Municipal and Military Executioners in Silesia and Upper Lusatia in the 16th–18th century

Abstract

The earliest evidence of employing a municipal executioner in Lower Silesia comes from the Middle Ages from Wrocław (Breslau); executioners might have also been employed by municipal authorities in Świdnica (Schweidnitz), Kłodzko (Glatz) and Nysa (Neisse). In Upper Silesia there were executioners in Bytom (Beuthen), Strzelce Opolskie (Gross Strehlitz) and Cieszyn (Teschen). In Upper Lusatia in the second half of the 14th c. an executioner was employed by the authorities of Zgorzelec (Görlitz) and Żytawa (Zittau). Executing a lawful sentence was initially considered a service due to the ruler and the state; later it was entrusted to a special functionary. The professionalization of executing and the establishment of the post of executioner were facilitated by the consolidation of early-modern state, which was reflected in changes of criminal law in the first half of the 16th century. The role of torture was strengthened with the introduction of the Carolina in 1532 and this required professionals. A candidate for an executioner had to train under a master, like in any other craft guild. The training usually started in the master’s family. A master executioner not only carried out court sentences but also had to take care of the relevant infrastructure, liquidate stray dogs and remove carrion. His duties were modified depending on the needs of a particular town. Master executioners had to be experts in human anatomy, which allowed them to render medical services as well. Military courts sometimes employed their own executioners (in German Garnizon-, Armie-, Feld- Scharfrichter). In addition to carrying out sentences military executioners rendered maintenance and medical services to regiments, especially with regard to horses.