He has led a diary over 45 or so years about his work and his life which is a really rare thing and was a revelation for the historian Joel F. Harrington who subsequently wrote the book "The Faitful Executioner". Also for people who are interested, check out Dan Carlin's Hardcore History episode "Painfotainment"
I learned by digging around on Ancestry that my last name is an old Spanish occupational title that roughly translates to hangman in English. This video really helped shed light on how grisly being an executioner was. Thanks Weird History
That’s really interesting and honestly is a much more noble job than I thought. It seems like for them it was an honor and required great attention to detail on how to do your job like the whole process from beginning to end
@CaptainBearPants RE: ". . . and required great attention to detail on how to do your job like the whole process from beginning to end." Modern executions also required great attention to detail. See the Tom Hanks movie "The Green Mile."
Very interesting video, thanks! I've once read a 16th century document about an executioner in Antwerp who was so drunk that he slashed the victim three times on the scalp instead of on the neck. The victim then rolled off the platform in pain and the executioner jumped after him and started strangling him (this was seen as a crime itself, since the victim was condemned to a beheading (a more "noble" way to go) instead of strangeulation). Because of this, the crowd got so angry that the executioner released him of his grip. The dying victim was carried to the townhall of Antwerp where he was nurtured by every doctor in the region. Once he was back to his normal health he was once again condemned to be executed for his crime. The count of Flanders took notice of this incidence and gave him a royal pardon. Lucky guy if you ask me :)
This clip based on the book : "The faithful executioner." by Joel F. Harrington. F. Schmidt fought his whole life to get back the state as a honourable man and a few years before he died, he was set back to honesty by Ferdinand II. Nowadays you can visit Franz Schmidts home in Nuremberg.
@@backinblood3218 gangster... hood... It's not the greatest joke, probably not top 100.... but, ummm... I'm not even sure why I'm trying to explain it. 😜
The executioner did not have a easy life. He could have jobs in many cities where he visited them all year round. Most people did not like the executioner due to the job being gruesome, and he was tasked to keep prisoners healthy before their sentence. He also had to do the job swiftly, where the weapon had to make a clean sweep, it was very bad for him if he had to make more than two swipes. Executioners did not have a required uniform in the early modern period. People knew who you were. The role was inherited because no one wanted to do it. Training started early until the father figure thought he was ready. To know if the son was ready he had to perform tests on animals and pumpkins swift and clean. The executioner has a tough life, the only people he could talk to were other people with less favorable jobs, and even marry into those families due to the job being so unpopular.
@@35183116 one authors speculation I assume. Of all the literature I have read over many years of medieval times the executioner was in fact an appointed position. More than likely hand picked by the King or other governing authority. It was in their time a well paid job of sorts with many perks.
@@billydow1971 the position was not really liked in the early modern period. The source I read was from letters and diaries from an early modern period executioner in Germany.
@@35183116 I'm positive the job wasnt well received by the people. But , it was a form of gruesome entertainment which drew huge crowds, adults and children. Businesses flourished. Families would plan for the day to make attendance. Seems to have been as much a social event as an execution.
"I'm swamped your honor, I couldn't possibly squeeze him in before Thursday." Spoken by the hangman in Blazing Saddles as he's about to hang a cowboy...and his horse, at the same time.
@@TheFrogfeeder I wasn't explaining it, I was referencing where it came from. And really? You have nothing better to do with your time?. "jussayin"???? how cute. You're muted.....I'm guessing your about 15 right?
I've actually studied some works on Franz Schmidt a bit in university and I would actually place him in more of an early modern context than in a medieval one. His life coincided with political developments that were aimed at creating a more centralised (which is obviously very relative in the not-holy, not-roman, not imperial Holy Roman Empire) and all encompassing political system. In Schmidt we see a professionalisation of the "craft" of the executioner which would have been impossible in the middle ages.
I think you’re thinking of the French Queen Marie Antonnete. She was executed by a gullotine, Anne Boleyn (2nd wife of Henry 8th) was executed by a French swordsman. He cut off the head in one clean blow.
Teacher: "So Damien what are you going to do when you grow up?" Damien: "I'm going into the family business". Teacher: "What's that? Fishing, Farming, Blacksmithing?" Damien: "Executioner" Teacher: :-/
You use the diary of a 16th century executioner to describe the life of a medieval one. The painting you chose as your tag image is a 19th entry painting of a 1554 event.
It's funny what a lot of German last names translate to. I went to school with kids whose last names were "Messer", "Bose" and Loeffel", which translate to "Knife" "Angry" and "Spoon", respectively.
