7 Infamous Medieval Torture Methods

TLDRDiscover seven brutal and horrifying medieval torture methods, including flaying, the boats, impalement, and more.

Key insights

💀Medieval torture methods were designed to inflict extreme pain and suffering.

🔥Methods like flaying and impalement were used to prolong torture and maximize pain.

🛠️The rack and the breaking wheel were used for both torture and extracting information.

🔥The Spanish Inquisition used the auto-da-fe, a public execution method involving burning at the stake.

Q&A

Were medieval torture methods primarily used for punishment or extracting information?

Medieval torture methods were used for both punishment and extracting information.

What were some of the most brutal medieval torture methods?

Some of the most brutal medieval torture methods include flaying, impalement, and the breaking wheel.

Who were the main perpetrators of medieval torture?

The Spanish Inquisition and other religious authorities were the main perpetrators of medieval torture.

Did any of the victims survive medieval torture?

Surviving medieval torture was extremely rare, but some individuals managed to endure and escape.

Were any of these medieval torture methods used outside of Europe?

Some medieval torture methods, like impalement, were used in other regions, such as the Ottoman Empire.

Timestamped Summary

01:35Flaying involved the slow removal of a victim's skin, causing immense pain and often death.

02:46The boats technique involved trapping a victim in between two boats and subjecting them to insects, stinging, and infestation.

03:58Impalement was a brutal punishment where a sharpened stake was inserted through the victim's body, causing a slow and painful death.

06:21The rack was a device used for torture and extracting information, stretching the victim's limbs to the point of extreme pain and damage.

08:26The breaking wheel was a method of execution that involved breaking the victim's limbs and then leaving them to die on a wheel.