They say “what do you want to be in the future”? And it depresses me because I wish I could answer with what I want to be in the past 😞 Life is so unfair
I thought about that Executioner in Skyrim about halfway through this video. Btw, I think the only way to get a Executioner's Axe in Skyrim is to kill that guy. But apparently it can't be upgraded so it's not really worth it (i'm not 100% about that though).
Honestly Executioners in that time were jacks of all trades and were even highly respectable individuals They didn't always see the condemned in a completely negative light, rather more like a colleague, as odd as that may sound.
@@ultimatebishoujo29 oh dude yeah, I've actually already got a character sheet built up. Sadly I'm an eternal DM so I won't really get to play her except as an NPC.
They didn’t tend to strangle the condemned with their bare hands like Ted did. Ted also liked the fact he was doing something he wasn’t supposed to. Still.....in another time, who knows. Some of these guys might have been psychopaths.
No, he'd still murder women and girls on the side. It's just he'd never be caught. He was caught through luck and forensics that is inadmissible today (bite marks).
I'm not sure if I got some timespans mixed up, which would suit a failed history student. But the live of an Executioner in the medieval period was far more infamous and sad. You did not chose to follow your fathers foodsteps but you had to, for being the son or daughter of an executioner meant that you were part of a shunned minority within the community and were not allowed to take on any "honest" work. To deal with death was heavely looked down on and feared in those christian times because one would commit the greatest sin on a regular basis. Excecutioners and their families were often living outside of town and sometimes not allowed to visit taverns. Their are mentions of so-called "executioners cup" which was round at the bottom so it could not be placed down. The idea was to have the executioner drink up fast and have a short stay. Despait that the bringer of deaths was often drunk at his job because most felt terrible about killing. And if a beheading went wrong (which was carried out mostly by sword and NOT by axe) the crowd could be so outraged by the violent death that they stoned the executioner to death (this did happen). This is one of the reasons to wear a mask at the job, so your identity would be protected. Despite being one of the most hated persons within a community the executioner was often asked for help with medical problems. Most had great knowlege of the human anatomy and function and were also skilled in treating wounds with medicin made from herbs and dog fat (most executioners were tasked with collection animal carcasses around town). And since most executioners married daughters of executioners, some dynasty-like familytrees began to exist. The greatest family of executioners comes from an area in todays france (cant remember the exact name). There is one recording of a female executioner who had to behead one person because her husband was too drunk to do it. English is not my mother's tongue so I apologize for any ill-written sentences and I might have some words not properly translated. If I remember correctly my studies focused on the early and mid-medieval period, not the late medieval times, so that could be why what I learned goes much against the information given in this video.
You wrote very well and I put a comment saying this video is more focussed on the life of a Renaissance executioner not medieval which was much earlier. Interesting to note how it ran in families! Xx
idk why but the moment you said sometimes if the prisoners got sick the executioner would nurse them back to health before killing them and that gave me a story idea: imagine, the executioner slowly starts falling in love with the prisoner but he keeps denying him, the prisoner is scared of him (ofc) , (this could be a enemies to lovers/slowburn kinda story idk), but one day the prisoner like also falls in love with him and bla bla and when the prisoner is finally healthy again it's time for his execution and the assigned executioner is the one who fell in love, and he is torn between doing his job and keeping his honour, or staying with his lover , chosing love & happiness. now the story could go many ways: either the executioner kills the prisoner, but is filled with such sadness and regret afterwards that he choses to kill himself, or he doesn't kill the prisoner , they make a plan to run away and live somewhere in another town or far away from society. they figure out a great and smart escape plan ,but someone finds out and decides to punish them both now, so on the day they planned their escape , someone comes and takes the executioner and leads him to the place where the prisoner was supposed to be executed, but now there is room for two people, they both get executed and reunite in the afterlife, or you could just end it at the execution lol or for a happy ending, they manage to run away and live a happy life
Imagine seeing art prints when you have never seen them before. It must be like being shown VR for the first time showing heaven and hell without knowing how it works and then asked to repent.
So, a day in the life of an extraordinary Renaissance German executioner is somehow similar to a day in the life of a medieval executioner, which was generally considered an extremely low status job.
7:00 - Get up, eat breakfast.
8:00 - At gallows. Check schedule.
8:15 - Execution.
8:30 - Execution.
9:00 - Execution.
9:15 - Execution.
9:30 - Cancellation.
9:46 - Late execution.
10:00 - Break.
10:30 - Execution.
10:45 - Execution.
11:00 - Execution.
11:15 - Double execution.
11:30 - Execution.
11:45 - Execution.
12:00 - Lunch.
1:00 - Meeting with King
2:15 - Meeting with Bishop (King ran over)
3:30 - Execution (Bishop ran over)
3:45 - Triple execution.
4:00 - Break.
4:30 - Clean up equipment, disperse crowd.
5:00 - Home, hot bath.
6:00 - Dinner, wine, complain about how brutal my schedule was today.
U
play 'xbox' with ya kids like nothing happened.
Damn I thought my day was eventful.
sigma male grindset
“Cancellation” 💀
They always ask who's the executioner, never how is the executioner. 😟
😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳
So very sad :,(
Damn, that’s true....
Wasted opportunity to replace ask by axe
I’ll do you one better. Why is Executioner?
Coming home from a long day of executions and your wife says “how was work” and you could literally say that you killed it at work.
@Steven Cao " So glad to hear you're making some headway , even
though its a dead-end job...."
Stop, you're killin' me🤣🤣🤣
If you come home and announced you got fired, you could say "You got the Axe!"
That's the sigma grindset 😂
Hello does anyone here believe in Jesus?
If he lived in the same town I'm presuming he would know most of the people he had to kill.
Executioner- No way, is that you Glenn?
Prisoner- Yeah.
Executioner- It's me , Dave from primary school!
Prisoner- WOW! Haven't seen you in a while, how you doing?
Executioner- Good, good. Steady job, 2 kids.
Don’t lose your head now
This me when treating patients-
Blandest banter I have ever read
This actually happened in England, the state hangman Albert Pierrepoint had to dispatch a man he knew and had dueted with in the pub, this is what he said in his book-"At twenty seconds to nine the next morning I went into the death cell. He seemed under a great strain, but I did not see stark fear in his eyes, only a more childlike worry. He was anxious to be remembered, and to be accepted. "Hallo, Tosh," he said, not very confidently. "Hallo Tish," I said. "How are you?" I was not effusive, just gave the casual warmth of my nightly greeting from behind the bar."
Sees bully
The last executioner in the UK, Albert Pierrepoint, followed his father & uncle into the role, and his hangings included Lord HawHaw and the Butcher of Belsen. But it was a part time role in the 1940/50s, and he ran a pub called Help the Poor Struggler near me. Above the bar it had a sign saying ‘no hanging around’.
Never thought the life of a professional executioner would be so noble, or fascinating. ⚔️
A career that you’ll enjoy torturing and end the criminal man or woman innocent or not God will exempt you from the punishment
Many things in history are much more nuanced, interesting, noble and fascinating as they are often depicted
This channel never fails to fascinate me!
@@Morfeusm more likely far less "noble", albeit many during those times justified it as such. Remember that history is usually written by the victors, and people wishing to justify their actions or feeling entitled to their mindset despite it being predominately barbaric & intolerant throughout history. "Noble" is a construct of accepted social mores - times change. What may have been noble prior often isnt in modern times.
So noble!
And not a phone insight. Just an crowd, living in the moment
If any of them whipped out a phone, someone would scream "WITCH!" and they would be next in line. People knew to keep their phones well hidden in those days.
What a blood thirsty crowd
they need to bring back the Iphone 5 b.c
yeah....because.......they didn’t........exist
@@eli6219 that’s the joke
"It's nothing personal. Just business."
*Chop*
Head
Ah, yes....the wise, wise words of Michael Corleone.
Yeah, that's what Lord Becket thought and said. (Pirates of the Caribbean parts II & III)
You?
I wonder if this fella ever thought that people would talk about him hundreds of years after his passing.
He was my great grandfather . He always said that he would like to be remembered for his poetry. Shame that people only think of this.
@@user-zy9yg2eu5t really he was my uncle interesting
@@Wogsmawp you don't know? I'm the descendant of his illegitimate son
In a TH-cam video
Haven’t watched the video but I want to share what an executioner was in my country sweden during the medieval times.
So in my country under the medieval period, An Executioner were often a person who had been sentenced to death or another serious crime and got the alternative from the state to become an Executioner as an alternative sentence.
After they accepted the offer their ears were Cut off so that if they would ever try to escape their work they could easily be identified, On top of that a new executioner were often tasked with Executing their predecessors.
their headwear was a Cap with earflaps that (Funnily enough) covered their earless sides.
I’m Swedish so there might be quite a few spelling mistakes in my comment so I apologize for that but either way I hope you enjoyed my comment and the History I shared :)
Wow thanks for sharing that little bit of history
Tak
Your English and grammar is much better than a lot of our Citizens. Thank you for your comments.
Why would they have to execute their predecessors?
Your version is the opposite of the video , which claims it wasn’t a bad job
Executioners were complicated people. I bet no one bothered to axe him how he felt.
They said it was complicated at first. But eventually, they got the hang of it.
Depends. You may hear good noose you may hear bad noose
Ba - Dum - Tiss 🥁
I hope the executioners are still hanging on to life
Dad! What are you doing here?
Being an executioner before was like "Well someone has to do it."
But hey atleast you're like a rockstar.
Bro your profile pic is just * chefs kiss * beautiful
.....until the 3 strike law hits you.......
Rockstar??? Nope. You had to live your life in isolation. Nobody that knew what you did, would want to have anything to do with you. You were seen as unclean, because that little fameous line that say "Shall not kill".
Rockstar with an axe to grind
I have a friend that is a transplant surgeon and his response to why he does that job is the same. “ someone has to do it”
Not gonna lie, job security sounds pretty good right now
All humans are born as Muslims
Massive props to him for writing it down so we can honor and understand his life even centuries later
Allah is one God God is Allah Allah has 99 names Allah is almighty
"The Hangman's Daughter" by Oliver Potzsch is a superb novel. It goes into great detail of 16th century society. They are recognized for their historical accuracy. The author is a descendant of a hangman., totally fascinating. There are sequels.
@@Band-Of-The-Falcon-1111 It is a novel. It has been praised for its accuracy. the author based it on his family's history.
Hello does anyone here believe in Jesus?
Your role as a Medieval executioner...
“Who, me 😳?”
omg same
Exactly. Weird. Why should the narrator be addressing me? I find this channel's narration kinda unprofessional.
I liked it....
Lol
Yeah I'll stick with my current job 😖
Those damned men must have had a horrific life. Loathed by everyone, forced to end people's lives to earn a living, thriving on others' death and suffering, praying every time that the person condemned to death before you is guilty otherwise you unrightfully terminated his sacred right to have a life.... What a terrible time to be alive
Well I don't think it was as bad. Take into account that it could be seen indeed as a holy duty. Why would you doubt he was guilty? God is good and loving, and would never let death sentence fall upon an innocent man. You are executing God's will. Medieval mindset was completely different that ours; our own interpretations of their lives are a modern mind in a Middle Ages setting, which was obviously not the case.
@Anthony Goedhart actually, she’s not an idiot. I’m a history teacher, by profession. The Middle Ages was very different. Technology isn’t the only thing that was different. Her point was that one wouldn’t second guess the innocence due to the religious beliefs and various superstitions of the time. Overall, however, because mindsets, traditions, professions, social class, etc etc etc.were different throughout history, we absolutely cannot “judge” events based on our beliefs and understandings today. In other words, we have to look at the events in context of history. That’s a huge aspect that all historians consider.
Biden 2020 it will get better, eventually
@@kana0kitsune It wasn't as bad at the time too as seeing a body/someone getting executed was a lot more common than today.
@@Ottophil it will only get worse with Biden
I would like to hear about a day in the life of a royal taster
at first i read that as toaster & was very confused 😂
Yes I wanna know about it too
@@wolfzmusic9706 I'll drink to that!
Hitler had a taster... she recently revealed what her job was during WWII
People had no toilet paper he probably licked his shit covered fingers
0:08
"A burly bare chested man in a black hood, with a massive axe"
Sounds like every Death-Metal guitar player today.
Or a bassist, with a B.C Rich
Hallowed be thy name
Doyle from the Misfits
Actually you forgot to mention a very important part of Frantz‘s dedication to his job. All his life he worked to restore his family‘s honor that was taken from them when his father was ordered to become an executioner in order to get his own children out of the necessity to take up the „dishonorable“ work as executioner, who were part of the lowest class of medieval society. He tried to be as obedient and reliable as possible to earn back honor for his name, in which he eventually succeeded. Unfortunately none of his children survived to benefit from their father‘s lifelong pursuit.
Executioner: "Forgiveness is divine....but...we don't roll that way here."
😅‼️
Booooo...C'mon …..LMAO!!!!!!
Forgiveness does not mean you escape the responsibility of your guilt...it means the one wronged no longer holds righteous malice against you for the offense because you understand what you have done. In order for justice to be served, the offense MUST be paid for. That's why someone sentenced to die still does even if the victim's family has forgiven them. Someone has to give up their life for the life that was taken, period.
Lord
@@JamesRDavenport I think you would find that most people will repent while living, too. Besides, a lot of people lost their heads over stupid shit, and still do.
The world was such a different place back then compared to now
Only by name changes, now politicians wave the axe with overzealous lust
@@BangtaiL_WitcH lol. In a way yeah but theres veil covering the true visceral nature of humanity. Back then such veil didn’t exist
Is it really? As we speak, the left is clamoring for the return of the guillotine...
@@xcrystalx625 well if we know anything about humanity it’s that men don’t learn from history and thus tend to repeat history.
@@yourfriendlyneighborhoodca9576 You, Sir, are correct.
I've read "The Faithful Executioner" (the book that had all of his journal entries). A little slow at times, but overall very interesting. If you're into stuff like that or just have a morbid curiosity, I recommend checking it out.
"Morbid curiosity? yeah. ok. lol.
Sweet Insanity Where on earth did you find the book?
@@winnifredforbes8712 crazy farm. Where else do you find books of such insanity? 😉
Amazon!
I have the book as well, it is a bit dry, not as...thrilling as one would think, but a good insight if you enjoy historical tomes.
You know now why the executioner always had axe to grind.
This is absolutely one of the best channels for learning.
Nope, no thank you
Hello!
@@Clay3613 you
ha
@@slopesgameroom
L
L
L
@@slopesgameroom stop
In light of the season, How about a post of the HISTORY of All Hallows’ eve?
YES PLEASE
Indeed
Yes. 👏👏👏
Great idea
All of my yes
"If the swordsman can't get the job done in three blows the crowds are known to grab him and force him to take the place of the condemned..."
LOL, what a savage! Imagine pulling that UNO reverse card on the swordsman.
Shit must've be hilarious for the person who was going to die
@@depression8841 I imagine after 3 swings to the neck, the prisoner isn't exactly in a lively mood still lol
@@depression8841 I mean he’s still gonna die after being hacked in the neck three times with a sword/axe, only a more painful death than intended.
@@gtotheunit91 Fair enough
Seeing how the executioner was probably better practiced at it than the average person, it could turn out to be a long day.
"The heyday of the medieval executioner was in the 16th century." So the video starts with some misconception. In the 16th century the medieval was just over. The limitations of this period may be fuzzy and diffucult to define, generous historians may demand the medieval lasting until the first half of the 16th century to expire some time between 1500 and 1550. But Franz Schmidt was born 1555 and died only in the 17. century, so his active period definitely wasn't part of the medieval.
True and the Renaissance was the turning point and end of medival times.
I totally agree. I wrote something similar. To me the medieval period ended in 1485. Good to see someone else spotted it! The Renaissance was vastly different from medieval life!
I have to say the narration really was top tier for this one. He is always pretty good but this was a cut above (heh).
When performing an execution it's important that you don't lose your head.
Follow step 3.75 B of the manual, smoothe the axe before applying the oil
Was that a SIX reference!?
that depends on what the judges choose a lowly peasent like you would proberly be hanged... and may i add that sometimes it took a few days to die cause well shoddy work and such? and your body wouldnt be burred before a few weeks have passed by. So it could scare all the people who passed... so yeah!
Then theres the wheel and other methods of execution remember sword and axe was mainly only nobles... normal citizens ahahahahha much worse.
If you axe politely, the executioner will put you on his wheel and give you a break! If you're rude to him, don't be surprised if he leaves you hanging!
Stop, you're killin' me🤣🤣🤣
I love weird history! You guys do really really good work, and I love the narrator. He needs a raise! I never thought I’d learn so much about history on TH-cam. Thank you team weird history!!!
That's actually wonderful that they tried to get those people saved before they were executed
This executioner in particular is special because he was literate. He has led a diary over 45 or so years about his work and his life which is a really rare thing and was a revelation for the historian Joel F. Harrington who subsequently wrote the book "The Faitful Executioner".
Also for people who are interested, check out Dan Carlin's Hardcore History episode "Painfotainment"
Allah is one God God is Allah Allah has 99 names Allah is almighty
I learned by digging around on Ancestry that my last name is an old Spanish occupational title that roughly translates to hangman in English. This video really helped shed light on how grisly being an executioner was. Thanks Weird History
That’s really interesting and honestly is a much more noble job than I thought. It seems like for them it was an honor and required great attention to detail on how to do your job like the whole process from beginning to end
@CaptainBearPants
RE: ". . . and required great attention to detail on how to do your job like the whole process from beginning to end."
Modern executions also required great attention to detail. See the Tom Hanks movie "The Green Mile."
It wasn't an honor. The executioners were shunned by everyone and were thought of as unclean, even though they did it for the government and church.
Very interesting video, thanks!
I've once read a 16th century document about an executioner in Antwerp who was so drunk that he slashed the victim three times on the scalp instead of on the neck. The victim then rolled off the platform in pain and the executioner jumped after him and started strangling him (this was seen as a crime itself, since the victim was condemned to a beheading (a more "noble" way to go) instead of strangeulation). Because of this, the crowd got so angry that the executioner released him of his grip. The dying victim was carried to the townhall of Antwerp where he was nurtured by every doctor in the region. Once he was back to his normal health he was once again condemned to be executed for his crime. The count of Flanders took notice of this incidence and gave him a royal pardon.
Lucky guy if you ask me :)
mmmm not really lucky
Jesus was not killed nor jesus was crucified
@@Lisa59India don't burn dead body not allowed
@@Lisa59don't die as a disbeliever
@@REBECCA12341 what am I not believing in?
the exact video to enjoy at 2am
All humans are born as Muslims
This clip based on the book : "The faithful executioner." by Joel F. Harrington. F. Schmidt fought his whole life to get back the state as a honourable man and a few years before he died, he was set back to honesty by Ferdinand II. Nowadays you can visit Franz Schmidts home in Nuremberg.
Thanks, I was dying to learn about the life of an executioner
don't lose your head
@@hoze1235don't die as a disbeliever
Fear Allah unseen
Who is your lord grave first question
I can see the banner now "Don't allow depression to kill you...let the Crown help..."
Life in the hood sounds pretty gangster
Edit: He did all of that without even using a hood even once? Scammed
Guarantee they weren't just "Boyz in the Hood."
@@skyden24195 idk why u even brought that up
@@backinblood3218 gangster... hood...
It's not the greatest joke, probably not top 100.... but, ummm... I'm not even sure why I'm trying to explain it.
😜
The executioner did not have a easy life. He could have jobs in many cities where he visited them all year round. Most people did not like the executioner due to the job being gruesome, and he was tasked to keep prisoners healthy before their sentence. He also had to do the job swiftly, where the weapon had to make a clean sweep, it was very bad for him if he had to make more than two swipes.
Executioners did not have a required uniform in the early modern period. People knew who you were. The role was inherited because no one wanted to do it. Training started early until the father figure thought he was ready. To know if the son was ready he had to perform tests on animals and pumpkins swift and clean.
The executioner has a tough life, the only people he could talk to were other people with less favorable jobs, and even marry into those families due to the job being so unpopular.
How do you know this?
@@billydow1971 because I read a book based on a executioner for a college history class.
@@35183116 one authors speculation I assume. Of all the literature I have read over many years of medieval times the executioner was in fact an appointed position. More than likely hand picked by the King or other governing authority. It was in their time a well paid job of sorts with many perks.
@@billydow1971 the position was not really liked in the early modern period. The source I read was from letters and diaries from an early modern period executioner in Germany.
@@35183116 I'm positive the job wasnt well received by the people. But , it was a form of gruesome entertainment which drew huge crowds, adults and children. Businesses flourished. Families would plan for the day to make attendance. Seems to have been as much a social event as an execution.
"I'm swamped your honor, I couldn't possibly squeeze him in before Thursday."
Spoken by the hangman in Blazing Saddles as he's about to hang a cowboy...and his horse, at the same time.
Gotta love Blazing Saddles! ❤️
If you gotta explain your funny quote, it’s not really a funny quote...jussayin
@@TheFrogfeeder awww c'mon, everything about Blazing Saddles is funny 😁
@@TheFrogfeeder I wasn't explaining it, I was referencing where it came from. And really? You have nothing better to do with your time?. "jussayin"???? how cute. You're muted.....I'm guessing your about 15 right?
@@whitetrashkel I’m not saying the movie ain’t funny, but this guy trying to quote it...definitely is not!
I've actually studied some works on Franz Schmidt a bit in university and I would actually place him in more of an early modern context than in a medieval one. His life coincided with political developments that were aimed at creating a more centralised (which is obviously very relative in the not-holy, not-roman, not imperial Holy Roman Empire) and all encompassing political system. In Schmidt we see a professionalisation of the "craft" of the executioner which would have been impossible in the middle ages.
Sensibilities were different then. Sounds like a fairly righteous high-pressured position in society.
What a stunning piece! I had no IDEA about all of this. Just......wow.......
Allah is one God God is Allah Allah has 99 names Allah is almighty
They say English Axe Men were notoriously horrible.
There was a reason Anne Boleyn was given a Frenchman
@Richard Hunt ouch
@Richard Hunt Beats plastic cheese from a can like the Americans.... blergh
ぶれんだん Hey, spam in Korean food is great 👍 Haven’t had cheese in a can since I was a kid haha 😂 Now I’m hungry 😋
@Louise X As much as I have disdain for groups like ISIS, Boko Haram, and the Taliban, at least they're sober when they're lopping off your head.
Nightwish reference in that pendulum swaying there. I see you. Always happy to see low-key metalheads creating quality content on the web.
I would like to think I was an executioner in my pst life. But I’d probably leave the crowd hanging
Idk y but im thinking of the french swordsman who executed Anne Boleyn
Perhaps because this video is about an executioner? I’m just taking a stab in the dark here though.....
She was executed by guillotine so not really a swordsman anyway but a machine operated by a man. Pretty different.
I think you’re thinking of the French Queen Marie Antonnete. She was executed by a gullotine, Anne Boleyn (2nd wife of Henry 8th) was executed by a French swordsman. He cut off the head in one clean blow.
@@fashiondiva6972 Elsa Music Videos is correct- Anne Boleyn was beheaded by a French swordsman in 1536; the guillotine wasn’t invented until 1789 :)
@@fashiondiva6972 Anne Boleyn was executed by a french swordsman.
Thank you Weird History for this video! Shout out to that one guy who suggested this one in the comments before.
Chop chop time.
Wife back door not allowed ect
Don't die as a disbeliever
"Let's get into the head of..."
Sure, sure... um... as soon as you... put down that ax?
......... Eugene
If the axe-stroke misses the neck by just a little, you will literally "get into the head" of the condemned person...
What do you do for a living ?
-“I’m an artist”
Teacher: "So Damien what are you going to do when you grow up?"
Damien: "I'm going into the family business".
Teacher: "What's that? Fishing, Farming, Blacksmithing?"
Damien: "Executioner"
Teacher: :-/
Brilliantly done WH 👏
You keep us wanting more!
Can't wait to see what's next 😱
Jesus was not killed nor jesus was crucified
Don't die as a disbeliever
The second person format was great. I felt like a fortune teller was telling me about my past life.
Love your channel I've learned so much
You use the diary of a 16th century executioner to describe the life of a medieval one. The painting you chose as your tag image is a 19th entry painting of a 1554 event.
Vogel is pronounced with F "Fogel". It means bird in German.
Dank
Danke.
i know him, he is friend of Seth and Evan, as known as mclovin
Vogel with an V means bird in dutch
It's funny what a lot of German last names translate to. I went to school with kids whose last names were "Messer", "Bose" and Loeffel", which translate to "Knife" "Angry" and "Spoon", respectively.
I love this channel so much
There was so much more to his accounts. It is quite fascinating.
This has given me a very good impression , it must have been a cruel world to live in.
The cemetery is the "Saint Johannis Friedhof" in Nürnberg. My brother´s graveside also is there.
Greets from Germany
They say “what do you want to be in the future”? And it depresses me because I wish I could answer with what I want to be in the past 😞
Life is so unfair
Gtfo
I always adored weird history such as this.
Wow, what a seriously cool thing to find: an executioners’ diary!
I know right?
You know who first came to my mind when this popped up, the M-FR in the beginning of Skyrim!
A really interesting little video. I learned a few new things this evening. It's amazing the guy kept a journal and it lasted till modern day. Thanks
Incredibly interesting! The research and narration is excellent! Class act and I learned a lot. Thank you so much!
"You stay out of trouble, now. The Castle Dour Dungeon can break even the strongest will."
I thought about that Executioner in Skyrim about halfway through this video. Btw, I think the only way to get a Executioner's Axe in Skyrim is to kill that guy. But apparently it can't be upgraded so it's not really worth it (i'm not 100% about that though).
Honestly
Executioners in that time were jacks of all trades and were even highly respectable individuals
They didn't always see the condemned in a completely negative light, rather more like a colleague, as odd as that may sound.
Anime moment
Executioner: *instantly appears behind prisoner
Prisoner: Nani?!
Executioner: Nothing personal kid.
Now if this was a Horrible Histories sketch, it would have a catchy parody song to accompany it. Having said that, this is right up my alley.
"I will go back to Gotham and I will fight men like this, but I will not become an executioner". - Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins
Weird history teaches me more than my history teacher
You think so?
Honestly this is just huge inspiration for a new D&D character lol.
You think so?
@@ultimatebishoujo29 oh dude yeah, I've actually already got a character sheet built up. Sadly I'm an eternal DM so I won't really get to play her except as an NPC.
Technically, the executioner Franz Schmidt lived and worked in the late Renaissance to early Baroque period, not the medieval era.
One of the great things about being immortal is that i can think back to those times and remember how much i loved that job!
I'm glad you do all these videos they are very Interesting and I love history
Interesting,but I don't think I would want to be one of the crowd cheering on somebody demise.
You should a video on Marquis de Lafayette!!!
That would be cool
This episode is exactly what i want
Truly enjoy this one in particular. You tell it very well.
I love your Chanel. Interesting and fun to watch .the world's history is incredible .and frightening.
this was surprisingly interesting, to be honest
We still do that today. We'll give medical care to death row prisoners. Kind of a weird scene.
Wow... Who I thought once to be the scariest of the era were actually the most noble and interesting. History is such a wonder
Love these videos thanks
"Medieval Executioner"
"16th Century"
Hmmmmm
I thought the same.
@@curt3494 I don't think Americans know the difference
@@peterkelly8357 True lol.
@Bon Jovi probably because they experienced neither
@@peterkelly8357 as an american, i knew the difference and i am offended that you would have believed otherwise.
Ted bundy would love this profession and forget about what he usually does
They didn’t tend to strangle the condemned with their bare hands like Ted did. Ted also liked the fact he was doing something he wasn’t supposed to. Still.....in another time, who knows. Some of these guys might have been psychopaths.
No, he'd still murder women and girls on the side. It's just he'd never be caught. He was caught through luck and forensics that is inadmissible today (bite marks).
@@Paulafan5
Makes you think about how many serial killers got away with they're crimes back then...
@@marrqi7wini54 people would say/tell stories that said person has done bad things and divinity has punished them, they were cursed etc
Great point. What a great society! A job for everyone's talents
Best narrator voice on YT, right here.
Indeed
I'm not sure if I got some timespans mixed up, which would suit a failed history student.
But the live of an Executioner in the medieval period was far more infamous and sad. You did not chose to follow your fathers foodsteps but you had to, for being the son or daughter of an executioner meant that you were part of a shunned minority within the community and were not allowed to take on any "honest" work.
To deal with death was heavely looked down on and feared in those christian times because one would commit the greatest sin on a regular basis. Excecutioners and their families were often living outside of town and sometimes not allowed to visit taverns. Their are mentions of so-called "executioners cup" which was round at the bottom so it could not be placed down. The idea was to have the executioner drink up fast and have a short stay.
Despait that the bringer of deaths was often drunk at his job because most felt terrible about killing. And if a beheading went wrong (which was carried out mostly by sword and NOT by axe) the crowd could be so outraged by the violent death that they stoned the executioner to death (this did happen). This is one of the reasons to wear a mask at the job, so your identity would be protected.
Despite being one of the most hated persons within a community the executioner was often asked for help with medical problems. Most had great knowlege of the human anatomy and function and were also skilled in treating wounds with medicin made from herbs and dog fat (most executioners were tasked with collection animal carcasses around town).
And since most executioners married daughters of executioners, some dynasty-like familytrees began to exist. The greatest family of executioners comes from an area in todays france (cant remember the exact name).
There is one recording of a female executioner who had to behead one person because her husband was too drunk to do it.
English is not my mother's tongue so I apologize for any ill-written sentences and I might have some words not properly translated.
If I remember correctly my studies focused on the early and mid-medieval period, not the late medieval times, so that could be why what I learned goes much against the information given in this video.
You wrote well. I liked the interesting information you gave.
You wrote very well and I put a comment saying this video is more focussed on the life of a Renaissance executioner not medieval which was much earlier. Interesting to note how it ran in families! Xx
@@etherealechoes9907don't die as a disbeliever
@@JohnnyAngel8don't die as a disbeliever
@@etherealechoes9907drugs alcohol pork not allowed
idk why but the moment you said sometimes if the prisoners got sick the executioner would nurse them back to health before killing them and that gave me a story idea:
imagine, the executioner slowly starts falling in love with the prisoner but he keeps denying him, the prisoner is scared of him (ofc) , (this could be a enemies to lovers/slowburn kinda story idk), but one day the prisoner like also falls in love with him and bla bla and when the prisoner is finally healthy again it's time for his execution and the assigned executioner is the one who fell in love, and he is torn between doing his job and keeping his honour, or staying with his lover , chosing love & happiness.
now the story could go many ways: either the executioner kills the prisoner, but is filled with such sadness and regret afterwards that he choses to kill himself, or he doesn't kill the prisoner , they make a plan to run away and live somewhere in another town or far away from society. they figure out a great and smart escape plan ,but someone finds out and decides to punish them both now, so on the day they planned their escape , someone comes and takes the executioner and leads him to the place where the prisoner was supposed to be executed, but now there is room for two people, they both get executed and reunite in the afterlife, or you could just end it at the execution lol
or for a happy ending, they manage to run away and live a happy life
I'm late but wouldn't DARE miss this opportunity to watch this video 😂
2:25 "he wanted 3 men hanged" *picture has four people hanging* ??
Most of these images are just assets that this channel collects to "illustrate" the scenary as close as they can.
It was pretty fun you got a pretty cool outfit, first grabs at dinner, and everyone treated you like a badass
Imagine seeing art prints when you have never seen them before. It must be like being shown VR for the first time showing heaven and hell without knowing how it works and then asked to repent.
This is fascinating !! Thank you!!😎
So, a day in the life of an extraordinary Renaissance German executioner is somehow similar to a day in the life of a medieval executioner, which was generally considered an extremely low status job.